Over the past few decades, garbage disposals have become an essential fixture in most kitchens. These devices efficiently handle organic kitchen waste, making disposal quick and easy. Recent advancements have enhanced their performance, allowing them to grind waste into fine particles that are safe for your sewer system.
These devices help you to keep that organic waste out of your garbage. It helps keep the odors out of your kitchen if you keep the disposal clean. You need to be careful when using them to make sure that you do not clog your drains. This can happen easily if you do not follow basic directions.
These devices are something that you could install yourself if you are a handyman. You can buy a garbage disposal unit and read the enclosed directions and install it. You need to be careful if you need to work with electricity and might need to call in an electrician to do that part.
This article will give you some information about garbage disposal and how it works. It will help you to learn more about them. You can also do more research to find the information you might need.
Information About Garbage Disposals
- Run It Regularly – You need to run your disposal on a regular basis to make sure that it does not rust or corrode. This also allows you to make sure that there are no small particles that get stuck in the unit. This also allows you to make sure that the unit is in great working condition.
- Use Cold Water –You need to run your chilly water for a few minutes before you run the disposal. This allows any grease or oils that might be in there to solidify before they are ground up. You also need to run water for a few minutes after you run the disposal to clean everything from the unit.
- Bones and Pits – You can even grind up small chicken and fish bones in your device: https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/garbage-disposals/foods-you-can-cant-put-down-a-garbage-disposal-a1074300549/. Small fruit pits are also okay to put down the drain. You do not want to use larger bones or pits because it will ruin the disposal.
- Larger Items – Cut larger items into smaller pieces before you put them in the drain. This allows the disposal to grind it in a more efficient manner. Put the smaller pieces in a few at a time to allow the disposal to work correctly.
- Grease, Fat, and Oil –Do not put these items in the disposal because it will clog your device and your drains if you put too much into them. You do not want to clog your drains, especially, because this could lead to a large plumbing bill that you do not want. Keep grease, fat, and oil out of the sink if at all possible.
- Do not Use Hot Water – Using hot water causes grease, fats, and oils to liquify causing your drains to clog. Again, you do not want that huge plumbing bill because you allowed this to happen. Keep these items out of your sink and avoid using hot water when using your unit.
- Fibrous Items –Do not put fibrous items such as eggshells, celery, artichokes, onion skins, and corn husks down the drain because they will cause your unit to malfunction. The fibers from these items can tangle and jam the device. Do not use citrus peels to freshen your drains for this same reason.
- Peanut Butter –Do not try to put peanut butter at your disposal because it will not get rid of it for you, even if it looks like it does. It is oily and sticky, so the grinder will not be able to expel it. Find another way to dispose of your peanut butter.
- Potato Peels –Do not put potato peels in your grinder for similar reasons. The starch in the skin will cause a thick paste to form and cause your blades to get sticky. Read here for more information about that. Instead, put your peels into the garbage, or better yet, the compost pile.
- Expandable Foods –Do notput expandable foods such as pasta and rice into your grinder. This can jam the unit and then clog your drains if it makes it through. If it expands when you cook it, do not put it down your drain.
- Coffee Grounds – You can put a very small amount of coffee groundat your disposal to keep it smelling fresh, but do not make a regular habit of it. Coffee grounds collect together causing jams in your unit and can cause clogs in your drains. Throw them in the garbage to save your plumbing.
- Bleach and Drain Cleaners –Do not use bleach and drain cleaners because it can harm the blades at your disposal. There are better products made to be used with your device so that your blades will not jam. Use these products because even if they might be a little more expensive, they will not harm your unit.
- Non-Biodegradable Items – Never put non-biodegradable items in your disposal. This includes glass, metal, plastic, labels, strings, and cigarette butts. If they make it through your disposal, they will clog your pipes. You do not want to harm your pipes with things that will not degrade.
- Hands – Never use your hands to try to make your blades turn or to clean items from the blades. This is extremely dangerous, and you can mangle your hands by doing this. If you must reach in, turn off the disposal first and use kitchen tongs to remove the items.
Conclusion
There are many things that you must know about using garbage disposal. If you do not use it correctly, you will ruin it quickly and you could also ruin your plumbing. Put only things that are meant to go down the drain.
You can put small chicken and fish bones in your disposal, but never beef or pork bones. The larger bones will cause your disposal to jam and even break the blades. You do not want to harm your disposal, so use it correctly.
