Did you know that the garbage disposal is one of the most misused appliances in your home? Garbage disposals can be extremely finicky, and many homeowners simply do not know how to care for them properly. There are many steps you can take to keep them in tip-top shape, eliminate odors, and prevent damage—the trick is merely remembering them all! Learn more about proper care and maintenance for your garbage disposal from Albuquerque Plumbing Heating & Cooling.

How To Use Your Garbage Disposal

First, it is essential to understand the best way to operate your garbage disposal to ensure that it works properly and does not become damaged. When using your garbage disposal, you should always turn on the cold water and allow it to run into the disposal for about 15 seconds. Leaving the water running, you can turn on your garbage disposal and insert the food products into it. After your food has gone down the drain and the garbage disposal has stopped grinding, you can turn it off. You should keep the cold water running for 30 seconds longer, as this ensures that your disposal is completely cleared out.

Keeping It In Top Shape

To keep your garbage disposal in the best shape possible, always use cold water while running it. Doing so will enable fat and grease to solidify and become chopped up rather than clogging your disposal. Furthermore, you should only insert food into the disposal slowly and in small amounts – chop and insert large pieces one by one. Also, regularly running your garbage disposal prevents rust and corrosion. Moreover, regular use of your disposal will ensure that clogs don’t build up and that all components remain in good working order.

Cleaning Your Garbage Disposal

There are many different ways to maintain cleanliness in your garbage disposal. First, you can run hot and soapy water through the disposal each day or with cold water after grinding. Second, you can insert small fish or chicken bones, eggshells, or small pits from fruit, which will scour the disposal. Third, you can add ice cubes, either alone or with two cups of ice cubes and a cup of rock salt, to clean the disposal blades. A cup of vinegar will also work in place of rock salt. Ice cubes made using lemon juice, vinegar, or a biodegradable cleanser will be even more helpful.

What You Should Never Do

Of course, there are many items that you should never put in your garbage disposal. First, do not insert anything that is not biodegradable, such as plastic, glass, paper, or metal. Never attempt to grind combustible products, cigarette butts, toys, hair, etc. Moreover, do not pour grease or oil at your disposal. Oil, fat, and grease will eventually solidify and cause clogs.
You should also avoid placing food that is fibrous or has tough skin at your disposal. Food items with tough skins include potato peels, banana peels, corn husks, artichokes, onion skins, and celery stalks. Fibers will clog the drain or jam the motor by wrapping around the disposal’s blades. Finally, while small bones help clean your garbage disposal, more extensive, more rigid bones dull blades and jam disposals.

Improving The Odor

Unfortunately, many garbage disposals accumulate food products and emit unpleasant odors. There are a few different tricks for eliminating odor. First, cut up a lime, lemon, or orange and grind it in the disposal. You can also grind the peels from citrus fruits to eliminate foul odors. In addition, you can use vinegar ice cubes for cleaning and odor control. If you have particularly stubborn odor issues, you can also pour baking soda into the disposal and allow it to sit for a few hours before turning on both the water and the disposal. This can also be done with Borax, using hot water to flush.

When to Call Albuquerque Plumbing Heating & Cooling

While the above tips will allow you to keep your garbage disposal in top shape, any issues that arise with it should be handled by a professional. At Albuquerque Plumbing Heating & Cooling, we have significant expertise in garbage disposal repair, replacement, and installation. We can diagnose the issue, recommend either repair or replacement, and perform the service according to our 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you have a problem with your garbage disposal, contact Albuquerque Plumbing Heating & Cooling today.

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