What are the do’s and dont’s of garbage disposals? Garbage disposal is one of the best technological innovations since it allows us to dispose of waste quickly and conveniently without hauling trash bags to the curb each week. However, garbage disposal isn’t meant to replace the recycling or waste bin, and forgetting about garbage disposal maintenance is simple. That may mean you need a replacement sooner than you thought.

How long does garbage disposal last? A properly maintained garbage disposal should ideally last more than a few years, but the longer it lasts, the greater care it receives.

In this article, we will tackle the dos and don’ts of garbage disposal.

Garbage Disposal Dos

You can maintain the optimal performance of your garbage disposal in a few straightforward ways. The four items listed below guarantee appropriate garbage disposal maintenance:

Regularly run garbage disposal

Regular use keeps parts free from rust and corrosion and ensures they continue moving to keep minor obstructions from building.

Run cold water

Always run a strong cold water flow before grinding food waste. Any oil or grease entering the unit will solidify when exposed to cold water, allowing it to be sliced up before it reaches the trap.

Grind pits and bones

Grind certain hard items, including tiny fruit pits and the bones of chickens and fish (never beef or pork, as their bones are too large). Yes! The grinding chamber’s scouring action, produced by these particles, cleans the garbage disposal walls.

Cut large items into smaller pieces

Any mechanism that is subjected to large pieces of force is strained. Rather than trying to jam a bunch of pieces in at once, put a few in at a time while running cold water in the garbage disposal.

What Can Be Put In A Garbage Disposal?

Generally speaking, anything that decomposes into food can be disposed of in a garbage disposal. The following are some recommended uses for garbage disposal:

• Most fruit and vegetable scraps: Cucumbers, apples, and tomatoes work great in garbage disposals. Any fruit or vegetable that tends to be stringy or fibrous, such as celery or bananas, is better suited for a compost bin.
• Small bones: Softer and smaller foods will break down more quickly in garbage disposal, which means if you do decide to dump bones there, make sure they are from smaller animals, such as chickens. Compared to pig or cow bones, chicken bones are smaller and relatively weaker; therefore, they will break up more quickly during disposal.
• Cooked meat scraps: The key is smaller and softer, so you can throw cooked meat scraps in the garbage disposal. Cut them up before throwing them in the garbage disposal if they are too big. Additionally, be sure to add them gradually.
• A small amount of coffee grounds: It is acceptable to drop some coffee grounds in a garbage disposal; they might even keep the machine smelling clean and fresh. However, putting excessive coffee grinds in the garbage disposal might clog the drain and cause plumbing issues.
• Citrus rinds: Orange peels, lime rinds, and lemon peels can all have two uses for garbage disposal. Peels from oranges and lemons can help remove food particles from garbage disposal and are an excellent way to dispose of waste.
• Small bits of ice cubes: Ice inside a garbage disposal will keep it fresh, smelling, and clean, just like the peels from oranges and lemons. It is advisable to only put tiny bits of ice in the garbage disposal, though, as large and hard things are not advised to be put in any garbage disposal.

Garbage Disposal Dont’s

Knowing what to put in your garbage disposal and what to keep out of it is just as crucial as knowing what should be placed in it to ensure you get many years of good service. The following are things to keep in mind regarding your garbage disposal:

Avoid spilling fat, oil, or grease.

Grease will gradually build up and cause drain clogs you don’t want to have, preventing the disposal from breaking up food particles.

Do not use hot water when crushing food waste

Grease will melt and build up in hot water, resulting in—you guessed it—hopelessly clogged drains!

Don’t grind fibrous things

Anything tough and fibrous, such as eggshells, maize husks, celery, onion skins, and artichokes, should not be ground. These may get caught and jam a garbage disposal motor and clog drains with their fibers. 

Don’t try grinding up peanut butter

We can be certain that peanut butter won’t fare better through garbage disposal if it is sufficiently sticky to defy the dishwasher, even on a heavy cycle (how frustrating!). Look for another means to get rid of waste without using garbage disposal. Peanut butter gets so sticky and greasy that it cannot be removed with water or a grinder. You might believe it to be gone, but you shouldn’t count on it.

Do not stop using cold water until the grinding is finished

First, switch off the garbage disposal after the grinding is finished. Let a powerful stream of cold water run to remove any last particles, lasting at least 15 seconds. Next, shut off the water.

Do not throw potato peels in the garbage disposal

Oh boy, what a mess you’ll have when the starch from the potatoes hardens into a solid paste and causes the sharp blades to stick. Potato peels should be disposed of in your garbage or compost pile.

Don’t put down large amounts all at once

Feed food scraps to the garbage disposal little by little while cold water is running. The plumbing and drain pipes will facilitate the food scraps’ free descent. No plumbing issue or disposal likes to be stuffed or crammed.

Don’t put expandable foods

Never throw grains and pasta in your waste disposal. It will expand in the pipes or the garbage disposal itself if it does so as you cook it. The result? Clogs and jams.

Don’t drop coffee grounds down the garbage disposal

The issue is that coffee grounds can build up in drains and pipes, producing clogs, even though a small quantity won’t damage the garbage disposal and may even help remove odors. It’s better to stay away from it.

Similar to what happens if you pour water over coffee grounds in a coffee maker, coffee grounds clump when you dump them at your disposal. Coffee grounds adhere to one another and their surroundings when they clump together. They adhere to pipe walls and disposal blades. If you throw them down your drain, they will quickly form a large, unsightly obstruction.

The clog in your disposal will worsen as more coffee grounds are put in. Coffee grinds should always be disposed of in a trash can rather than a drain or disposal.

Don’t use drain cleaners or bleach

Pipes and blades may sustain damage from such objects. There are several more effective ways to maintain a clear and unobstructed drain.

Don’t put in anything that is non-biodegradable

Never (literally) dispose of anything that isn’t biodegradable food. Your disposal isn’t a trash can. Glass, plastic, metal, paper towels, labels, string, and cigarette butts should not be grounded.

Don’t use your hands to retrieve

Never reach into the garbage disposal with your hands to pick up dropped objects. After turning off (unplugging) the disposal, collect any dropped objects with tongs.

What Not To Put In A Garbage Disposal?

The short answer to the question of what should never be thrown down at your waste disposal is food that is not biodegradable. Cigarette butts, metals, paper, and wood of any kind fall under this category. Things that might initially appear acceptable to throw out with your trash could cause issues down the road. Among them are:

• Potato peels: Potato peels tend to mash up when wet and can make a heavy paste that may dry and clog different garbage disposal areas, so it’s best to avoid throwing them in there. It also holds for other fibrous, hard foods like onion peels and corn husks. Asparagus is another food best suited for the compost bin because it can quickly become stuck in the impellers and cause jams.
• Nuts and shells: Nuts are frequently too tough for the garbage disposal to process, and anything challenging to break down can lead to issues. The disposal runs the danger of causing damage to break it down, which could cause issues for you down the road. In the same way, most shells are either excessively rigid or have extra membranes that might encircle the mechanics and prevent your garbage disposal from operating.
• Large bones: Similar to this, hard, thick bones work better in a compost bin than in a garbage disposal. Animal bones such as those from pigs or cows cannot be broken down, so they will be too large to be disposed of and too challenging to break down. They may cause you to become anxious and try to figure out how to unclog a garbage disposal.

To maintain a properly functioning garbage disposal, follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and use it for its intended purpose. Have problems with your disposal and need a West Palm Beach garbage disposal repair service? AAA Appliance Repair West Palm Beach is here to help.

Do Garbage Disposals Have To Be Emptied?

In a nutshell, the answer is that disposals must be emptied. Despite the best precautions, foods can still become stuck in there, which can cause clogs and blockages. To help release food particles stuck to the garbage disposal walls, run the disposal once a week or more while utilizing small pieces of orange or lemon peels. It will also aid in eliminating any foul odors.

You must properly empty your garbage disposal if you discover a larger chunk of food within or something that shouldn’t be there—like a utensil or non-biodegradable food—has made its way inside.

How To Empty Your Garbage Disposal?

Depending on the problem, there are several ways to empty a garbage disposal or clear its jam:

• Check any clogs and remove them: There are ways to empty a garbage disposal to remove clogs if you think you have one. To remove the obstruction, turn off your garbage disposal and reach it using kitchen tongs or pliers; never use your hands.
• Empty the drainpipe: If there is an obstacle in the drainpipe, a clogged garbage disposal can result in a clogged sink. To start, unplug the disposal, fill the sink using water and a small amount of dish soap, and run the disposal while draining the sink. Any waste particles that might have adhered to the pipe should be removed with gravity and water pressure.
• Use a plunger: To release a stubborn clog that is too deep to access with pliers or tongs, consider using a toilet plunger. You can then choose to take it out or allow it to descend. 

Contact AAA Appliance Repair For Your Garbage Disposal Repair And Maintenance

To ensure your house is as pleasant as it should be, AAA Appliance Repair West Palm Beach is committed to providing exceptional service at a reasonable cost, dependable service, and a labor warranty.

Make an online appointment or call us at (561) 689-8885 if you require expert garbage disposal repair and maintenance assistance.