How to Keep Your Garbage Disposal Running Smoothly
Upcoming holidays mean family gatherings, parties with friends, and lots and lots of food - which adds up to a lot of kitchen cleanup. And nothing ends up working harder around the holidays than your sink drains and garbage disposals. Here are a few tips to help make your holidays a little bit easier this year.
It may seem obvious, but keep non-food items, especially packaging, out of your garbage disposal. Glass, plastic, metal, and paper are often the cause of damaging shredder blades and permanently clogging drains. But hard or fibrous food particles can do the same amount of damage. Onion skins, celery stalks, bones, nuts, egg shells, and other common ingredients on holiday dishes should not be placed in your garbage disposal.
Another substance that is a result of traditional holiday dishes is grease. Grease, oils, and fats slowly accumulate in your drain and will eventually clog your sink drain. They can also build up on your garbage disposal blades, causing them to stick and burn out your disposal motor. Heavy starches like potatoes, pasta, and rice can form a thick paste when ground with water which can jam your blades, or they can actually expand to block your drains.
Always use cold water to flush food through the disposal and pipes. Hot water can melt food particles and liquefy oils, causing both to coat your drains rather than being chopped and flushed by the garbage disposal. Regular use of your garbage disposal will prevent rust, corrosion, and buildup, and will help keep it running smoothly and effectively.
Many people intentionally chop lemon peels or coffee grounds, believing they will help with garbage disposal odors. These are two of the worst items to put in your disposal. The citric acid in lemons will corrode the metal components of your disposal, and coffee grounds will build up in your trap and ultimately clog your drain. Both will damage your garbage disposal, and neither actually helps dispel odors; they merely mask them.
The best way to keep your garbage disposal smelling fresh and clean is to use Earthworm Garbage Disposal Care. It has a fresh citrus fragrance that will eliminate food odors, and utilizes natural enzymes to break down food organically. It's better for the earth than harsh chemical cleaners, and safer for your family and guests.
