FAQ: How Do I Maintain a Garbage Disposal?

Garbage disposals are a massively convenient appliance. They streamline after-dinner clean-up and keep your kitchen smelling fresh by reducing the amount of garbage in your kitchen. But when they aren’t working properly, stuck-on residue can stink up your kitchen, clog your plumbing, as well as totally disrupt your daily kitchen routine.

Use as Intended

• Always use cold water. Run a steady flow of cold water during — and 15 seconds — after every use. Hot water can cause fat to congeal and stick to the blades and interior, while cold water prevents overheating.
• Know what food to grind and what to pitch. Grease, fat, pasta, and fibrous waste, among other items, will clog the drain. Here’s a helpful detailed list of what to avoid.
• Don’t grind non-food items or materials. Putting paper towels, rags, plastic, or other non-edible materials through your disposal is a recipe for disaster, as your disposal isn’t equipped to process these materials.
• Don’t overfill the disposal. If you have a lot of food waste, grind it gradually. Excess amounts of waste can cause serious damage to the interior of your disposal. 

Proper Cleaning

• Run the garbage disposal every few days. Even if you don’t have food scraps to grind, you should run the appliance with cold water: This ensures the blades won’t rust and washes out any food residue.
• Use the right cleaner. Use disposal cleaner or a generic de-greaser to cut fat build up. Dropping a few ice cubes into the disposal can also help keep the unit clean; just make sure you use the rubber stopper to prevent ice pieces from flying out.
• Freshen up with citrus. Use lemon, lime, and orange peels to keep the disposal smelling fresh! The citric acid also helps prevent bacterial growth.

Routine Maintenance

• Power down the disposal to repair or unclog it. Safety first! Unplug the disposal at the outlet or flip the appropriate circuit breaker to avoid serious injury.
• Do not unclog with bleach or commercial drain cleaner. Harsh chemicals could fly up and out the next time you use it, potentially sending them at your face and eyes.
• Do not pull out clogs with your fingers. Avoid injury by using a tool, like pliers or tongs, to remove anything that isn’t passing through the blades.
• Snake the drain. It’s good to have the drainage pipe snaked approximately once every two years to prevent clogs and keep the sink draining smoothly.

Don’t fret! A few easy pointers for proper use, cleaning, and maintenance can help keep your disposal in good working order to maintain your kitchen hygiene — and your Arizona home warranty protection!

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