Plumbing Tip: How to Maintain Your Garbage Disposal
admin • April 8, 2013

Your garbage disposal grinds up food particles so that they can be added to your waste water disposal system, instead of being thrown in the trash. They were designed to reduce the amount of trash in landfills, and to create a more environmentally friendly way to dispose of food waste. But they cannot handle all types of food waste and they should only be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Because of what they’re used for and how much use they get, garbage disposals need routine maintenance just like any other system in the home. We’ve compiled a list of maintenance tips so that you can maintain your garbage disposal at home. If you need professional Olympia plumbing service, however, don’t hesitate to call the experts at Brooks Plumbing today!

  • Avoid certain materials. Don’t thrown bones, eggshells, coffee grounds, and other prohibited substances down the garbage disposal. Compost them or throw them in the trash. Also, make sure that no non-food items such as silverware or bottle caps are in the sink when you turn on the disposal. These can get stuck within the unit. The first step to maintenance is proper usage.
  • Freshen with citrus. Use lemon or orange peels to freshen up the garbage disposal occasionally. This will help eliminate foul odors from invading your kitchen.
  • Clean the blades. Throw a couple handfuls of ice cubes and a bit of rock salt into your disposal, and run it with cold water to clean the blades. You can replace distilled white vinegar for the rock salt if that’s closer to hand. This helps to remove debris from the blades so that it can operate effectively.
  • Use it regularly. A garbage disposal needs to be used on a regular basis to ensure that it works properly. Because of their proximity to water, unused moving parts have a tendency to rust and corrode when not used regularly.

Cleaning and unclogging your garbage disposal can be dangerous. It’s always better to have a professional come take a look at your disposal unit if you think there is something seriously wrong with it. For professional Olympia, WA plumbing, including garbage disposal repair, call Brooks Plumbing today!

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