Almost everyone has a garbage disposal, but just how much do you know about it? Do you know how it works? Or the best way to clean it? What items shouldn’t you put into your garbage disposal?
How they work
A garbage disposal is not the same thing as a blender. There aren’t any blades down there. Instead, disposals have “lugs” that are mounted on a spinning plate.
According to Insinkerator.com, the plate uses “centrifugal force to continuously push food waste particles against a stationary grind ring.”
It’s this grind ring that breaks down food into smaller particles, almost turning them to liquid. Once this happens, the water you run through the disposal flushes the food bits out of your disposal and into the wastewater pipe.
Always keep the water running while you use your disposal. Leave it on for about 30 seconds after all particles are ground up. This ensures the debris is completely flushed from your disposal rather than still in your sink where it could cause a clog.
Clean your garbage disposal
- Before clearing anything from your disposal, make sure the power is off.
- If possible, use tongs or pliers to pick up food items that may be stuck.
- Howitworks.com recommends using two cups of ice cubes and either a cup of rock salt or vinegar to rid your disposal of bad smells.
- Put citrus peels down the disposal to keep it smelling fresh .
Don’t put these into your disposal
Here is a list of things you never want to put into your garbage disposal.
- Grease, oil or fat. Once it cools, grease solidifies, so it should never be put down any drain.
- Vegetables like stringy celery and starchy potatoes. These can easily get wrapped around the lugs and cause your disposal to back up.
- It can expand in water and clog your disposal.
- Pits and seeds from fruits. These can easily damage your disposal plate.
- Your disposal is not designed to break down bones and other hard items.
Got a problem with your garbage disposal? Not sure what to do? Call Eyman Plumbing at 402-731-2727.
