Not every homeowner has a garbage disposal under the kitchen sink, but those who do usually love the convenience of being able to flush food scraps directly down the drain. One of the biggest benefits is that a disposal can keep rotten food odors out of the garbage can, but if you don’t maintain your disposal from time to time, those odors might start wafting out of your drain.
Careful use and diligent maintenance will also extend the life of your disposal and help you avoid clogs. Use this guide to brush up on proper garbage disposal care and save yourself a little cash and trouble.
To Dispose or Not to Dispose
Carefully choosing what you put in the disposal can not only help you avoid clogs and breakdowns, it can also help you clean and maintain the appliance.
Be sure to avoid:
- Large bones, like pork and beef bones
- Potato peels, banana peels and other starchy foods, which can develop into a paste that slows down the blades
- Coffee grounds and eggshells, which can accumulate in pipes and cause clogs
- Fat and grease, which can coat blades and pipes, causing clogs and odor
- Celery, asparagus and other fibrous vegetables, which can tangle around blades
- Pasta, rice and other absorbent foods, which can expand in your pipes and contribute to clogs
Feel free to grind:
- Small bones, like fish and chicken bones, which can scour the inside of the disposal
- Ice cubes can have the same effect, especially if you combine them with a handful of rock salt
- Small scraps of biodegradable food — chop up larger pieces to help prevent clogs
- Citrus peels, which help clean and deodorize your disposal
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