How To Use Garbage Disposal Correctly?

Table of Contents

• What Precautions Should You Take Before Using A Garbage Disposal?
• What Shouldn’t Be Put In A Garbage Disposal?
• How To Use Garbage Disposal Properly?
• What Are The Do’s and Don’ts of Garbage Disposal? 
  • Garbage Disposal Do’s 
  • Garbage Disposal Don’ts 
• How Do I Maintain My Garbage Disposal To Prolong Its Lifespan?
• End-Note

A garbage disposal is a device that grinds solid food waste into small pieces, making it easier to dispose of in the plumbing system.

Using the garbage disposal properly, you can grind food waste for up to 10 years. 

But if you misuse the garbage disposal and throw everything in it, it will reduce the garbage disposal lifespan. 

So, it’s a must to learn how to use garbage disposal properly to increase both efficiency and lifespan of the unit. 

And this guide will help you learn the proper use of your garbage disposal. 

What Precautions Should You Take Before Using A Garbage Disposal?

Before using the garbage disposal, follow these basic safety guidelines: 

• Close attention is required when using the garbage disposal near children. It will help reduce the risk of injury.
• Never put your fingers or hands into a waste disposer. 
• Flip the switch to the Off position before trying to clear a jam, remove objects from the disposal, or press the reset button.
• Use the wrenchette only to loosen a jam in your garbage disposal.
• Utilize long-handled pliers to remove objects from the garbage disposal.
• Never put clam or oyster shells, drain cleaners, forks, plastic, glass, and other non-food items in the garbage disposal.
• Position the stopper in place while not operating the garbage disposal to stop foreign materials from falling into the disposal unit.
• Never put materials other than food waste into the garbage disposal to avoid personal injury or property damage.
• Don’t use the sink containing a garbage disposal for purposes other than food preparation, like baby bathing or washing hair. 
• Stop yourself from disposing of paints, solvents, household cleaners, automotive fluids, and plastic wrap.
• Avoid storing flammable objects like rags, papers, gasoline, or aerosol cans near the garbage disposal.
• Check the disposal and plumbing fittings regularly for leaks.

What Shouldn’t Be Put In A Garbage Disposal?

Garbage disposal has sharp blades like a blender! 

It’s just a myth about garbage disposal, most homeowners believe. Because of this, they throw everything in the disposal and end up with problems like clogged drains or broken disposal. 

But the fact is- garbage disposal has impellers instead of sharp blades. It means you can’t put every type of food waste in the disposal if you want to use the unit for several years. 

Here is the list of what not to put in garbage disposal: 

• Hard items: Bones, fruit pits, and eggshells
• FOG: Fats, Oil, and Grease
• Fibrous foods: Corn husks, asparagus, potato peels
• Starchy foods: Pasta, rice
• Non-food items: Forks, plastic, glass

How To Use Garbage Disposal Properly?

To use the garbage disposal properly, follow these simple six steps: 

• Turn on a steady stream of cold water before and during operating the garbage disposal. The cold water helps to solidify the fats, making it easy to flush down.

• Turn on your garbage disposal before feeding food waste into the garbage disposal. 

• Feed small amounts of food waste into the garbage disposal to prevent overloading. Don’t put large volumes of food particles at a time. Otherwise, it causes overload and slows down the grinding process. 

• Keep running the garbage disposal until the food waste breaks down completely. 

• After grinding is complete, turn off your garbage disposal. 

• Run the cold water for 10 to 30 seconds after turning off your garbage disposal to flush the food waste down the drain smoothly.

What Are The Do’s and Don’ts of Garbage Disposal?

Garbage Disposal is not like your blender or the trash can where you can throw everything to dispose of. 

It has limitations. 

If you know the limitations and use the garbage disposal accordingly, the food waste disposer will serve you several years (7-8) reliably. 

This chapter will explain what you can and can’t do with garbage disposal. 

Garbage Disposal Do’s

Here is what you can do with your garbage disposal: 

• Run cold water before, during, and after using the garbage disposal. It helps the disposal to grind and flush down the food particles smoothly.
• Feed a small amount of food waste into the garbage disposal at a time. 
• Cut food waste into small pieces to reduce strain on blades and the motor.
• Turn on cold water for 20-30 seconds after grinding to flush the drain properly. 
• Use the garbage disposal regularly (like two to three times a week), even if there is nothing to grind. It helps to keep the moving parts inside the unit functional and prevent rust buildup. 
• Clean the garbage disposal regularly (once a week) using a disposer cleaner. 
• Grind citrus fruits like lemon and orange to freshen up the drain smells. 

Garbage Disposal Don’ts

Avoid these activities to keep your garbage disposal in tip-top condition:

• Don’t put FOG (fat, oil, and grease) in the garbage disposal. These items can build up in pipes and cause the drains to block. Instead, dispose of these materials in the trash can. 
• Don’t run hot water when grinding food waste. It’s alright to pour hot water between grinding periods that causes no issues. 
• Don’t feed a lot of vegetable peels at a time. Instead, run hot water, turn on the disposal, and feed the food waste in the disposal gradually. 
• Don’t put food waste into the disposal before running cold water. 
• Don’t put household cleaners or harsh chemicals in the garbage disposal. 
• Don’t turn off your garbage disposal until grinding is complete. 

How Do I Maintain My Garbage Disposal To Prolong Its Lifespan?

The average lifespan of a garbage disposal is between 10 to 12 years. To use your garbage disposal for a long time, you should follow these garbage disposal maintenance tips: 

• Operate your garbage disposal regularly (two to three times a week), even if there is nothing to grind. 
• Run cold water before, during, and after using the garbage disposal. 
• Clean the garbage disposal every week. 
• To clean the garbage disposal, fill the sink halfway with warm water and mix 1/4 cup vinegar with the water. Then, turn on the disposal and remove the stopper from the sink opening. It will help clean the loose particles and flush them away. 
• Grind citrus peels to keep the garbage disposal freshened up.
• Inspect the drain and dishwasher pipes connected to the disposal for leaks. 

End-Note

The garbage disposal is a contemporary kitchen appliance that simplifies post-meal cleanups.

Proper use of a garbage disposal can ensure its longevity and help you dispose of food waste conveniently.

To use the garbage disposal properly, follow these garbage disposal etiquette: 

• Turn on the cold water supply before, during, and after operating the garbage disposal.
• Don’t put food waste into the disposal before turning on the unit.
• Feed a small amount of food waste into the disposal at a time. 
• Don’t turn off the disposal until grinding is complete.
• Run cold water for 30 seconds after turning off the disposal to flush the drain smoothly.

Following the mentioned guidelines and practicing proper maintenance, you can operate the garbage disposal efficiently and trouble-free for years.