Garbage disposals are one of those modern conveniences of daily life that are hard to imagine living without. Our plumbers see people who love the convenience of their garbage disposal so much that they fail to take care of it and end up harming this system and the piping that runs throughout their home. Take it from us as your plumber and follow these dos and don’ts of garbage disposal maintenance to keep this essential appliance in good shape.
What to Do
First and foremost, keep your garbage disposal clean. As your plumber, we recommend pouring a little dish soap into your disposal every few days and letting it run for a few minutes with some cold water. You should also run your garbage disposal regularly, as frequent use prevents rust and corrosion. Additionally, always run your garbage disposal with cold water running.
What Not to Do
The most important rule of garbage disposal maintenance is to never, ever put anything down your kitchen sink drain that isn’t biodegradable. Remember that your garbage disposal isn’t a trashcan – it is for small food scraps only. Never put plastic, metal, paper, cigarette butts, grease, oil, or any other harmful material into your garbage disposal for best results, and never use hot water while your garbage disposal is running.