A garbage disposal is one of the most amazing appliances in a kitchen. It takes care of all those wet, gross food scraps that we would rather not have to touch! It's amazing!
Here is some information about the garbage disposal and some ways to keep your garbage disposal running smoothly.
What is a garbage disposal?
Contrary to popular belief, a garbage disposal does not work like a blender. A garbage disposal consists of “lugs” which are larger metal pieces mounted on a metal plate with a hole in the center. These lugs are surrounded by a cylinder of metal blades. So the food goes down the drains, the lugs move in a circular motion, the food is ground into pieces by the blades, and water flushes the food particles out of the disposal, into the waste pipe, and is sent to a water treatment plant/your septic system.
Safety
A garbage disposal is designed to dispose of small amounts of food waste. This means that forks, knives, spoons, corn cobs, fingers, wedding rings, or bones of any kind should NOT be put into the disposal.
If your garbage disposal is making strange noises, stop using it and contact a handyman who can help you repair it, do not continue to use it!
Hygiene and General Usage
While the disposal is running, it is imperative that the water is running and cold. Using hot water with the garbage disposal can cause fatty foods to let and create grease, which will gum up the lugs and shorten the life of your garbage disposal.
Grinding grains, flour, or rice in the garbage disposal can create a sticky paste, which will be difficult to unclog.
Try to use small amounts of dish soap. Too much dish soap means that it will take a long time for the suds and foam to dissipate, so you will have a pile of dirty dishes waiting for the sink to drain.
To clean your garbage disposal, simply pour ½ cup baking soda down the drain, followed by a ½ cup of vinegar. This will create a chemical reaction which will sanitize the lugs and blades. Avoid using store bought chemical cleansers, as their ingredients can corrode the metal within your garbage disposal.
To sharpen a garbage disposal, grind up ice! And for a fresh scent, grind a piece of lemon!
