Do’s and Don’ts: Garbage Disposals and Food Waste

You may assume garbage disposals are the work horses of the kitchen, devourer of all food scraps and anything else you don’t want to scrape into the trash. While this may be true in one sense, you may be surprised to learn that there’s a lot you shouldn’t be throwing down there. With its name being its biggest enemy, the garbage disposal isn’t meant to capture all food waste and by-products. Hint: grease and fats are two big offenders.

Any plumber in San Antonio will tell you the amount of calls they get from homeowners who have unknowingly abused their garbage disposals and need a repair or replacement.

What You’re Doing Wrong

Many homeowners bypass the trash and scrape all the leftovers off their plate into the garbage disposal, but these handy kitchen machines aren’t actually designed for that. Instead, garbage disposals are meant to grind up all those leftover bits that are left on the plate after you have scraped the big stuff into the trash.

The way you’ve been doing it is a much more expensive way of avoiding having to touch chunks of food and dirty sink strainers. Here’s a look at how to responsibly use garbage disposals.

Do’s

Here are some good ways to use your disposal. DO:

Keep it clean

It’s inevitable that a coating of gunk will form in your garbage disposal over time, which can interfere with optimal functioning. It can also start to smell. To clean your garbage disposal, throw a cup of ice cubes and some dish soap in there and run it. The ice will serve to get the gunk off while the soap will clean what’s underneath. Alternatively, you could also use some white vinegar or baking soda for foaming action and to add freshness. Check the manufacturer’s guide, as different disposals require different cleaning methods.

Run your disposal regularly

This will prevent rust and corrosion from setting in, while keeping all parts moving and preventing obstructions from accumulating.

Use cold water

Grind food waste using a strong flow of cold water, which will help stray grease or oils to solidify so that they can be chopped up prior to reaching the trap.

Add small pieces

Cut large food items into small pieces and put them in the garbage disposal one at a time. Shoving a large amount of food in at once is asking for trouble. Better yet, scrape all food scraps into the trash before adding the tiny bits to the disposal.

Grind up a lemon or orange wedge

Every once in a while, add a wedge of orange or lemon to your disposal. The fruit’s oils and juices will naturally clean the walls of your disposal, leaving behind a fresh scent.

Remove odors with baking soda

Sprinkle some baking soda in the drain, letting it sit for a few hours to remove stubborn odors. Run the water and disposal afterwards to wash it away.

Don’ts

When using your garbage disposal, DON’T:

Use it for high-volume waste

While the disposal and your pipes can easily handle a few scraps, don’t be tempted to scrape plates of leftovers down there that have been in the fridge for a week.

Add starches

Refrain from throwing rise, pasta, potato peels, and mashed potatoes into your disposal unless they are just small scraps from your plate that have already been scraped into the trash. Starches turn gooey when in contact with water, and will eventually clog.

Add anything stringy or hard

Because disposals don’t have actual blades, they can’t handle hard things like corn cobs and bones. Stringy foods such as celery, corn husks, onion skins, and rhubarb will cause clogs. Garbage disposals aren’t designed to cut things up, so things will just move around in there, with hard and stringy stuff getting twisted and caught.

Add granular bits

Don’t put seeds, coffee grounds, popcorn kernels and egg shells down the disposal, as they can get caught between the shredder ring and the disposal wall. When the disposal can’t move, the breaker will be tripped. This means when you flip the switch for the disposal, you will only hear a buzzing sound.

Add non-food items

Never add something that is not biodegradable food waste, as non-food items can damage the motor and impellers. It sounds like a no-brainer but don’t attempt to grind plastic, glass, metal or paper in your garbage disposal.

Pour hazardous materials down the drain

This will damage or corrode the unit and entire plumbing system. Plus, it’s illegal.

Pour grease, oil or fat down the drain

Grease will accumulate over time, compromising the garbage disposal’s grinding ability and leading to clogs when the oils solidify.

Use hot water

When grinding food waste, don’t run the disposal with hot water. This will cause grease to liquefy and build up, eventually leading to clogs.

Get a Free Quote From Plumb Star Plumbing

Plumb Star Plumbing is your go-to resource for timely and affordable garbage disposal installation and repair. For a free quote, contact us at (830) 981-8702.