How to Keep Your Garbage Disposal Running Smoothly 

Garbage disposals take a lot of the grunt work out of managing kitchen waste. From expired food to unwanted leftovers, they help us manage the mess we’d rather not keep in our indoor garbage cans (leftover chicken, anyone?). But like any hardworking appliance, your garbage disposal needs a little love to keep running smoothly. Here are some simple and effective maintenance tips to make sure your disposal doesn’t break down when you need it most. 

A quick ice flush can help keep your garbage disposal in good shape. Here’s how to do it: 

1. Run hot water in your kitchen sink until it’s extremely hot. 

2. Turn off the hot water and pour 2-3 cups of ice into the disposal. 

3. Turn the disposal on to grind the ice. This will help dislodge stuck-on debris. 

4. Turn the hot water back on to flush out the ground ice and food particles. 

It’s that easy! The ice acts like a scouring agent in the disposal and cleans the blades, while the hot water helps dissolve any grease or small bits of food left behind. 

To keep your disposal working efficiently, here are a few additional tips: 

• Just a minute: After the disposal finishes grinding waste, continue to run it and the water for about a minute. This ensures any remaining debris gets flushed out and prevents clogs from forming. 

• Just a little: When using your disposal, break food waste into smaller, bite-size pieces before feeding it into the sink. Drop the pieces in gradually, rather than all at once, to avoid overloading or damaging the disposal. 

• Just a toss: To keep your disposal smelling fresh and functioning well, toss in some citrus peels every so often. Lemon or orange peels not only freshen up the disposal but also help clear excess food particles. 

Garbage disposals are tough, but they’re not invincible. Although some foods can actually clean your disposal for you, many do more harm than good. Here’s what you should avoid: 

• Fibrous foods: Potato peels, celery, corn husks and asparagus can tangle up and clog your disposal. 

• Greasy foods: Avoid pouring cooking oil or fat down the drain. It solidifies and can cause clogs in the pipes. 

• Eggshells and coffee grounds: These items seem harmless but can form a gritty paste that leads to clogs over time. 

When in doubt, toss these into the trash! 

With a few easy maintenance habits, your garbage disposal can keep running smoothly for years to come. Following these simple steps not only helps prevent clogs and breakdowns but also keeps your kitchen smelling fresh. Keep your disposal clean, and it will do the dirty work for you!