Garbage Disposal Maintenance

Many of our apartments come equipped with a garbage disposal. While the feature convenient and can help in many kitchens, there is some routine maintenance that needs to be done to keep the disposals functioning properly. If you are careful with what you put through your disposal, and keep it clean, it should provide you with many years of carefree service. Many of the common frustrations users experience can be avoided by following just a few tips:

Grind Thoroughly: Make sure you allow adequate time for everything to get ground and flushed with water. Leftover particles cause odors.

Clean Regularly:  At least once a week, take a bottle brush and scrub inside the disposal. This small maintenance step will go a long way to keeping it fresh.

Grab Citrus:  Fresh orange, lemon, or limes can help cut grease and eliminate odors. Simply grind pieces in the disposal.

Vinegar is Good: Freeze some vinegar in ice cube trays and blend in the disposal. This helps to eliminate bacteria which can cause odor.

Know what to put down the drain.

One of the most common garbage disposal questions is what you can run through the disposal. Here are a few basic guidelines:

Good:

-Cold water

-Small bits of food

-Egg Shells

-Cooked vegetables & Meat

-Breads

-Ice cubes

Bad:

-Grease

-Bones, fruit pits, small pebbles

-Stringy vegetables

-Pasta or rice

-Nut shells

-Vegetable and fruit peels

*Remember: the name may be deceptive, garbage disposals are for food waste,

not garbage.