A working garbage disposal can be very useful for cleaning and keeping your kitchen smelling its best. Proper usage can also help lower how much garbage you contribute to landfills. However, your garbage disposal requires maintenance to work properly. Not doing so can lead to a smelly kitchen and a damaged garbage disposal. Luckily, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is here to teach you some simple ways to make garbage disposal maintenance much easier.

Here are five tips to make your garbage disposal maintenance more efficient:

Keep your hand out of there

While it may sound obvious, you shouldn’t put your hand down the garbage disposal, even if you’re trying to dislodge a clog. It’s possible to get it out, but the sudden release of tension in the blades can cause them to spin around and hurt you. You’re better off using tongs or some similar tool. If you still can dislodge the blockage, you can always call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing to help you out.

Use it often and use cold water

Like many machines, regularly using your garbage disposal can help it avoid getting rusty. Also, it’s a good idea to run the cold water whenever you use the garbage disposal. Doing this can help prevent greases and oils that get into the garbage disposal from clogging it up.

Cut up bigger items yourself

While the garbage disposal cuts up whatever you put down it, it isn’t super powerful. You should personally chop up larger items, such as carrots, before sticking them down the garbage disposal. It’s also a good idea to put bigger items in the garbage disposal one at a time. By doing this, you can help prevent clogs.

Clean it regularly

It’s easy to forget that the inside of your garbage disposal needs occasional cleaning. One easy way to clean it is to run it while you run cold water and dish soap down the drain for a minute. Alternatively, you can pour a mix of baking soda and vinegar down the drain to clean it.

Biodegradable food only

Despite the name, garbage disposals can’t dispose of all garbage. Generally speaking, the only thing that should go down a garbage disposal is biodegradable food. However, some other food-like items should stay out of the drain. These include:

  • Bones and other solid trash
  • Celery and other fibrous foods
  • Coffee grounds and other foods that make lots of sediment
  • Fruit pits
  • Excess grease and oils
  • Pasta and rice
  • Potato peels and other starchy foods

What makes Benjamin Franklin my best choice for plumbing maintenance?

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing has a long history of satisfied customers. What sets us apart are our valuable guarantees, including our repair guarantee and on-time guarantee. You can trust that not only will our plumbing technicians get the job done right, but they are also family-friendly, highly trained, and drug and background-tested. Best of all, our technicians are paid by the job, not by the hour. You can be sure that our pricing will be straightforward. We are happy to prove it in writing! Just ask to see our pricing guide so that you know exactly how much everything costs. How many companies can say that? Call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing today to solve your garbage disposal maintenance problems!