| Garbage disposals do not liquefy garbage, as is often | | | | quantities to freshen their disposers. |
| assumed. They merely chop larger food chunks into | | | | Also don't be tempted to get rid of tea bags, coffee |
| small particles that allow them to be swept away | | | | filters or other paper products, no matter how thin |
| down the drain. If you have a septic tank, a disposal | | | | they are. Do run ice cubes through the disposer |
| will cause it to fill up faster, even though it gives you | | | | occasionally to clean it, along with a few drops of |
| temporary convenience. They are definitely more | | | | orange extract to sweeten the smell. Another trick is |
| sanitary, as it immediately removes the food from | | | | to put in a couple tablespoons of baking soda, then a |
| your home, and eliminates bacterial growth. | | | | quarter cup of white vinegar. This fizzes like crazy |
| Another plus for garbage disposers is that people | | | | and freshens nicely. |
| tend to wash out cans and other food containers | | | | If your unit is making unusual noises or just stops |
| before putting them in the trash can, so that equates | | | | working, before calling anyone, do a little simple |
| to fewer smells emanating from landfills. On the other | | | | troubleshooting yourself, even if you're not the |
| side of that, composting is a great way to dispose of | | | | handy type. One caveat, however, for safety's sake. |
| your garbage and create a non-chemical, pile of | | | | Even if the power is turned off, never ever stick |
| fertilizer for your yard and garden. Just combine your | | | | your hand down into the drain with the disposer. |
| food scraps with leaves and grass clippings. But for | | | | If your disposer appears to be dead, here is |
| convenience in doing so, a covered kitchen container | | | | something you can do. With the power turned off, |
| will hold your food scraps until you find time to add it | | | | simply reach under the disposer and push the re-set |
| to your compost heap. | | | | button. Then run cold water into the drain and turn it |
| As a vote for having a garbage disposal, it is more | | | | on, it may just surprise you and take off. But if it |
| sanitary and convenient when cleaning up after | | | | doesn't, then make sure that the circuit breaker |
| dinner. But first scrape forbidden items into the trash | | | | controlling the disposer hasn't been tripped. |
| can and then rinse the plates into the disposal. One | | | | If you find that it is fully in the position it's supposed |
| thing to keep your disposer running free is to always | | | | to be in, then you probably have either a bad switch, |
| process garbage with cold water. And although it is | | | | or your disposer has gone kaput. At this point, you |
| not really necessary, it is a good idea to flush hot | | | | have the option of trying to replace the disposer |
| water with a drop of dish soap through it after cold | | | | switch yourself or calling for help. If you opt to do it |
| water processing a lot of food. | | | | yourself, be sure to turn off the circuit breaker first. |
| Another thing to keep your disposer running | | | | If your unit still doesn't work after the switch has |
| smoothly is to occasionally grind up small chicken | | | | been replaced, then you will need to replace your |
| bones, which helps remove grease from the | | | | entire disposer. |
| mechanism. But do not try to grind up large bones | | | | Now, on the other hand, if your disposer is making |
| because disposers are not made for that. Banana | | | | noise and trying to come on, turn off the power |
| peels should never to put through because they are | | | | immediately, as you probably have something stuck |
| too thick and fibrous. Other no-nos are onion skins, | | | | in it. Turn off the circuit breaker, and then insert the |
| grease, asparagus, raw celery, potato peels, cooked | | | | hex key wrench that came with the disposer into |
| rice, garlic ends, and onion and leek ends. | | | | the opening on the bottom of the unit and turn it |
| Egg shells, broccoli stems, carrot ends, seafood shells | | | | clockwise. If you hear a clanging sound, something is |
| are forbidden. Green onion tops, cabbage and lettuce | | | | definitely in there, but do not use your hand to pull it |
| cores, corn cobs, apple peels, peach, apricot, and | | | | out; use kitchen tongs instead. At this point, if you |
| prune pits should never be put in a garbage disposal. | | | | cannot dislodge the item and get the unit going, it is |
| Generally speaking citrus peels should not go either. | | | | a good idea to then call for professional help. |
| However some people do use lemons in very small | | | | |