While the powerful grinding action and the loud noise that accompany it may make your garbage disposal seem indestructible, you can break the appliance if you don’t take care of it. Be careful about what you put down the drain to avoid costly repairs in the future. Follow the guide below to learn the best way to preserve your disposal.

Do:

Rinse it with cold water.

Flush the garbage disposal thoroughly and often with cold water from the sink. This helps wash away leftover food particles and other gunk that may clog the drain. You may be tempted to use hot water for its grease-melting benefits, but this can make a grease clog worse by pushing it further into the pipes.

Put most food in your trashcan.

It can be tempting to toss the majority of scraps down the drain when you have a garbage disposal. Resist the temptation because many foods can cause significant damage to the impellers. Some culprits include eggshells, coffee grounds, fibrous vegetables, rice, pasta, and hard items such as bones and corncobs. Put these items in the trash or compost instead.

Don’t:

Pour grease down the drain.

One of the worst things you can do for your kitchen drain is to pour grease or oil into it. Many of these fats, such as melted butter and grease from cooking meat, solidify at room temperature, causing terrible clogs. The smartest way to discard cooking grease is to wait for it to cool and then scrape it into the trash.

Use corrosive cleaners or chemicals.

Harsh chemicals in bleach and drain cleaner can quickly corrode your garbage disposal and pipes. Avoid using them when cleaning your drain; opt instead for gentle dish soap. The grease-cutting power of liquid dish soap is excellent for clearing away the gunk that might cause clogs. Squeeze a bit down the drain and run cold water for about 15 seconds.

If your garbage disposal needs repair, call the experts at American Water and Plumbing in Harrison, OH. These expert plumbers have been serving the Cincinnati area since 1962. They strive to provide practical solutions to plumbing and water problems at affordable prices. Hire the experienced plumbing staff for disposal repairs and a variety of other residential and commercial plumbing services. Call (513) 367-4888 to schedule an appointment, or visit the website to learn more.