What Can We Dispose in our Garbage Disposer? – On the House
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What Can We Dispose in our Garbage Disposer?

By on August 12, 2015
garbage disposal

Q. My husband and I were arguing about what we could or couldn’t dispose of in our garbage disposer to keep it from clogging. Can you help us out?

A. Super question, and the answer to which we can all benefit from. Several misnomers surround the use of a garbage disposer and how to best maintain it, but thanks to a few tips from the InSinkErator (ISE) Division of Emerson Electric Co. helpful advice is here.
According to the disposer makers at ISE here are some “Do’s and Don’ts” to dispose by:
• DO grind food waste only with a strong flow of COLD water.
• DO grind hard material such as bones, fruit pits, etc. A scouring action is created by the particles inside of the grind chamber.
• DO grind citrus and other melon rinds.
• DO dispose of small amounts of fats and greases in your disposer. Be sure to have the disposer operating and use a strong flow of COLD water. If you have a large amount of fat and grease it is suggested that you place it in a container, allow it to solidify, and then dispose of it in the trash.
• DO flush disposer for cleaning. Allow disposer and cold water to run after grinding or after draining sink or dishwater. Some detergents are caustic; flushing will pass such material into the drain line without disposer damage.
• DON’T use HOT water when grinding food waste. However, hot water can be drained into a disposer between grinding periods.
• +turn off the motor or water until grinding is completed and only a motor and water sound is heard.
• DON’T grind extremely fibrous material like corn husks, artichokes, etc. to avoid possible drain blockage. Certain high end disposers will allow grinding and disposal of there fibrous materials. Check with the manufacturer.

The folks at ISE also recommend regular cleaning with a foaming garbage disposer cleaner, or a degreaser and a deodorizer — we find that grinding up a lemon or a lime once every a week or two also works great.

A high quality disposer can cost several hundred dollars, and is certainly worth the tender loving care recommended here.

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