Your Kitchens Most Powerful Appliance

For many, the real workhouse in their home is their garbage disposal. The motor on every disposal is measured in horsepower, so one would tend to think that it is powerful enough to handle just about anything you throw at it…right? Well, not everything.

Here are a few suggestions to keep in mind the next time you are putting something down your disposal, that will assuredly help you to prevent any floods or costly repairs.

Just Food

A disposal is designed to help rid you of food scraps and keep them out of your garbage. So, that is all you should be putting down it, and you must make sure to keep anything other than food out. This means paper, wood, glass, or plastic are all major no go’s!

Never Too Much Water

When using and engaging your disposal, it is necessary to flush it with plenty of cold running water. It is suggested by most all manufacturers that you run the cold tap before, during, and up to 15 seconds after using your disposal. Never, ever, run the disposal dry!

Stringy Foods Are Banned

Make sure that those tough scraps, such as the ends of celery, the bottoms of asparagus, or even banana peels, are not put down the disposal. They are too stringy and fibrous, and they should be put in your compost pie instead.

Hard Items Not Wanted

You may put eggshells down the disposal in small amounts, and the use of coffee grounds will help in the freshening of your drain’s aroma. However, unless you have a professional plumber in the family, never put bones, nuts, seeds, or fruit pits into your disposal.

Less Is More

Make sure to never overload the mechanism—a little at a time is the suggestion. Do not try to force a large amount of—well, anything—down all at the same time. Peels are okay in small quantities from time to time, but if you put too many down too often, you will only succeed in clogging the drain, and the peels made end up wrapping around the blades.