6 DIY Tips to Take Care of Your Garbage Disposal

Keep It Clean

One of the easiest ways to care for a garbage disposal is to keep it clean. After each use, run some cold water mixed with dish soap through it to flush away food debris and grease that might clog it. Additionally, once each week, grind a handful of ice cubes with salt to clean its blades—this may save money from calling a plumbing service.

Avoid Hard and Fibrous Foods

Garbage disposals may seem indestructible, but they're still vulnerable. Avoid placing hard or fibrous food items such as bones, fruit pits, and corn husks into your disposal to avoid damaging their blades or becoming lodged within their motor - doing this may necessitate costly garbage disposal repair jobs down the line - instead, throw these into either your garbage can or compost bin instead of down your disposal.

Always Use Cold Water

Always run your garbage disposal using cold water. Cold water helps solidify fats or grease so the disposal can easily shred them. In contrast, hot water could melt fats that stick to its sides and pipes more readily, potentially leading to clogs requiring professional resolution services.

Grind Citrus Peels for Freshness

Consider grinding citrus peels like lemon or orange into powder to keep your garbage disposal smelling great. These peels can be used as freshening agents in your garbage disposal and leave behind an aromatic fragrance that makes an impression about its current state. Plus, this will use any leftover peels instead of simply throwing them away—providing regular maintenance that could save on plumbing repair services in South Hills down the line!

Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaners

Chemical drain cleaners might seem like the quick solution for clogging garbage disposals, but their harsh chemicals could do more damage than good - leading to costly repairs. Instead of turning to chemical solutions like chemical drain cleaners for help, try an all-natural remedy like pouring half a cup of baking soda followed by half a cup of vinegar down your disposal and letting sit before flushing with hot water - but if your issue persists consider calling your plumber in Washington, PA!

Run Your Disposal Regularly

Even if your garbage disposal is rarely used, running it regularly with cold water to keep all its parts moving is still recommended to help avoid rust or corrosion and ensure food particles don't build up and cause unpleasant odors. Regular use can save money in repairs or installations down the line.

When to Call a Plumbing Service

Even with careful maintenance, things may go awry at any point. When your garbage disposal starts making strange noises or draining slowly, calling in professional services might be your best bet. Trying to fix it on your own may result in more damage and an increase in repair bills. Leaving professional plumbers to diagnose and solve the problem quickly will save time and hassle!

Mr. Rooter Plumbing

Maintaining your garbage disposal can be straightforward. Simply follow these essential DIY tips for optimal performance, and you could eliminate the need for plumbing repair services and installation! Just remember: keep it clean; avoid hard or fibrous foods like bone meal; use cold water when running; grind citrus peels regularly as freshener; avoid chemical drain cleaners; run it regularly without interruption, and don't hesitate to seek professional plumbing repair help from Mr. Rooter Plumbing if issues arise.