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Garbage disposals are useful kitchen appliances that can help you clean as you cook. While breaking up soft food into small chunks helps it go down the drain better, you want to avoid overworking the machine. Taking a look at these six types of food that are safe to go down your garbage disposal helps you know when to use it versus tossing scraps in the trash.
1- Soft Fruits and Vegetables
Potato peels and other fibrous foods can quickly cause disposals to freeze up, but you can put small amounts of cooked vegetables and fruit down the drain. For instance, a small amount of peeled and mashed potatoes is less likely to create a clog compared to a raw vegetable salad. If you accidentally throw peels or other fibrous materials down the disposal, then reach out for plumbing services to stop the food from making its way further down the pipes.
2- Ice Cubes
Ice has the benefit of being able to melt if it causes the drain to clog. But, people also find that grinding up ice cubes can help to sharpen the blades on the disposal. Keep in mind that this method won’t fix an aging garbage disposal. If it’s failing to grind up food properly, then it may be time for a replacement.
3- Small Bits of Citrus Fruit
Large citrus peels can sometimes get stuck in the blades. However, you can use the acidic nature of lemon, orange, and lime juice to freshen foul-smelling garbage disposals. If you opt to use citrus fruit for deodorizing your disposal, then remember to avoid overdoing it. A small peel or squirt of citrus fruit is all you need to help break down odors.
4- Baking Soda and Vinegar
Regularly cleaning the garbage disposal helps reduce the chances of serious clogs. You can put baking soda and vinegar down the disposal as you might with other drains in your house. Simply put a small amount of baking soda in the drain, and follow it up with vinegar. After the solution stops fizzing, run warm water down the drain to flush the disposal and pipes.
5- Baby Food
Pureed food can easily go down the garbage disposal. If your baby doesn’t finish all of the food in their bowl or jar, then you can simply rinse it down the drain. Just make sure to adjust your habits as your baby begins to eat food with larger chunks. Once your baby is chewing their food, it may be necessary to throw the leftovers in the trash.
6- Residual Food Waste
Proper garbage disposal maintenance involves having everyone scrape their plates into the trash can before putting them in the sink. However, it’s common for some food residue to remain. In most cases, small smears of food and cut-up pieces will be okay going into the disposal. Just make sure to run it after every round of dishes.
While garbage disposals can help you cut down on trash, they shouldn’t be your go-to food disposal method. Teaching everyone in your household what items shouldn’t go down the disposal is important for preventing clogs. As a final note, remember to contact a plumber at the first sign of slow drainage. Repairing minor clogs and other garbage disposal issues helps to extend the life of your kitchen appliance.
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