Tips to keep your garbage disposal from clogging

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

A. Super question. Several misnomers surround the use of a garbage disposal and how to best maintain it, but thanks to a few tips from the In-Sink-Erator (ISE) Division of Emerson Electric Co. helpful advice is here. According to the disposal 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 in the grind chamber.

•DO grind citrus and other melon rinds.

•DO dispose of small amounts of fats and greases in your disposal. Be sure to have the disposal 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, let it solidify, then dispose of it in the trash.

•DO flush disposal for cleaning. Allow disposal and cold water to run after grinding or after draining sink of dishwater. Some detergents are caustic; flushing will pass such material into the drain line without disposal damage.

•DON’T use hot water when grinding food waste. However, hot water can be drained into a disposal between grinding periods.

•DON’T turn off the motor or water until grinding stops and only a motor and water sound is heard.

•DON’T grind extremely fibrous material like corn husks or artichokes.

•DON’T dispose of coffee grounds.