Guidelines will help keep garbage disposal grinding away

Using a garbage disposal makes kitchen cleanup a lot easier, but, for best results, use it properly. As with any appliance, read the manual for instructions. Here are general guidelines.

Always run a strong flow of cold water during grinding and for at least 30 seconds after the foods are through the disposal. This helps liquefy the scraps and flush them through the drain. Don’t use hot water while grinding.

Don’t cram lots of food in at one time. Grind a small amount at a time. If you wash dishes in a sink with a disposal, be sure all small objects are removed from the sudsy water before you drain the sink.

Run the disposal each time you put food waste in it. This is particularly advisable in the less expensive models, which are more subject to corrosion from acids formed by food waste left for a long time.

Fruit pits and small bones are good for your disposal; they help scour out the grind chamber.

Do not grind big bones, corn husks, artichokes, corncobs, uncooked or liquid meat fat and clam shells.

With fibrous foods such as celery, chard, rhubarb, asparagus ends, banana peel, etc., cut into smaller pieces and put through only a small amount at a time with a full flow of water.

A disposal should stay pretty clean, but it’s a good idea to occasionally run baking soda or vinegar through it. Run the disposal to empty it. Fill the sink with three or four inches of warm water and stir in 1/2 cup of baking soda or 1 cup of vinegar. Turn on the disposal and at the same time remove the sink stopper to let the water churn through the system.

Don’t use chemical drain cleaners unless they’re made especially for garbage disposals.

It’s almost inevitable that a fork, dishcloth or other object will slip into the disposal and jam it. To free it, turn off the water and make sure the disposal is switched off at the wall switch and unplugged from the outlet under the sink. If your hand won’t fit, use a pair of tongs to retrieve the object. Finally, plug the power cord back in, push the “reset” button on the bottom of the unit and give it a try. If it still won’t turn on, check the house fuse or circuit breaker that protects the disposal circuit.

If you cannot retrieve the object with your hand or tongs, get out a hexagonal disposal unjamming wrench (or Allen wrench). Place it in the socket on the bottom of the disposal and work the wrench back and forth until the object can be retrieved and the grinder blades turn freely.

All disposals have overload protectors to avoid damage to the motor. If the disposal should stall, turn it off and pull out some of the food with tongs. Press the reset button on the disposal. If the button won’t stay in, wait five minutes and try again. If the disposal won’t start when the switch is turned on, check the house fuse.

Source: Michigan State University Extension Service