Myth: All Foods Are Safe to Grind

Experts agree that disposals can handle most food waste efficiently, but certain items should never be put down the drain. Starchy food particles like pasta, potatoes, and fried rice create mush that clogs pipes; eggshells, shellfish, and coffee grounds don’t break down quickly, clogging drains.

FOGs (fats, oils, and grease) should never go down any drain, especially disposals; their combustion contributes to climate change when burned at landfill sites. This also causes clogs which is one of the most common problems with the disposal.

Most garbage disposals can easily handle peach pits, corn cobs, and small bones like those from roasts – most can even grind up beef rib bones without rattling your sink! According to Consumer Reports lab tests, most disposals can even shred them without creating noise pollution in your sink.

Myth: Ice in Garbage Disposals Sharpen their Blades

Garbage disposals have become a necessary feature in modern kitchens and can simplify clean-up after each meal. While these appliances can simplify life, proper care and maintenance must be provided to ensure optimal operation, prolong lifespan, and avoid malfunction and costly repairs.

• Unfortunately, misconceptions about garbage disposals exist, which could impede their effectiveness or lead to costly repairs if they malfunction unexpectedly.
• People often mistakenly believe that adding ice to the garbage disposal helps sharpen its blades.
• Unfortunately, this is simply a myth. Disposals don’t feature blades; instead, they feature small shredding impellers that grate up food waste like an automated cheese grater.
• Dumping ice down the disposal won’t sharpen these tools and may damage them further.

Moreover, it may prevent fats from dissolving in water, which could lead to clogs in pipes; therefore, it’s advised that when using any garbage disposal, always use cold water from your tap water source for best results!

Myth: Running Hot Water Helps Clear Clogs

A garbage disposal is both an indispensable kitchen appliance and potentially harmful to plumbing. Unfortunately, numerous misconceptions and common myths associated with its operation and care remain popular today.

In reality, running cold water before and after using your disposal is more effective as this prevents grease or fat from solidifying into an impenetrable mass that could block both pipes and disposal units. This can also develop leaks in the disposal which will need to be fixed.

Methods of maintaining your disposal include sending ice cubes down the drain and grinding citrus peels regularly into it, which will help eliminate foul odors without harming the machine. Furthermore, you must understand which types of food waste can and cannot be safely discarded – such as eggshells, coffee grounds, fibrous vegetables, rock salt, and fruit pits.

Myth: Lemons Clean Sharpen Garbage Disposal Blades

Garbage disposals don’t feature blades but impellers that grind waste into fine shreds that can easily be flushed down the drain. Ice cubes help clean them by acting as tiny scrubbers to break up any stuck-on gunk.

Ice also helps scrub harder-to-reach garbage disposal areas that may harbor debris, like coffee grounds, egg shells, potato peels, or celery stalks. Plus, dropping some ice before every use helps eliminate odors and prevent unpleasant garbage disposal smells!

To keep the disposal running smoothly and prevent clogs, run cold water before, during, and after each use. Also, avoid tossing solid objects like bones and fruit pits into it, as these could cause serious damage.

Myth: You Can Use Any Chemical Cleaner

A garbage disposal differs from traditional blenders in that it does not employ spinning blades. Instead, it pushes food waste against a ground ring and shreds it into tiny particles that can be flushed away with running water.

• Running plenty of cold water while operating your disposal is essential to help avoid clogs and bad smells.
• Avoid large bones and fruit pits that could damage your blades, corn husks or egg shells.
• If these items are put down the disposal, they could clog the machinery and lead to drain issues. Instead, discard or compost these materials.

Grease should never go down your garbage disposal as it will solidify and block the drain, leading to foul smells in your drains. However, baking soda and vinegar may help if it starts smelling again.

Myth: Disposals Eliminate the Need for Trash Bins

Garbage disposals help decrease the trash sent to landfills and incinerators by eliminating food-related odors, making them a necessary addition to kitchens. Unfortunately, however, no disposal can completely eradicate all waste in a home; certain items, such as avocado pits and coffee grounds, are best left for compost bins.

Many people mistakenly believe that placing ice cubes and eggshells at their disposal will sharpen their blades. Unfortunately, this is not true, as neither ice nor membranes from eggshells sharpen blades; on the contrary, both can become trapped within shredding impellers, potentially clogging pipes in the process.

Dumping food waste that expands in water into a disposal can cause it to clog, overheat, and cause other issues; it should instead be disposed of correctly using a trash bin.

Myth: Lemons Clean & Freshen Disposals

No one enjoys the unpleasant odor of a foul disposal. Still, easy and cost-effective solutions are available to clean and freshen it without needing to dispose of it entirely.

Baking soda and vinegar can both help eliminate odors and cleanse your disposal. Pour 1/4 cup of baking soda and one full cup of white vinegar into it. The bubbling reaction naturally kills germs, while this method may also dissolve any minor clogs that prevent drainage.

If your garbage disposal smells even after you use baking soda and vinegar to clean it, oxygen bleach may help. To use it effectively, switch off your disposal and sink before pouring six ice cubes into it and the bleach on top. After the fizzing stops, rinse your disposal with hot water.

Conclusion

Garbage disposals work efficiently if you understand how to care for yours properly. It can save you from costly repairs and extend the life of this essential kitchen appliance. Tommie’s Plumbing recommends following these guidelines to keep your disposal running smoothly and your plumbing safe from damage.

Best Sewer Lines Maintenance at Tommie’s Plumbing

At Tommie’s Plumbing, we understand that sewer line issues can disrupt your home and daily life. If you’re experiencing slow drainage gurgling sounds or suspect a frozen or damaged sewer line, don’t wait until the problem worsens.

With our expertise and dedication to quality service, we offer various services, including water heater installation, tankless water heaters, sewer and drain cleaning, assistance with high water bills, and fixing high water pressure issues.

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