Your garbage disposal is a useful tool. If it is working properly, then it can make it easy for you to dispose of food waste. It also helps keep your drains unclogged. However, there are several things that you will need to do in order to maintain your garbage disposal.

Use a lot of Water

You will need to run water every time that you use your garbage disposal. After you have finished your garbage disposal, you will need to let it run for an additional 20 seconds. If there are any particles left over after you finish using your garbage disposal, the water will get rid of them.

Be Careful What You put in the Garbage Disposal

Pasta, eggshells, fat and rice are some of the things that you should not put in your garbage disposal. Rice and pasta have a tendency to expand when you put them in the garbage disposal. If you run water after you use your garbage disposal, then a blockage can easily develop if there is rice and pasta in the disposal.

Fat can also expand when it is put inside of the garbage disposal. Eggshells can stick to the walls. Paper napkins, cigarette butts and bones should not be placed in the garbage disposal.

Clean the Garbage Disposal

It is natural for sludge to build up inside of your garbage disposal over time. Do not use any harsh chemicals inside of your garbage disposal. Baking soda and vinegar are some of the natural things that you can use in order to clean your garbage disposal. The baking soda and vinegar will create a natural reaction that will remove sludge.

You can also use ice cubes in order to clean your garbage disposal. You can grind up the ice cubes. Additionally, you can use dish soap in order to clean your garbage disposal.

Do not Put too Much Things Inside of the Garbage Disposal

If you put too much food inside of your garbage disposal at once, then it will likely get clogged. Put a little bit of food in the garbage disposal at one time. Grind up all of the food before you put more inside of the garbage disposal.

Avoid Putting Your Hands in the Garbage Disposal

If food is stuck inside of the garbage disposal, then you may be tempted to put your hands inside of the disposal to remove it. However, this can cause an injury. You can use pliers to remove something that is stuck inside of the garbage disposal. If you are still unable to remove whatever is stuck inside of your garbage disposal, then you will need to call a professional to repair. Garbage disposals use water and electricity, so you can hurt yourself if you attempt to repair one yourself.