Think about everything in your kitchen you rely on for dinner preparation and cleanup. A sink, microwave, oven, refrigerator, and freezer are likely to be at the top of your list. But what about a garbage disposal?
Here at Lane’s Appliance Repair in Lansing, we believe that a garbage disposal might just be the most overlooked kitchen appliance. But without proper usage, your garbage disposal is likely to become smelly, clogged, and dirty. There’s also the possibility this appliance stops working altogether.
In this post, we thought it would be good to discuss what not to do when operating your garbage disposal. Here are our top five mistakes to avoid:
Failing to clean the disposal correctly
We’re willing to bet your garbage disposal has accumulated a significant amount of food waste over the years. In order to ensure the long-term functionality of this appliance, it’s important to clean your disposal correctly.
Start by adding baking soda to a cup of white vinegar and using the mixture to freshen the system. Next, grind ice cubes as a way to remove any food particles that are trapped within the appliance. The last step involves throwing in a few slices of orange or lemons. Doing so not only keeps the grinding area clean, but it also helps suppress the growth of bacteria.
Using the wrong operating sequence
Pop quiz — what’s the right procedure for operating a garbage disposal? If you think you can simply turn on the appliance whenever and put whatever contents you see fit down the disposal, you’ll be in for a rude awakening down the road.
Before turning on the disposal, run some cold water to help the wastes reach the grinding chamber. Now you’re able to slowly put food scraps down as opposed to stuffing a whole bunch down at once. One more tip: be sure to run the unit for another 30 seconds or so once the grinding is done before switching the appliance off. You can think of this as a double-check that everything made its way down the drain.
Pouring fats into the disposal
Here’s a quick way to cause a plumbing nightmare. While it might seem convenient to pour fats and grease into your disposal, the reality is both affect the appliance’s blades, significantly reducing its grinding power. The safer bet is to dispose of fats and grease in the trash can.
Pouring in non-food wastes
It’s amazing the number of people who forget that their garbage disposal should be reserved for food items only. Again, there’s obviously a convenience factor with getting rid of things via a disposal. But what these people don’t realize is that non-food waste in this appliance typically leads to increased chances of clogging and damage.
Items to avoid putting down the garbage disposal include wooden matches, paper towels, cigarettes, and rubber bands. It’s also worth mentioning that coffee grounds are a no-no as well.
Keeping food waste in the disposal for an extended period of time
Let’s say you use the proper operating sequence with your garbage disposal and avoid pouring in things you shouldn’t. Now you’re wondering how long you should wait to clean out the appliance. At Lane’s Appliance Repair, we recommend grinding waste off at once so it’s completely removed from the unit. This quick and easy step will help prevent bacterial infestation, bad smells, and insects.
Failing to call for service
As a financially mindful homeowner, you try to cut home repair costs whenever possible, even if it means looking up how-to videos and doing the work yourself. Whether your disposal is leaking, slow, jammed, or stinky, you’re confident you can fix the issue yourself.
We’re here to tell you that what seems like a common garbage disposal problem can actually be quite the dilemma. Even the handiest of homeowners can have quite the difficulty attempting to resolve the issue. Rather than wasting hours on this type of repair, we recommend contacting an expert and avoiding the headache altogether.
Schedule Appliance Repair Service In Lansing
Lane’s Appliance Repair has been serving Michigan residents for over 40 years. During that time, we’ve seen just about every garbage disposal problem you can imagine. Fortunately, you’ve got the Lane’s team on your side.
When it comes to appliance repair service in Lansing, Lane’s sets the standard. We make it a point to arrive promptly, respect your home while we work, and, of course, answer any questions you may have. We’re firm believers in transparency, regardless of the scope of your repair needs.
Maybe you’ve been putting off garbage disposal repair for months and you’re finally ready for someone to take care of the problem. Rest assured that our friendly, factory-trained technicians will make the process simple and stress-free.
Schedule an appointment with Lane’s Appliance Repair today.