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10 Things You Should Never Put Down Your Garbage Disposal

10 Things You Should Never Put Down Your Garbage Disposal

The garbage disposal is a valuable, and expensive, appliance which should not be missing from any home. However, like most appliances, this one, too, can get damaged if not handled appropriately. Since we believe that a proper use is a key for the long-term maintenance, our plumbers in London put together a list of 10 things you should never put down your garbage disposal.

1. Bones in the London garbage disposal

Bones are definitely not to be put down the garbage disposal. If you do so, they will go on spinning around with the blades.

And if they do make it through the garbage disposal, they will not be able to pass through the drain lines. 

2. Grease, oils, and fats

Oily foods will apply a film over the shedding teeth, decreasing their efficiency. After some time, the grease will start to decay, causing an unpleasant kitchen smell.

Also, our plumber in London would like to remind you that poring oils down into a garbage disposal may result in clogged pipes when the oils and grease become solid.

3. Egg shells in your London kitchen

Eggshells are not beneficial for the garbage disposal, either. The stringy membrane of the shell may gather around the disposal and start clogging the pipes.

Therefore, eggshells should be thrown in the thrash.

4. Fibrous foods

Strings of fibrous foods like celery, asparagus, and lettuce may also gather around the grinding teeth of the garbage disposal, messing with the appropriate motor operation.

In case you want to do so, our plumbers in London recommend you to throw the fibrous foods in small amounts and let the cold water run during, before and after using the appliance.

5. Coffee

Coffee is another food never to put down the garbage disposal. By that we mean coffee grounds, which might seem to go down easy, however, they are only going to gather and result in a mess formed in the drain.

6. Rice, pasta, and potatoes down the garbage disposal in London

Foods which contain a lot of starch can start clogging the pipes after some time. In case your favorite dish is the potato salad, make sure you peel the potatoes in a strainer, instead of putting their skin down the garbage disposal.

7. Non-food things

Our emergency plumber inLondon advise you not to throw other things, like cigarette butts, rubber bands, sponges, fabric and so on, into the garbage disposal.

8. Fruit pits

Obviously, fruit pits or seeds can be difficult to cut, therefore it is not recommendable to throw them down the garbage disposal unit.

9. Corn husks

Corn husks can be difficult to cut, therefore avoid throwing them into the unit, as well.

10. Raw meat with bones

Raw meat and bones are not likely to get through the garbage disposal, therefore avoid putting them there in the first place.

How to unclog the garbage disposal unit in your home in London

If for some reason you have put any of the food remains mentioned above and the garbage disposal unit got clogged, you should try and unclog it, or better yet call our local plumbers. No matter if you decided to do it yourself, or by seeking for professional help, here are a few steps which must be respected:

  1.        turn off the garbage disposal unit by switching it off; however, you can also pull out the power cord for extra precaution;
  2.        you will then need to see the source of the clog – most of the times, food remains get stuck in the drain, so you will need to check the drain as well;
  3.        you can try to move the blades of the garbage disposal manually in order to see if there is anything stuck between them;
  4.        you can use a set of pliers or tongs and try to remove the cause of the clog if you have found it.

Our plumbers in London advise you not to pour any chemical in the garbage disposal, as this type of device cannot be unclogged like the kitchen sink. Also, pouring water is not a solution for unclogging a garbage disposal. You can, however, use a plunger for unclogging it.

After managing to unclog it, you should let the water run through it for at least 15 minutes.

Another common situation in which your garbage disposal can get clogged is when various items, such as rings or other metal pieces fall into it. These are usually the hardest to remove and this is the best time to call for professional help in order to not damage the garbage disposal and lose your belongings.

Can plumbers near me help me clean the garbage disposal?

Another common situation is the foul smell caused by items that should not be thrown in the garbage disposal. This will require the unit to be cleaned. You should pay attention to the cleaners you use to clean and remove the bad odors.

Our local plumbers recommend homeowners to use dishwashing soap which is very effective in cleaning grease and also removing the smell. Grapefruit and lemons are also great when it comes to cleaning the food-waste disposer. Banking soda and vinegar are also effective in cleaning various appliances, so when you decide to clean the kitchen with these ingredients, you can use them to clean the garbage disposal too.

No matter the type of cleaner you decide on, always run the water in the grinding chamber in order to make sure the unit is clean. Also, prevention is the best way of keeping the garbage disposal clean, so don’t forget to keep the above-mentioned food remains away from it.

If you would like to know more about the foods never to put down the garbage disposal, or for any plumbing services in London, we invite you to contact our friendly staff.