Follow These Tips To Get Your Garbage Disposal Ready For Summer!

Summer is a time of barbecues, backyard parties, and potlucks with relatives. With all that food being served to your guests and relatives, your garbage disposal will see a lot of heavy use. That's why it's important to make sure that your garbage disposal is clog free and ready to work hard. These tips will help you get your garbage disposal ready for summer. 

Clear the Drain

A slow moving drain indicates that there's a clog in the pipes beneath the garbage disposal. Chemical drain cleaners can be hard on garbage disposals and may not be safe to use on your unit. Luckily, there are many natural products that you can use in your home to clear the garbage disposal plumbing. Flushing these products down the garbage disposal can help clear the pipe and improve the drainage. These products include:

  • Vinegar. Vinegar is a natural cleaner that is mildly acidic. Flushing the system with vinegar will loosen the organic materials that clog your pipes and will help you improve the drainage. 
  • Salt. Coarse sea salt reacts with vinegar and serves as a catalyst that can help clean out the pipes.  
  • Baking soda. Baking soda has a way flushing out grease and caked-on grime. When combined with hot water or vinegar, baking soda is a powerful cleaner that can cleanse the pipes. 

Deodorize the Unit

You may have noticed that your garbage disposal has taken on a funky smell in recent months. That smell is the result of bacteria and will only get worse when you start using the garbage disposal more frequently. To deodorize the disposal, sprinkle it with baking soda. Leave the baking soda sitting in the unit for several minutes while you're boiling a quart of water. When the water is boiling, use it to flush the baking soda away. Repeat this process as necessary, until your garbage disposal has no identifiable smell. You can also put lemon peels or orange peels down the disposal to get a nice smell.

Keep the Blades Sharp

Over time, the blades on your garbage disposal can become covered in a layer of gunk that can dull the blades and make the garbage disposal less effective. To remove this layer of garbage and keep the blades sharp, load the disposal up with ice and coarse sea salt. Next, run cold water in the unit and turn the unit on. Doing this will ensure that your garbage disposal is up to the challenge of grinding all that extra food over the summer. 

For more tips and tricks about how to maintain your garbage disposal, speak with a reputable plumbing professional in your area. If your garbage disposal needs servicing, either because of a tough clog or a malfunction, contact the plumber before it's time to start your backyard barbecues. 


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