Kevin Szabo Jr Plumbing - Plumbing Services│Local Plumber│Tinley Park, IL

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Misconceptions About Garbage Disposals

We need to change the name of garbage disposals to something else, since a lot of people are confused by the meaning of it. There is a misconception that you could put whatever you'd like down the sink, and your garbage disposal will grind it and dispose of it. That is 100% False. Garbage disposals grind down food to tiny little pieces and dispose of it down the waste pipes. They are meant to make disposing of food easier. It doesn't mean that it could actually take everything you want to feed it.

The following items are NOT ALLOWED:

  •  Bones

  •  Anything String-like, such as corn, celery stalk, or the inside of a pumpkin.

  •  Peels, such as onion peels, potatoes peels, or banana peels.

  •  Starchy Foods- pasta or bread.

  •  Oil or anything greasy

  •  Metal

  •  Paper

  •  Glass

  •  Aluminum Foil

  •  Plastic

  •  Cigarette Butt's

  •  Nut Shells 

  •  Wood

**Never put your hand or fingers down the disposal**

Garbage Disposal Maintenance

We understand since it's under your sink, you can't see it and might not feel like cleaning it. Guess what? You need too. If you don't, you're just growing nasty mold and bacteria inches away from where you put your plates and silverware. Let's not forget the smell. Yuck!

Once a month: take a 1/2 a cup of baking soda & 1/2 of vinegar. Pour it down the sink. Let it sit there for 15 minutes. It will start to bubble up. That means it's working.

Next, slice up a lemon, and a cup of ice. Put it down the garbage disposal. Turn on the garbage disposal and let it grind.

Finally, turn on the cold water for a few seconds to run everything down. It should smell great. Remember, if you maintain your garbage disposal it will last longer, avoid nasty smells and keep away mold.

If you use your garbage disposal frequently we suggest you put lemons and ice down the disposal weekly. 

Remember to always maintain