Tips for Using a Garbage Disposal During the Holidays

Start by taking care of problems before people arrive for the holidays.

A common cause of kitchen sink clogs is when people do not use the garbage disposal properly. This often happens during the holidays, when people are helping with the dishes and not considering what goes down your drain. There may be a garbage disposal in place, but it can still become clogged by not following a few simple rules. Here are some tips to prevent clogs from occurring during the holidays.

Prevention steps

Start by taking care of problems before people arrive for the holidays. Fixing an existing issue, like a slow draining sink, will prevent the problem from getting worse with more frequent use during the holidays.

If the garbage disposal has not been cleaned out recently, complete the task now. Try putting ice, baking soda, cold water, and coarse salt into the disposal before turning the unit on. The salt and ice will help clean the grime and grit away found along the sides of the garbage disposal. The water and baking soda will help flush any grease away that has coated the inside.

Make sure to review what should and shouldn’t go down the garbage disposal with anyone who will be helping with cooking and dishes. It is not impolite to make sure everyone is on the same page about what foods go in the trash can! Foods that shouldn't go down the drain are those that are fatty, doughy, starchy, and stringy. This includes celery, gravy, pie dough, and potatoes. If thrown down the drain they can cause clogs in drains and pipes. It may be worth starting a compost bin specifically for these foods, and have guests scrape their plate off into the bin before the place goes to the sink for cleaning.

Make sure the garbage disposal is not filled to the brim before turning on. While it is designed to grind up food, it does still need room for this food to move around and effectively grind. If it is too packed, the blades can spin in place without moving the food around–or may get stuck and not spin at all.

If problems with a sink or drain do arise, call a professional plumber. Deeper clogs can require specialized tools to break up clogs and restore water flow; professional plumbing companies are able to quickly and efficiently provide this service.

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