Michigan State University Extension
Home Maintenance and Repair - 01500225
12/04/98 Garbage Disposers-Care
Use a strong flow of cold water and keep it running
at least 30 seconds after noise of grinding has stopped
to flush all food particles through the drainline.
Always use cold water when operating the disposer
to solidify fatty and greasy wastes so they will be
chopped up and flushed down the drain.
Hot water will not hurt the disposer and you may
safely run hot water from the sink through it. However,
use cold water when you are operating the disposer.
If you wash dishes in a sink with a disposer, check
to be sure all small objects are removed from the sudsy
water before you drain the sink.
If you have a continuous-feed disposer, move
silverware and other small items away from the edge of
the sink counter to avoid accidentally knocking them in
while it is running.
Do put small bones through; they help to scour the
sides of the grinding chamber.
Follow directions in the manual with your disposer
as to what should not be put through the disposer. Do
not grind large bones, or fibrous materials as corn husks
unless manual tells you can. With fibrous foods (celery,
chard, asparagus ends, etc.) put through only a small
amount at a time with a full flow of water. If drain line
is long and quite horizontal, fibrous foods or too much
garbage at one time can clog the line.
Do not put uncooked fat off meat into disposer as it
may clog. Do not pour liquid fats down line; solidify in
empty tin can in refrigerator, and dispose in trash.
Run the disposer each time you put food waste in it.
This is particularly advisable in the less expensive
models which are more subject to corrosion from the acids
formed by food waste left for a long time.
An unusual noise while disposer is operating may
mean a foreign object. Turn off disposer immediately and
retrieve the object.
With a continuous-feed model, use the cover as
directed to protect yourself when grinding bones or fruit
pits--small particles could possible be ejected by the
force of the disposer action. Avoid leaning over the
disposer if you are feeding waste into it while it is
running.
Never put you hand inside the disposer while it is
running.
All disposers have overload protectors to avoid
damage to the motor. If the disposer should stall, turn
off the disposer and the cold water. Retrieve the article
causing the problem. Press the reset button on the
disposer. If it won't stay in, wait a few minutes and try
again. If the disposer won't start when the switch is
turned on, check the house fuse.
This article was written by Anne Field, Extension
Specialist, Emeritus with references from the Maytag
Corporation.
This information is for educational purposes only. References to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. This information becomes public property upon publication and may be printed verbatim with credit to MSU Extension. Reprinting cannot be used to endorse or advertise a commercial product or company. This file was generated from data base 02 on 02/27/01. Data base 02 was last revised on 12/04/98. For more information about this data base or its contents please contact cook@msue.msu.edu . Please read our disclaimer for important information about using our site.
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