GARBAGE WOES

Does a garbage disposal reside in your sink?  yes or no

Over the holidays I was 'taunted' for allowing food waste into the garbage disposal at a family-member's home. (Their waste system must be more sensitive.) 

Anyway it made me curious to look for the 'accepted' waste from a 'more responsible' user of a dispoal.

Naturally, I went 'a-lookin' to find the answers on the internet...here's what I found: 

According to a leading disposer manufacturer...
Do: 

• Grind food waste in a moderate flow of cold water.
• Grind hard materials (such as bones, fruit pits)...a scouring action is created by the particles inside the grind chamber.
• Grind citrus fruit peelings to freshen drain smells.
• Dispose of coffee grounds in your disposer (whether or not you are on metropolitan sewer or septic tank.)
• Flush disposer for cleaning...allowing disposer/cold water to run after grinding or after draining sink of dish water.
• Some detergents are caustic; flushing will pass such material into the drain line without disposer damage.
• Use a disposer cleaner, de-greaser, or deodorizer as necessary. (baking soda is good)

DON'T:

• turn off the motor or water until grinding is completed
• be alarmed.  Discoloration on the face of the grinding disc is normal...surface discoloration will not affect the life or performance of the disposer.

• grind fibrous material like corn husks, artichokes, etc. to avoid possible drain blockage

Remember...watch you fingers. NEVER put fingers down in the disposal unless it's turned OFF.


I don't feel so bad now about my 'disposal etiquette' after I've read these 'plumbers suggestions'.