Key Maintenance - Tip #34

Keep your garbage disposal running smoothly: (sourced various websites)

Since you throw all kinds of junk into your garbage disposal, it’s only logical it’ll need a little care and attention on a regular basis.

After use, make sure to always run the machine with cold water for a minute with dish soap inside. Cold water will help solidify any grease so it can be chopped up before hitting the trap.

As well as this minor periodic maintenance, you’ll need to make an effort to properly upkeep the unit. An easy way to do this is to toss a lemon or an orange into the disposal once or twice a month. The citric acid from the fruit helps break up any buildups of grease, and, as an added bonus, it smells great.

If the garbage disposal is giving off a particularly nasty smell, just pour 4 tablespoons of Borax down the drain and leave it to sit for an hour or so before rinsing with hot water.

My Home Expert focuses on prevention rather than repair (although we do repairs too - just in case you need help with your garbage disposal). Our Proactive Maintenance Plans target key potential issues in the home rather than waiting and fixing problems. You’ll be able to better budget your annual home maintenance expenses - we take the hassle out of homeownership.

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