Kitchen Garbage Disposal

Hygiene is vital for any home, especially for the kitchen and toilets. Kitchen is one of the prime areas in the house that produces varieties of garbage. Installing an effective waste management or garbage disposal can help you keep the kitchen fresh and clean. Remember, bagged garbage or an unsanitary condition around your kitchen is an invitation to virus and bacteria.

Garbage disposal

A garbage disposal or a food waste disposer is an electrically powered device that shreds food wastes into small pieces to pass through plumbing. Garbage disposals are generally installed under a kitchen sink, exactly between the sink's drain and trap.

Fitted with a minimum one-half (1/2) horsepower motor, the garbage device has a shredder that breaks the food down in the grinding chamber. An impeller and arm fitted to the device force liquid and particles down the drain thus sanitizing the area. Dishwasher drains can also be connected to the garbage disposal so that any large particles are chewed up and drained away.

While most garbage disposal comes with an electric-powered motor, a new arrival in the market works solely on the force of the water from the sink spout. This model is ideal in places where there is no electrical outlet for a disposal beneath the sink.

A garbage disposal is not absolutely eco-friendly. The ground up garbage or the organic material that goes into the water supply needs to be further treated to keep the environment green. It is often preferred that vast majority of organic waste be better used for compositing.

Choosing kitchen garbage disposal system

There are a variety of garbage disposal in the market. Given the advantages and disadvantages, choosing the right one for your kitchen is really challenging. Hence, understand the following basic requirements before you chose one.

Look for the one with a stainless steel coating to avoid corrosion. Decide between a batch-feeding model and a continuous feed model. Batch feed disposals run when you insert a special sink stopper in the opening and turn to activate the system while continuous feed disposer are operated by a wall switch. Remember, larger the garbage disposal, quieter it will run.

Remember, the lifespan of your garbage disposal depends on the moisture and other conditions under your sink. Pay close attention to warranties and make sure that parts are readily available for your model.

Cleaning kitchen garbage disposal

A well-maintained garbage disposal will have a reasonable time span and help you keep your kitchen smelling fresh and your sink drain working properly.

Most garbage disposals come with a metal cylinder equipped with rotating impellers. In general, the insides of a disposal are covered with sludge and debris. Glass, metal, rubber objects, or highly fibrous food materials like cornhusks, shrimp shells, peach pits, artichoke leaves or large bones will need to be physically removed from the disposal. When left inside the disposal, bacteria may breed on them leading to lowered performance of the garbage disposal.

Before you start cleaning the disposal, ensure to turn off the power switch. Use tongs or pliers, to remove any non-disposable items stuck inside the disposal. Fill your garbage disposal with ice cubes and add some rock salt. Use a cup of vinegar in the absence of rock salt. Run cold water and turn on the disposal for few seconds. The combination is highly effective in knocking off the sludge and debris deposited in the disposal.

Purge your drain line periodically by filling the sink with 2-4 inches of water. Remove the drain plug and turn on the garbage disposal. Ensure to purge the drain line after removing sludge and debris from the disposal and after disposal of any fibrous food.

Citrus peels like oranges, lemons, limes, or grapefruits can be used to deodorize the disposer and freshen up your sink. After filling the sink with citrus peels, run cold water and turn on the disposal. It is ideal to clean your garbage disposal if you plan to go away from your home for a while.