Turn on the wall switch — Located above the kitchen countertop.
Run cold water — Turn on the cold tap and let it flow while the disposal is running. This helps flush food waste down the drain and keeps the motor cool.
Feed in small amounts of food waste — Gradually insert scraps into the disposal while it’s running. Avoid large amounts at once.
Let it run a few extra seconds — After the food is ground up, let both the water and disposal run for a few more seconds to clear the drain.
Common items to avoid putting in a garbage disposal:
Fats, Oils, and Grease: These can congeal and cause blockages in your pipes, even if they seem to flow easily at first.
Coffee Grounds: While they might make your sink smell better, they can also cause clogs over time.
Eggshells: The membrane lining can wrap around the blades and cause clogs.
Fibrous Vegetables: Stringy vegetables like celery and asparagus can wrap around the blades and cause jams.
Bones: They can dull or damage the blades of the garbage disposal.
Starchy Foods: Pasta, rice, and potatoes can expand in water and form a paste-like substance that can clog your pipes.
Other items to avoid: Fruit pits, nuts, onion skins, and large amounts of vegetable peels can also cause problems.
