Prolong the Life of Your Garbage Disposal: 10 Maintenance and Care Tips

by Andrea Norris-McKnight

Not sure if you’re properly caring for and maintaining your disposal? Follow these tips to get as much use from your disposal as you can.

I recently discovered water leaking from the bottom of our garbage disposal. While researching the problem online, I learned some things about caring for and maintaining a garbage disposal that we were neglecting — things that may have contributed to our disposal’s early demise.

We had to replace our garbage disposal. Although we were able to do it ourselves and keep the cost down, it isn’t an expense or job I want again over the next decade. You can bet I’ll be using the following guidelines for proper disposal use, maintenance and care to prolong the life of our new garbage disposal.

1. Run cold water before, during and after use.

Cold water helps solidify grease and oils, making them easier to grind and preventing buildup. It also helps to flush waste through the disposal and plumbing system.

2. Use biodegradable detergent.

Some detergents can cause corrosion or buildup. A biodegradable detergent can limit damage to your disposal.

3. Avoid using harsh chemicals

Steer clear of bleach, drain cleaners or other corrosive chemicals when possible. They, too, can damage the disposal’s components and your plumbing system.

4. Gradually feed waste.

Avoid overloading your garbage disposal. Feed food waste in small amounts and allow it to grind completely before adding more.

5. Only grind small, soft food waste.

Avoid putting large or hard items into the disposal, such as bones, fruit pits, or fibrous materials like corn husks, potato skins or onion skins. These can damage the blades, cause clogs or strain the motor. (Use these tips to minimize food waste and the need to use the disposal.)

You should also avoid putting coffee grounds and eggshells in your disposal. According to AllRecipes.com, both of these things can clog it up. But they are great for composting!

6. Keep it free from grease and oil.

Never pour grease, oil or fats down your garbage disposal. They can solidify and cause clogs or buildup.

7. Regularly clean the disposal.

At least once a month, clean the disposal by grinding ice cubes and rock salt or a few citrus peels. This helps remove buildup and deodorize the unit.

8. Properly reset and maintain it.

If your garbage disposal becomes jammed, fixing it is easy:

1. Turn it off and unplug it.
2. Use the provided wrench or a hex key to manually rotate the blades and dislodge the obstruction.
3. Press the reset button before plugging it back in and turning it on.

9. Inspect for wear and tear.

Periodically inspect the garbage disposal for signs of wear, such as leaking, abnormal noises or decreased performance. Address any issues promptly to avoid further damage.

10. Know when to replace your garbage disposal.

What is the typical lifespan of a garbage disposal? According to Bob Vila, garbage disposals typically last about 10 to 15 years, depending on usage and maintenance. If your disposal is reaching the end of its lifespan, consider replacing it and avoid costly repairs or plumbing issues.

How Many of These Garbage Disposal Tips Are New To You?

I knew some of these things, such as not putting things like potato peelings in the disposal. (I once learned that the hard way years ago.) But we were guilty of doing some of these things regularly.

Hopefully, these guidelines can prevent your garbage disposal from dying an early death as ours did.

Related:

• Maintain Your Appliances and Save
• Cutting Your Electric Bill: The Refrigerator
• Do-It-Yourself Dryer Vent Cleaning

Reviewed April 2023