Need some weekend plans? Read ahead and commit to a date with your trusty disposal.

Garbage disposals are the power horse of the average kitchen. They suck away food waste, slurp up flat soda, and in general help make homes a little less wasteful and a little more eco-friendly.

It’s not too difficult to keep your disposal working at its best. First things first, know what things aren’t supposed to be put into the garbage disposal. These are all things that can dull blades, cause clogs, or generally impede the performance of your garbage disposal:

• Grease, fats, lard, and oils

• Pulpy materials, like paper or wood

• Large or hard food items, like peach pits, coconut shells, and pineapple shoots

• Meat, skin, and bones

• Fibrous foods, like celery and banana peels

• Starchy foods, like rice and pasta

• Breakfast leftovers such as coffee grounds and egg shells

Next up is keeping that sucker (or chopper) sparkling clean. Unsure how to clean this contraption? Be unsure no more!

First, flush it out with water. This is going to work to dislodge any loose food waste, dirt, and grime. The best way to do this is by plugging the opening to your garbage disposal and filling the sink until there are around three inches of hot, standing water. Add some dish soap, swish it around, and then remove the plug so it can flush through the disposal’s pipes. Hot water is needed because it will liquify any grease or similar crud that’s built up on the insides of the pipes.

Next, throw some ice cubes and salt down the disposal. This might seem like a peculiar step, but trust us when we say it works. After the ice and salt are in the disposal, two and one cups of each respectively, turn on your disposal. It’ll be loud, but don’t worry – that’s part of the process. Turn on water from the tap to run during this process and the combination will work to remove sludge and other debris from the inner walls of your disposal. An added bonus of this step is that grinding ice works to sharpen your garbage disposal blades, improving its overall performance.

Now you want to give it a good scrub. For the love of your precious finger tips, absolutely do not put your hand inside your garbage disposal. We recommend using a long-handled scrub brush or an old toothbrush to reach inside and manually clean the inner walls of any remaining debris. You can do this with just water or with the help of some dish soap to be especially thorough. Like with previous steps, rinse it out with water afterwards.

Voila! Your garbage disposal is now clean. If you’d like to take further steps to freshen up the useful appliance, you can throw some citrus peels or essential oils inside and run it for added fresh scent.

If you’re in need of a garbage disposal installation, or have a clog you can’t quite clear, give us a shout and we'll fix you up!