How to Unclog a Garbage Disposal

 

Garbage disposals help minimize drain clogs by breaking up foods that are disposed of down the drain. A garbage disposal is attached to the underside of a kitchen sink drain and contains an electric motor and blades that break down food.

The blades chop up food scraps into small pieces before they reach the drain pipe where the particles are flushed down the drain with water from the tap.

 

You can avoid a clogged garbage disposal by knowing what can and cannot go down a garbage disposal. Typically, garbage disposals can handle food scraps, like pieces of fruit, cooked meat and vegetable scraps.

However, there are certain biodegradable items that shouldn’t be put down a garbage disposal. These include fibrous scraps like celery, onion skin and cornhusks. While these are all organic matter, pieces can get tangled in the blades.

You should also avoid putting oils and fats like bacon grease, butter and cooking oils down the drain as they can coagulate and cause blockages that lead to clogged disposals. The same goes for putting pasta, rice and some starchy vegetables down the garbage disposal. These foods can expand when wet and create a paste that causes garbage disposal clogs.

Keep items like banana peels and hard items like fruit pits or bones out of your garbage disposal. And, always avoid putting nonfood items like paper scraps or cigarettes in the garbage disposal.

Coffee grounds can also cause trouble in a garbage disposal. Putting coffee grounds down your disposal might seem like a good way to make your kitchen smell good. However, grounds will quickly build up at the bottom of your drain and create a thick sludge that can lead to a clogged disposal.

If you’d like to deodorize your drain, it’s best to put small pieces of citrus peel down your garbage disposal. There are also garbage disposal drain cleaning products, like Liquid-Plumr^® Pro-Strength Clog Destroyer Gel.

So, how do you fix a clogged garbage disposal? If your kitchen sink isn’t draining and seems jammed, you can plunge it using a kitchen plunger to dislodge the debris that’s clogging your disposal. (Note: A kitchen plunger is different than a toilet plunger.

STEP 1:

To plunge the drain, tighten a clamp over the rubber part of the drain line to your dishwasher, which can be found under your sink.

 

You can use drain cleaner in a garbage disposal. Liquid-Plumr^® has many drain cleaning products that are safe to use to unclog a garbage disposal. Our drain cleaners can help tackle your toughest garbage clogs and clean your disposal.

To deep clean your disposal, use Liquid-Plumr^® Disposal & Drain Cleaner. Drop one quick-dissolving pack into your disposal to clear the drain and leave a fresh citrus scent. You could also use Liquid-Plumr^® Pro-Strength Clog Destroyer Gel.

 

Use our garbage disposal drain tips below to know how to unclog your garbage disposal and to prevent clogged disposals. Make sure you are using your garbage disposal as directed by the manufacturer. Also, always run water while you’re putting food down the disposal. And, know what should and shouldn’t go down your garbage disposal.

To prevent clogs, you can use Liquid-Plumr^® Pro-Strength Clog Destroyer Gel or Liquid-Plumr^® Disposal & Drain Cleaner periodically to help keep your garbage disposal running smoothly.

 

With proper care and maintenance, you won’t have to empty your garbage disposal. It’s meant to empty automatically. But, all disposals are different, so refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for garbage disposal maintenance.

 

If you are using and maintaining your garbage disposal properly and it still clogs often, or takes a long time to grind up food, is leaking or making unusually loud noises, you may want to talk with a plumbing professional to learn more about how to unclog your garbage disposal and resolve bigger issues. These signs may indicate it’s time to replace your garbage disposal.

 

If you use your garbage disposal as directed by the manufacturer and avoid putting in items you shouldn’t, then your garbage disposal should not negatively affect your septic tank. Proper maintenance of your garbage disposal and your septic tank will help keep everything running smoothly.

Check out our article All About Septic Tank Cleaning.

For more information on how you can use Liquid-Plumr® products, visit our FAQs page.