Q: My husband and I were arguing about what we could or couldn’t dispose of in our garbage disposal to keep it from clogging. Can you help us out?

A: Super question, and a subject of debate in many homes. The InSinkErator (ISE) Division of Emerson Electric Co. offers these dos and don’ts to dispose by:

● Do grind food waste only with a strong flow of cold water.

● Do grind hard material such as bones, fruit pits, etc. A scouring action is created by the particles inside of the grind chamber.

● Do grind citrus and other melon rinds.

● Do dispose of small amounts of fats and greases in your disposal. Be sure to have the disposal operating and use a strong flow of cold water. If you have a large amount of fat and grease, it is suggested that you place it in a container, allow it to solidify and then dispose of it in the trash.

● Do "flush" the disposal. Allow disposal and cold water to run after grinding or after draining sink of dishwater. Some detergents are caustic; flushing will pass such material into the drain line without disposal damage.

● Don’t use hot water when grinding food waste. However, hot water can be drained into a disposal between grinding periods.

● Don’t turn off the motor or water until grinding is completed and only a motor and water sound is heard.

● Don’t grind extremely fibrous material such as corn husks, artichokes, etc., to avoid possible drain blockage. Certain high-end disposers will allow grinding and disposal of these fibrous materials.

● The folks at ISE also recommend regular cleaning with a foaming garbage disposal cleaner, or a degreaser and a deodorizer. We find that grinding up a lemon or a lime once every week or two works great.

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