Have you just bought a Whirlpool garbage disposal to upgrade your kitchen? Congratulations! This is one of the best investments you can make to help keep your sink area clear and clean from food waste. But if you’ve never had a garbage disposal before, then you might be wondering how to use it properly. And rightfully so! It’s important to know how to safely and efficiently use your garbage disposal, so you can avoid any potential mishaps or damage.
In this blog post, we’ll go over the basics of how to use a garbage disposal: Whirlpool edition. We’ll help you get started with your new appliance and provide you with some key maintenance tips so your new disposal stays in tip-top shape for years to come. Let’s get started!
What Is a Garbage Disposal?
Let’s start with the basics: what exactly did you just buy? Well, a garbage disposal is an electrical device that you install under your kitchen sink to help shred food waste into tiny pieces, allowing it to easily pass through your plumbing and avoid clogs.
You’ll find that it’s not only a huge time-saver in the kitchen, but it’s also an eco-friendly alternative to throwing food waste in the trash. The shredded food particles may be treated at your local wastewater treatment plant and turned into fertilizer for crops, rather than sitting in a landfill and producing harmful greenhouse gases.
How to Use Your Whirlpool Garbage Disposal
So, now that you’ve installed your garbage disposal, how do you actually use it? Well, the good news is that whether you have a continuous feed or batch feed model, the steps are quite simple.
How to Use a Whirlpool Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal
Step 1: Turn on the Cold Water
Before you start using your disposal, make sure to run cold water from your faucet. This will help keep the motor and blades cool and prevent overheating.
Step 2: Gradually Add Food Waste
Now, turn on your disposal and begin to slowly scrape food waste into it while it’s running. Not just any old food, though – there are certain types of items that you should avoid.
For example, don’t throw in large chunks or hard items like bones or fruit pits, as these can damage the disposal. Instead, stick to soft food waste like vegetable peelings and small scraps of food.
Step 3: Continue Running Water
After scraping all of your small, soft pieces of food waste into the disposal, continue to run cold water from your faucet for at least 15 seconds after it has finished grinding. This will ensure that all the food particles have been flushed away and prevent any potential clogs.
Step 4: Turn Off the Disposal
Finally, once all the food waste has been shredded and washed away, it’s time to turn off the disposal. It’s important to note that you should never turn off the disposal while it’s still grinding – wait until everything has been fully flushed out.
How to Use a Whirlpool Batch Feed Garbage Disposal
Step 1: Remove the Stopper
Unlike continuous feed models, batch feed disposals require you to add food waste and then cover the opening with a stopper. This serves as a safety feature and prevents any accidents from occurring while the disposal is running. So, begin by removing the stopper.
Step 2: Add Food Waste
After removing the stopper, start scraping your food waste into the disposal grind chamber – don’t pack it too tightly, though. Remember to avoid throwing in any hard or large items that could potentially damage the blades.
Step 3: Turn on the Water and the Disposal
Now, turn on the water faucet – get a medium-to-strong flow going for best results. You’ll need to keep the water on the entire time the disposal is in operation, so don’t turn it off just yet!
Step 4: Put the Stopper Back Into the Sink Opening
With batch feed models, you’ll need to put the stopper in the correct position before the disposal will start. So, put the stopper back into the disposal position, and turn it left or right to get it going. The disposal will begin grinding up any food waste you’ve added.
Step 5: Continue to Run the Water and Disposal After Grinding is Complete
After all the food waste has been ground up and flushed out, continue to run the water for a few more seconds to ensure everything has been removed from the grind chamber. Then, turn off the disposal by turning it in the opposite direction from which you turned it on.
Step 6: Rinse and Clean Up
Once you’ve turned off the disposal and water, remove the stopper and rinse it off. Then, use a small brush or cloth to clean any remaining debris from the inside of the grind chamber.
Garbage Disposal Maintenance Tips
If you want to keep your Whirlpool garbage disposal running smoothly and efficiently, here are a few tips for proper maintenance:
- Always use cold water in your garbage disposal. Hot water can melt fats and oils, causing them to solidify and clog your drain.
- Learn what you can and cannot put in a garbage disposal. Certain items can damage the blades and cause clogs.
- Consider adding citrus peels to your garbage disposal. These will help to freshen up any unpleasant odors.
- Never pour grease or oil down your disposal. They can solidify and cause clogs.
- Avoid using harsh chemicals like Drano in your disposal, as they can damage the blades and pipes. Instead, try natural cleaning solutions like baking soda and vinegar.
- Turn it off immediately if you notice any strange vibrations or humming noises coming from your disposal. Check for any loose or stuck objects.
By following these tips and properly maintaining your Whirlpool garbage disposal, you can extend its lifespan and avoid costly repairs.
Happy Grinding!
Now that you know how to use and maintain your Whirlpool garbage disposal, you can enjoy a cleaner and more efficient kitchen. While I hope these tips have been helpful, remember to always read the instruction manual for your particular model, and practice caution when using any appliance. With proper use and maintenance, your Whirlpool garbage disposal will make your daily clean-up routine a breeze!
So go ahead and toss those food scraps into the disposal without worry. Happy grinding!
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