Use a strong flow of cold water and keep it running at least 30 seconds after noise of grinding has stopped to flush all food particles through the drainline.

Always use cold water when operating the disposer to solidify fatty and greasy wastes so they will be chopped up and flushed down the drain.

Hot water will not hurt the disposer and you may safely run hot water from the sink through it. However, use cold water when you are operating the disposer.

If you wash dishes in a sink with a disposer, check to be sure all small objects are removed from the sudsy water before you drain the sink.

If you have a continuous-feed disposer, move silverware and other small items away from the edge of the sink counter to avoid accidentally knocking them in while it is running. Do put small bones through; they help to scour the sides of the grinding chamber.

Follow directions in the manual with your disposer as to what should not be put through the disposer. Do not grind large bones, or fibrous materials as corn husks unless manual tells you can. With fibrous foods (celery, chard, asparagus ends, etc.) put through only a small amount at a time with a full flow of water. If drain line is long and quite horizontal, fibrous foods or too much garbage at one time can clog the line.

Do not put uncooked fat off meat into disposer as it may clog. Do not pour liquid fats down line; solidify in empty tin can in refrigerator, and dispose in trash.

Run the disposer each time you put food waste in it. This is particularly advisable in the less expensive models which are more subject to corrosion from the acids formed by food waste left for a long time.

An unusual noise while disposer is operating may mean a foreign object. Turn off disposer immediately and retrieve the object.

With a continuous-feed model, use the cover as directed to protect yourself when grinding bones or fruit pits--small particles could possible be ejected by the force of the disposer action. Avoid leaning over the disposer if you are feeding waste into it while it is running.

Never put you hand inside the disposer while it is running.

All disposers have overload protectors to avoid damage to the motor. If the disposer should stall, turn off the disposer and the cold water. Retrieve the article causing the problem. Press the reset button on the disposer. If it won't stay in, wait a few minutes and try again. If the disposer won't start when the switch is turned on, check the house fuse.

This article was written by Anne Field, Extension Specialist, Emeritus with references from the Maytag Corporation.