Running a restaurant is serious business. You must make sure your kitchen is always clean and fully operational to ensure you deliver quality food to your customers. However, there are many times when kitchen employees may make mistakes that can bring food service to a screeching halt.

For instance, improperly caring for and using a garbage disposal is a common problem. Fortunately, understanding the dos and don'ts of a commercial garbage disposal can help you keep your kitchen running smoothly and help you avoid any unnecessary injuries.

DON'T Use Tricks to Sharpen the Blades

Believe it or not, garbage disposals do not have blades. Instead, they have impellers, which are blunt rather than sharp. Therefore, you should not attempt to put anything in the garbage disposal that will sharpen the impellers. You may see plenty of hacks floating around on the internet, one of which suggests putting ice in your garbage disposal to sharpen the impellers. However, ice may do more harm than good by damaging the grinding ring inside the garbage disposal.

DO Run Cold Water Down the Drain

After running your garbage disposal, it is a good idea to run cold water to help wash food away. You may hear that hot water is best since it can help ensure that grease moves through the pipes. However, it is recommended that you use cold water so the grease solidifies, thus helping it move through the pipes along with wastewater.

Keep in mind that you should avoid putting grease down the garbage disposal at all costs. Grease can clog your pipes. However, there are times when bits of grease may end up down the drain anyway. In that case, you should make sure you run cold water to help decrease the likelihood of a clog.

DO Use Baking Powder, Vinegar, and Lemon

Deodorizing your commercial garbage disposal should be part of your restaurant cleaning regimen. You should keep every part of your kitchen as clean as possible to avoid the spread of foodborne illnesses. Aside from the fact that a dirty garbage disposal is unhealthy, it may also create an unpleasant smell.

Save your nostrils and your restaurant business by keeping the garbage disposal clean and free of odors. You can use a mixture of baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice to help remove clogs from the disposal. The mixture of baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice will also remove unpleasant odors and keep your drain smelling fresh and clean.

DON'T Attempt DIY Repairs

If your garbage disposal quits working, it might be tempting to take the DIY approach. As a restaurant owner, you need your kitchen in working order to keep food orders moving. Therefore, rather than waiting on someone to help, you might consider taking it upon yourself to perform necessary repairs. However, taking the DIY approach could make things worse.

Take into consideration that self-repairs can lead to injury. Can you afford to pay for an injured employee? How about the fact that an injury will slow your kitchen progress down even more? Also, taking the DIY route may damage the disposal even more. Instead, contact a professional plumber near you for assistance with your commercial garbage disposal repair needs.

Many commercial plumbers understand how important it is for businesses to receive fast, efficient services. In fact, some professionals can provide you with same-day repair services. Reach out to a professional commercial plumber near you to find out what services they can provide and how quickly they can provide them.

An expert can also help answer any questions you might have about other commercial kitchen repair needs you might have.

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