A food waste disposer or shredder is the best way to get rid of almost everything left in the kitchen after cooking or eating. In a matter of seconds, it crushes the waste, after which it is discharged with a stream of water through the sewer system. The result: there is no unpleasant smell in the kitchen, you now need to take out the trash half as often, and the cooking process becomes not only less time-consuming, but also more comfortable. Convenient, fast and hygienic. You can buy food waste grinders in our online store, and their maintenance boils down to regular cleaning, the frequency of which depends, first of all, on the operating conditions.
Cleaning the chopper button
Due to the special operating conditions of the disposer, the external
surfaces of both wireless and pneumatic buttons must be cleaned regularly. This
can be done with a regular damp cloth. In the case of a pneumatic button,
additional maintenance may be required. If it stops working, moisture may have
accumulated in its housing. To do this, disassemble the button (by pulling up
the decorative metal part) and remove moisture with a napkin.
Cleaning
the stopper, splash guard and flange
A stopper is a mesh filter with a stopper and a lid. It is made of
stainless steel and provides protection against accidental entry into the
disposer of cutlery and other small items that cannot be crushed. If the
stopper is heavily soiled, it is best to wash it in the dishwasher. Doing this
with a sponge will be more difficult due to the large number of holes. To clean
the stopper, do not use abrasive products that may leave marks on the
decorative cover.
Particles of crushed waste may accumulate behind the splash guard. Water enters this area only in the form of drops, so it is not possible to effectively rinse it during operation. Decomposing food debris can cause an unpleasant odor over time, so the splash guard must be cleaned regularly. Regular liquid soap or dishwashing detergent will help with this.
The disposer flange also requires attention. It is in constant contact with water and splash guard. For this reason, dark spots appear on its surface. To remove them, it is better to use a melamine sponge.
Cleaning
products for food waste disposer
Regular use of special products will help get rid of the consequences,
which are most often the result of violating the rules for using the disposer.
Typically this results in water being supplied too early or too late. In such
cases, crushed food debris accumulates in the chamber of the device, which
leads to blockages or an unpleasant odor.
Dish
detergent
Wash the grinder regularly with liquid soap or dishwashing detergent. The foam penetrates well into the most inaccessible places and dissolves fat deposits. Turn on the water at low pressure, turn on the chopper and add a little product. As soon as foam appears, turn off the water and leave the dispenser running for 30 seconds.
Lemon
and vinegar
For severe stains, soap does not always help. In this case, you can use the
acid contained in lemon. Thick peel and lemon juice will cope with the most
stubborn deposits. The acid will remove food debris and grease, and the kitchen
will be filled with a pleasant citrus aroma. Do not add the whole lemon to the
chopper, but cut it into 3-4 parts. During the cleaning process, the disposer
should be operated at medium water pressure.
9% vinegar is no less effective for cleaning. Turn on the water and the chopper, then pour vinegar into it in a thin stream. Do not use 70% vinegar essence for these purposes, as it can damage the rubber seal on the motor shaft.
Ice
Ice will help clean not only the disposer, but also the filter mesh. It is
better to carry out the procedure with a splash guard to prevent fragments from
scattering.
Products
with abrasive properties
To prevent contamination, you can regularly use products with abrasive
properties. These are chicken bones, small seeds of berries and fruits, coffee
cake, which, like a scrub, clean the internal surfaces of the waste grinder and
sewer system, easily dealing with the remains of soft foods and fatty deposits.
It is better to use abrasive waste with plenty of water and let the disposer
run longer.
Special
products for cleaning the disposer
Special products for cleaning the chopper are available in the form of
capsules or bags. When using them, a large amount of foam is formed, which
penetrates well into the most inaccessible places in the shredder, dissolving
fat and eliminating unpleasant odors.
To remove grease, you can use special sodium hydroxide-based products that
can remove the most stubborn stains. It is better to use them in extreme cases,
when other means have proven ineffective. Fat removal products can only be used o in devices equipped with a stainless steel chamber and they should not
contain more than 15% alkaline components.
Be sure to use a splash guard when cleaning. Turn on the water and add a
small amount of product to the running dispenser. After 30 seconds, increase
the water pressure and leave the grinder running for another couple of minutes.
Precautions
when cleaning the disposer
Aggressive products with a high concentration of active ingredients cannot
be used to clean the shredder. They may damage disposer parts. We do not
recommend using vinegar and baking soda at the same time, as these substances
will neutralize each other, and the amount of foam generated will not be enough
to effectively clean the device.
How
to deal with blockages
Despite the fact that all models of Leomikao food waste shredders are
equipped with an auto-reverse, which is activated automatically and helps to
cope with blockages, no one is immune from their formation. Most often this
happens when the water is turned on untimely or in insufficient quantity. If,
when you turn on the disposer, water and waste remain in the sink, then the
blockage has occurred behind the device (most likely in the water seal). In
this case, you can use a plunger. If this does not help, then you will need to
disassemble the water seal and clean it manually.
If, when activated, the disposer does not turn on and hums, then waste
remains in the disposer itself. In this case, you can try to rotate the shaft
with a service key. This is done with the chopper turned off, turning the shaft
in one direction or the other.
Сonclusions
The food waste shredder requires a minimum of attention and, if you follow
the rules of operation and regular maintenance, can last for years. More about
disposers in our video, from which you will learn why a chopper is needed and
its capabilities.
