Garbage Disposal and Kitchen Sink Care Tips

Each apartment at Parkwood Manor and Peony Village is equipped with a garbage disposal in the kitchen. To help prevent clogs, odors, and costly repairs, we would like to share a few simple tips to keep your disposal and sink working smoothly.

While it is a common misconception that garbage disposals can handle just about anything, they are actually designed only for small food scraps. Following these guidelines can help avoid major issues.

Garbage Disposal Do’s

• Only allow small bits of food to go into the disposal.
• Scrape leftover food into the trash before rinsing dishes in the sink.
• Always use cold water when running the garbage disposal.
• Run cold water for at least one minute before turning on the disposal.
• Keep the water running the entire time the disposal is in use.
• After turning the disposal off, let the water run for another minute to help clear the pipes.

Garbage Disposal Don’ts

• Never run the disposal without water.
• Do not put trash, bones, pasta, meat, corn cobs, fruit pits, metal, or other hard items into the disposal.

Caring for Your Kitchen Sink and Pipes

In addition to proper disposal use, we ask that you help protect the plumbing in your kitchen.

• Avoid putting food scraps directly down the sink whenever possible.
• Never pour cooking oils or grease into your kitchen drain. Grease can harden and bond with other debris, creating serious clogs over time.

If a clog occurs, please do not use Drano or other chemical drain cleaners, as these can damage the pipes.

Instead, contact the leasing office or submit a work order, and our maintenance team will be happy to assist.

If you have any questions about your garbage disposal or kitchen sink, please reach out to the leasing office. We are always happy to help.