Tausi Insider

Photo : Tolikoff Photography ( Shutterstock ) Garbage disposals can be very convenient, plus help keep food waste out of landfills . But garbage disposals are often a mystery to homeowners . But w hile it might seem daunting, garbage disposal maintenance can actually be pretty simple. Don’t leave food waste in the disposal more than a day A garbage disposal has a tank that catches food waste and allows water to pass, collecting the food to be shredded and liquified. This chamber generally shouldn’t be left with food waste in it, though, because the food can dry out— making it harder to shred (and also causing a smell) . Best practice is to run your disposal at least once a day, keeping the cold water running while you do it. ( It’s important to use cold water, as hot water can make some foods more difficult to grind, causing clogs.) Don’t put stringy or hard foods down the disposal Avoid putting stringy foods down the disposal. A s you might imagine, the strings ...

Photo : volodimir bazyuk ( Shutterstock ) There are many things that can smell gross in your home, but a stinky sink drain is one of the worst. It lingers at the corner of your consciousness, always there, vaguely bothering you. How did it come to this, and how do you fix it There are a few common ways that your drain may have gotten smelly, but that’s between you and your sink. For now, let’s focus on the ways to fix it. Try hot water first The first thing you want to try is hot water— very hot water. According to Rakeman Plumbing , this could be all it takes to dislodge whatever food, hair, or other gunk is causing the stink. (It’s true that boiling water can actually do wonders for you around the house.) Once you’ve dumped a few quarts down there, give it a few minutes, then follow up with some cold water. Repeat the process two or three times and see if the smell improves. One thing you probably don’t want to do is try a chemical cleaner designed for smelly drains. They conta...