<table> </table> <strong>Do you have any tips for keeping garbage disposers happy? I&#8217;m concerned that mine may clog up when it&#8217;s fed all those holiday vegetable peels. </strong></p><p>The key to keeping your disposer running on Thanksgiving is to treat it right every day.</p><p>Run cold water while using the disposer. Turn on the disposer before you put any food in it, then feed the food in slowly. Let the water continue to run 20 to 30 seconds after you are done.</p><p>Avoid fibrous foods such as artichokes, celery and corn husks.</p><p>I recommend filling your sink with hot water several times a month and then letting it drain all at once. This will help flush out anything that might be building up in the drain. You also can occasionally chop a few cups of ice in the disposer to help keep it clean. Grinding citrus peels will freshen the disposer.</p><p>If your sink clogs anyway, check to see if both sides are blocked. It it&#8217;s just the disposer side, you might be able to clear it yourself. Most of the time a simple plunger will be sufficient; if not, you may be able to clear the blockage by removing the p-trap and cleaning it out.</p><p>If both sides are blocked, you probably will need a drain cleaning machine. Depending on your skill level, this is the time most people call a plumber.</p><p>Happy holidays!