If you have a garbage disposal, you know it's indispensable appliance in the kitchen, but you need to take care of it. Keeping it in good condition isn't difficult. Regular cleaning with ice, salt, and cold water will keep it running smoothly for the long haul. This video from the folks at CHOW shows you how to do it.
We've talked about how to clean a disposal and how to keep one in good condition, but this quick video condenses those tips together, and points out that tossing lemons down the disposal may make it smell fresh and lovely, but it's not really cleaning it. For that, ice, salt, and running cold water is in order. Similarly, you can plug the sink, fill it with a few inches of water, and then hit the disposal and let it drain to flush the whole unit at once.
The video also points out some of the things you really shouldn't put down your disposal, no matter how strong you think it is—peels, eggshells, and other things that we often think are safe may actually be doing more harm than good over the long term and wind up dulling the blades. Also, it's a good reminder to not use hot water when cleaning the disposal, since any grease or oil will loosen up and then re-congeal further down in your pipes, leading to a clog. Then, when you're finished cleaning, that's where the lemons (or any citrus fruit) comes in. They'll cover up any remaining odor and make the kitchen smell great.