AugerPros Plumbing Blog

10 Things You Should Never Put Down Your Garbage Disposal

10 Things You Should Never Put Down Your Garbage Disposal

Garbage Disposal
Garbage Disposal

10 Things You Should Never Put Down Your Garbage Disposal

If you take care to only put items down your disposal that it can handle, You’ll find it is one of the most useful appliances in the kitchen. However, if not treated with care, it can become a bigger hassle than a convenience. In this article, we’ll cover the top 10 things you should never put down your garbage disposal. Some you may have known about while others might take you by surprise.

  1. Pasta and rice

    Starchy foods like pasta and rice can expand when soaked in water becoming thick and sticky, making them more likely to get caught and clog your plumbing.

  2. Seeds and Fruit Pits or Cores

    Pits , Seeds and Cores are too rough on the blades. The noise they make clanging around the disposal is a pretty awful sound.

  3. Bones

    Like seeds-even tiny bones from chicken wings are too difficult for your garbage disposal to handle. You run the risk of ruining the blades and the motor.

  4. Egg Shells

    It is a myth that egg shells can help sharpen the disposal blades, that’s not the case. In actuality, the membrane of the shells can get caught and damage the disposal.

  5. Coffee Grounds

    Coffee grounds will not only wear down the blades of your disposal, but large clumps can become packed down and clog up the drain.

  6. Grease or Oil

    One of the biggest garbage disposal faux pas you can make, yet so many of us do. When hot, fatty liquids such as grease and oil are poured down the drain, they will eventually cool, turn solid, and likely cause a clog.

  7. Seafood Shells

    Shells from your favorite seafood dish such as lobster, shrimp or crab can be too wearing on the blades of the disposal.

  8. Stickers From Produce

    When washing fruit, be sure to pick off the sticker and throw in the trash. If it ends up down the garbage disposal, the adhesive will likely get stuck on the blades and will no longer function properly.

  9. Stringy Veggies

    Stringy veggies can get wrapped around the blades and damage the motor.Some examples to avoid: celery, onion peels, asparagus, corn husks and lettuce.

  10. Things that aren’t Food

    Although it seems obvious, it needs to be noted- Paper Products, Harmful chemicals( Draino!) and Medicines shouldn’t go down the drain. They can not only damage your garbage disposal, but they can also cause sewer line backups and affect the quality of your water.

We want you to know that if you’re having a problem with your garbage disposal, Augerpros Plumbing is here to help. Whether your garbage disposal has quit working or is just making some really odd noises, our experienced plumbers will troubleshoot the problem and get your disposal up and running again in no time.