A garbage disposal is a handy kitchen appliance that grinds food waste, allowing it to pass through the plumbing system and undergo treatment at sewage plants. This process can reduce landfill waste and its emissions. Problems arise, however, when homeowners mistakenly fill their disposal with items that can cause damage or plumbing issues.
Let’s explore what can and can’t safely go down a garbage disposal so you can extend the life of this appliance and avoid costly repairs.
Items You Can Put in a Garbage Disposal
Garbage disposals can handle many types of food. Here are some items that are generally safe to put down a disposal:
Ice Cubes
Along with being safe for garbage disposals, ice cubes can help clean them. Toss a few ice cubes down the disposal to loosen food residue stuck to the blades. While ice alone won’t freshen up a smelly garbage disposal, combining it with a natural deodorizer such as baking soda or white vinegar can help eliminate odors.
Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits can go down a garbage disposal, but you should cut peels into small, bite-sized pieces to prevent overworking the appliance with large scraps. As an added benefit, citrus can help freshen up the disposal’s smell, so it’s a good idea to freeze extra peels for quick disposal deodorizing.
What You Should Never Put Down a Garbage Disposal
While garbage disposals can handle many types of food, there are several items you should never drop into these appliances. Avoid these items to prevent damage to the disposal and plumbing system.
Fats, Oils, and Grease
Fats, oils, and grease should never go down a disposal or sink drain. That means creamy foods such as butter, heavy cream, peanut butter, and ice cream aren’t suitable. These substances can congeal in pipes, causing clogs downstream in the water system.
When rinsing dishes with oily residue, use cold water. Hot water makes it harder for oils to dissolve and can create a larger mess. While it’s impossible to avoid all grease when washing dishes, minimizing the amount that goes down the drain can prevent plumbing issues.
Coffee Grounds
Despite a common misconception, coffee grounds shouldn’t go down a garbage disposal. While a few grounds rinsed from a coffee cup won’t cause immediate harm, large amounts can clump and form a mass that’s hard for the disposal to grind, eventually leading to clogs.
Fruit Pits
Hard items like fruit pits should never go into a garbage disposal. Here’s a good rule: If you can’t easily chop something with a knife, it’s too hard for the garbage disposal. While the disposal might initially handle a pit or two, repeated grinding of these hard cores can quickly lead to a broken blade.
Fibrous Vegetables and Potato Peels
Many fibrous vegetables, while soft, can cause problems for a garbage disposal. Their stringy materials can ball up inside the plumbing system, creating buildup and blockages. Avoid putting items such as pumpkin innards, corn husks, asparagus, rhubarb, celery, and artichokes down the disposal.
Potato peels pose an especially unique risk. While thin and seemingly harmless, they can slip through the disposal’s grates and cause clogs similar to fibrous vegetables. Disposing of potato peels in the trash or compost bin is best.
Eggshells and Onion Skins
Contrary to popular belief, eggshells don’t sharpen garbage disposal blades. The thin membrane inside eggshells can potentially damage them. Beyond that, the tiny bits of shell can get caught in the pipes and start to build up a hefty clog. Similarly, onion skins can separate from the rest of the onion during grinding and get stuck in the drain or around the disposal’s impeller.
Pasta and Starchy Foods
While cooked pasta is soft, it shouldn’t go down a garbage disposal. Starchy foods such as pasta and oatmeal absorb water and expand, leading to clogs. A few stray pieces of pasta won’t cause immediate harm, but you should avoid dumping an entire bowl down the drain.
Bones
Although some garbage disposals market themselves as able to disintegrate an entire chicken carcass, the makers of garbage disposals didn’t design them to handle hard items like bones. Putting bones down the disposal can break the appliance. While a small bone accidentally slipping down the drain isn’t cause for panic, avoid intentionally disposing of bones this way.
Cleaning Chemicals
While normal sink cleaners like dish soap are fine for garbage disposals, avoid harsh industrial-grade drain cleaners. These chemicals can wear down the disposal and the drain line faster than expected. Combining ice cubes and dish soap is a safer alternative for cleaning and freshening the disposal.
Trash
It may seem obvious, but non-food items should never go down a garbage disposal. Plumbers often find paper towels, wrappers, and other trash in broken or clogged disposals. Always see that only appropriate food waste enters the appliance.
How To Care for Your Garbage Disposal
Good upkeep will extend the lifespan of your garbage disposal to prevent mechanical issues and eliminate unpleasant odors. Here’s how to maintain your disposal efficiently:
Clean Regularly
Regularly cleaning your garbage disposal prevents grease and food particles from building up and causing clogs or smells. Use ice cubes and a bit of table salt to scrub the disposal inside, grinding them to clean the blades and dislodge debris. Follow up with a mix of baking soda and vinegar to tackle odors with a natural approach.
Use Running Water
Always run cold water before, during, and after using the disposal. Water helps carry the shredded waste through the pipes and minimizes the possibility of blockages in your plumbing. Cold water prevents fats and oils from liquefying so they remain solid and are grounded correctly.
Avoid Overloading
One of the most common mistakes with garbage disposals is attempting to force too much material down at once. Gradually drop small quantities of scraps into a dishwasher, giving the appliance time to thoroughly process and grind each portion. This approach reduces the potential for jamming, increases efficiency, and extends the life of your disposal.
Inspect for Issues
Inspect your garbage disposal every so often for signs of rust, wear, and other potential issues that may need attention. Listen out for unusual garbage disposal noises potentially indicating a jam or mechanical problem. If you notice anything that seems off, address it sooner rather than later to avoid more expensive repairs or replacements.
