Items Not to Include in Your Garbage Disposal

Having a garbage disposal in convenient but did you know that there are things you should not put in a garbage disposal? 

It can be tempting to see your garbage disposal as a catch-all for kitchen waste but will lead you down the path to costly repairs, replacements and even extended damage if your garbage disposal breaks down to improper use. Below we will cover information on what not to put in your garbage disposal and why as well as additional helpful tips on maintenance and care to keep your garbage disposal operating. 

We will cover:

• Items to Absolutely Avoid Putting Down The Disposal
• Other Surprising Items to Avoid Putting Down A Disposal
• If Eggshells And Coffee Grounds Are Acceptable
• What Happens if I Put the Wrong Items in My Garbage Disposal?
  

What Shouldn't Go Down Your Garbage Disposal?

Most people assume all food scraps, leftovers etc. are safe to go down the garbage disposal but there are some often obvious items that should not be put down a garbage disposal and some you may not have thought of before.  Certain things to not put in a garbage disposal can damage the blades, clog pipes or cause damage to the motor. 

Here are items not to put in a garbage disposal, which we'll explore in detail below:

• Eggshells
• Coffee grounds
• Bones and pits
• Fibrous vegetables
• Grease and oil

Items to Absolutely Avoid

• Eggshells: Many people have heard that eggshells can sharpen your garbage disposal blades but can egg shells go down the garbage disposal? The short answer is no and here’s a few reasons why: Eggshells break down into a fine grit that can mix with other materials to create a sand-like residue that clings to the inside of pipes and gathers in joins leading to clogged pipes. The inner lining of an eggshell can also coat the blades, making them less effective. 
• Coffee Grounds: Here’s another myth that many of us have heard, coffee grounds act as a natural scour in your garbage disposal. Unfortunately, the question of should you put coffee grounds down the garbage disposal has a resounding answer; NO! Coffee grounds, similar to eggshells, can turn into a sludgy mixture leading to clogged pipes and drainage problems. 
• Bones and Pits: Think of your garbage disposal as an upside-down lawn mower, you wouldn’t run your lawnmower over rocks or large sticks that could damage the blades, the motor or cause damage to other things around it. The same idea can be applied to other things you should not put in your garbage disposal such as bones, even cooked ones, dense fibrous items etc. 

Other Surprising Items to Avoid

• Fibrous or Stringy Fruit & Vegetables: Large stalks or bunches of items like celery, asparagus, corn husks and banana peels can all wrap around the disposal blades, create friction by building up into dense lumps in the corners and clogging pipes. 
• Grease and Oil: Try to avoid putting oils, fats or butter including dense fatty substances like, melted chocolate or peanut butter down your garbage disposal.  They solidify into hard to clear blockages or narrowing of pipes that will lead to more costly repairs down the road.

What About Eggshells and Coffee Grounds?

We’ve all heard the two myths, that eggshells can sharpen garbage disposal blades or that it’s safe to put coffee down a garbage disposal. As we’ve already discussed, plumbing experts will tell you that both of these are major things you should not put down your garbage disposal!

Both of these items are better handled through compostable waste and traditional household waste disposal options. This can save you a lot of grief, mess and money in the future.

What Happens if I Put the Wrong Items in My Garbage Disposal?

While a single stalk of celery or a couple of eggshells isn’t likely to immediately destroy your garbage disposal, it’s good practice to keep in mind the things you should not put in your garbage disposal so you can avoid problems such as:

Damaged Blades: Hard items such as fruit pits, bones or stringy items that can wrap around and restrict the blades can lead to bent and broken blades which can pose risk o of injury from broken pieces of metal or jagged edges on the remaining blades. 

Motor & Operational Issues: Any items that should be avoided will all cause the motor on your garbage disposal to work harder than it should. This can lead the motor to burnout, unseat the motor and basin which can lead to damage to your sink and plumbing or even risk the motor overheating enough to cause a fire. 

Clogged Pipes: Build-up of food sludge, fats etc. can lead to blockages in your plumbing, leaving you with slow drains, stress on your plumbing system and in worst case scenarios, burst pipes.

If your garbage disposal is not working, making funny noises or sounds congested it’s recommended you call a professional such as the team at Blue Mills Plumbing. 

Final Thoughts on Garbage Disposal Usage