A garbage disposal is a convenient thing in the kitchen, but you need to treat it with some care and learn what can and can’t go inside of it. Though disposals grind up food scraps, not all scraps are the right type to go into your home’s garbage disposal. Having such knowledge may help you avoid potential clogs, damages, and costly repairs.
What You Can Put Into a Garbage Disposal
Soft foods are generally fine to put into a garbage disposal. Items like fruits, vegetables, and small leftovers are typically okay since they break down easily and don’t strain the motor. Think of soft, easy-to-handle foods like apple cores, berries, or small vegetable scraps. These items disintegrate quickly and don’t put undue pressure on the disposal blades.
Other items you can safely run through your disposal are citrus peels. Lemon, lime, and orange peels are all safe and will help keep your home’s garbage disposal smelling nice. The natural oils within the citrus peels work as a deodorizer for your disposal to minimize odors and provide a pleasant smell. As the disposal chops up the peels, they release oils, which can clean and freshen the unit.
Cooked rice and pasta, although a bit tricky, is okay for your home’s garbage disposal in small amounts. These foods tend to expand when exposed to water, so you need to run plenty of water while disposing of them so that they will not stick to the pipes. The key is to send the pasta down the drain in moderation.
Ice cubes are good for your garbage disposal. Running ice cubes through the disposal cleans the blades and scrubs some of the buildup inside the unit so that it runs efficiently and in good condition. The ice knocks off food particles that may have stuck to the blades or walls of the disposal. To enhance the cleaning effect, you can add ice cubes with a handful of coarse salt. The latter acts like an abrasive that cleans the blades even better. Adding ice slightly sharpens the blades to keep your disposal working well for longer.
Small meat scraps, such as those left on a plate after a meal, can be safe to run down the garbage disposal. However, larger chunks of meat should not be placed down the disposal and can lead to major clogs.
What You Should Never Put Into a Garbage Disposal
Several types of food and materials spell big trouble when inserted into a garbage disposal. To begin with, fibrous vegetables can create problems. Vegetables like celery, asparagus, and corn husks have relatively long, tough fibers that could easily wrap around the disposal’s blades and create a blockage or motor damage. These vegetables can also dull the blades or create a potential jam. It’s best not to put fibrous vegetables down the disposal. Instead, put them into the trash or compost.
Bones from chicken, beef, or pork can also cause problems for your garbage disposal. Bones are typically hard and quickly dull or even break the garbage disposal blades. Garbage disposals don’t grind bones well, and the bones can create a clog or break parts. Even small bones, such as fish or chicken wings, can be an issue.
Another item to avoid would include eggshells. Many believe eggshells to be harmless when putting them into a garbage disposal, but they can cause problems. The thin membrane lining the shell can wrap around the blades, making it inefficient and damaging the unit. The gritty texture of the eggshell could also line the disposal sides or drain pipes with a paste that could end up blocking it.
Another common culprit behind clogs is coffee grounds. They become a thick, sludge-like solid in your home’s pipes, building up severe blockages over time. The grounds also tend to stick to your disposal’s inner parts and form a tacky layer that may be inviting to other debris. It is much better to dispose of coffee grounds in the trash or use them as compost for your yard. They are a welcome addition to the compost piles, adding vital nutrients to the soil.
Grease, fats, and oils are some of the absolute worst things you can put down garbage disposals and into plumbing systems. These cool down and solidify when poured down the drain, creating blockages in the pipes that are hard to remove. If these greasy, fatty, and oily substances accumulate over time, serious blockages can occur, affecting your disposal and plumbing systems. Even though it’s in a fluid state while you’re pouring it, once it settles in the inside of the pipes, it might consolidate and turn thick, which could cause those feared clogs that are sometimes really hard to clean. Set aside grease and fat in a container, and put it in the garbage after cooling.
Large quantities of potato peels and starchy vegetables should also be avoided in your home’s disposal. These types of food will create a thick, starchy paste from their waste that can clog your disposal and drain pipes quickly and easily. Starchy foods such as potatoes, when ground by the disposal, release a paste-like starch that coats the blades and the pipes, leading to clogs. If disposing of potatoes or other starchy foods, it’s best to throw them away in the trash or compost them. Even small amounts of potato peels should be carefully disposed of.
More Tips on How to Take Care of Your Garbage Disposal
Taking good care of your garbage disposal is an important way of ensuring that it lasts longer and serves you effectively. One of the easiest ways to ensure your disposal keeps functioning well is regular cleaning. The cold water run before and after usage through the disposal helps to flush the remaining food particles and prevents any accumulation inside of it. Run the disposal regularly even when there is no requirement for grinding food waste. It keeps all the parts running and avoids rust and corrosion.
A mixture of baking soda and vinegar creates a foaming reaction that works effectively to break down food particles and deodorize the disposal. Use a half-cup of baking soda, followed by a cup of vinegar to clean your disposal. Let the mixture stay for a few minutes. Afterward, flush with hot water. This not only helps clean the disposal but also removes odors caused by decaying food particles.
Be careful to never overload your disposal. Running too much food waste at once strains the motor and leads to clogs or damage. When in doubt, feed small amounts of food slowly into the garbage disposal while running water.
Another tip is to listen to your garbage disposal while it runs to see if you hear anything out of the ordinary. Sometimes, you can catch issues early and have a professional plumber, like ours at AJ Danboise Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical, check out the noise before it becomes a major problem.
Contact Us
At AJ Danboise Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical in Farmington Hills, Michigan, we provide drain cleaning, sewer services, and water heater services for homes in the area. Our friendly team also provides generators, lighting, and electrical repair services. Contact AJ Danboise Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical for more information today!
