What You Can and Cannot Put Down Your Garbage Disposal

Your garbage disposal is a kitchen superhero, effortlessly grinding away food scraps and keeping your sink clean. But even superheroes have their limits. Tossing the wrong items down your disposal can lead to nasty clogs, dull blades, and costly repairs. So, what can you safely put down the disposal, and what should you absolutely avoid? Let’s dive into the do’s and don’ts to keep your disposal in tip-top shape.

What You Can Put Down Your Garbage Disposal

1. Ice Cubes

Believe it or not, ice cubes are a garbage disposal’s best friend. Tossing a few cubes down once a month can help keep the blades sharp and break up any residue. It’s a simple trick that keeps your disposal running smoothly, while also combating odors.

Why It Works: Ice cubes help to knock off food particles and gunk that might be clinging to the blades or the interior walls of the disposal. As the ice grinds down, it also melts away, leaving no residue behind.

2. Cold Water

When using your garbage disposal, always run cold water. Hot water might seem like a good idea, but it can actually cause fats to melt and later solidify in your pipes, leading to blockages. Cold water helps fat congeal, making it easier for your disposal to chop it up and send it down the drain.

Pro Tip: Always run cold water for a few seconds before and after using the disposal to ensure everything gets flushed down properly.

3. Soft Foods

Soft foods like yogurt, applesauce, and soups can easily go down the disposal. However, be cautious with starchy foods like pasta and potato peels. While they may seem soft, they can create a gluey mess that clogs your pipes.

Safe Options: Soft fruits, cooked vegetables, and small amounts of cooked meat can also go down the disposal. Just be sure to cut larger pieces into smaller chunks to avoid overwhelming the system.

4. Citrus Peels

Want to freshen up your disposal naturally? Throw in some citrus peels. Lemons, oranges, and limes not only smell great but their acidity can help break down food residue and keep your blades clean.

Why It’s Effective: The natural oils in citrus peels help to cut through grease and grime, leaving your disposal smelling fresh and clean. Plus, the peels are tough enough to help scour the blades as they grind.

5. Dish Soap

A small squirt of dish soap can work wonders. Run your disposal with cold water for about 30 seconds after adding a little soap to help clear out any lingering grease and grime.

Best Practices: Use a grease-fighting dish soap to ensure that any fats left behind are thoroughly washed away. This simple habit can help extend the life of your disposal.

6. Good Scraps

Feel free to send small amounts of cooked meat (without bones), finely chopped vegetables, and fruits down your disposal. Just be sure to chop them into smaller pieces to prevent overloading the system.

What to Remember: While the disposal can handle these items, moderation is key. Avoid dumping large amounts at once, as this can lead to clogs or strain the motor.

What You Should Never Put Down Your Garbage Disposal

1. Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOGs)

Fats, oils, and grease might be liquid when they go down the drain, but they’ll solidify further down the line, creating a stubborn clog. Always dispose of these in the trash or save them for reuse if possible.

The Problem: Once cooled, these substances harden and stick to the sides of your pipes, gradually building up and eventually causing blockages that are tough to clear.

Better Option: Pour used fats and oils into a container and dispose of them in the trash once they’ve solidified.

2. Starchy Foods

Avoid putting large amounts of pasta, rice, or potato peels down your disposal. These foods absorb water and expand, leading to blockages and a sticky mess inside your pipes.

Why They’re Bad: Starchy foods can form a thick, glue-like paste that sticks to your disposal’s blades and the inside of your pipes, making it difficult for anything to pass through.

Disposal Alternative: Small amounts are generally okay, but if you have a lot of starchy leftovers, toss them in the trash or compost them instead.

3. Fibrous Vegetables

Stringy vegetables like celery, corn husks, and asparagus can wrap around the blades, causing your disposal to jam. These items are better off in the compost bin.

The Issue: The fibers in these vegetables don’t break down easily and can get tangled in the disposal’s components, leading to blockages and motor strain.

Compost It: These vegetables break down beautifully in a compost pile, adding valuable nutrients to your garden soil.

4. Eggshells

Contrary to popular belief, eggshells don’t sharpen your disposal blades. The thin membrane inside the shell can get tangled in the blades or cause clogs further down the line.

Myth Busted: The idea that eggshells sharpen the blades is a long-standing kitchen myth. In reality, they can cause more harm than good.

Better Use: Add eggshells to your compost pile where they can contribute calcium to your garden soil.

5. Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds might seem harmless, but they clump together and form a thick, paste-like substance that can clog your pipes. Composting them is a much better option.

The Problem: While the individual grounds are small, they can easily combine to form a dense mass that’s difficult to break up once it’s in your pipes.

Composting Option: Coffee grounds make an excellent addition to compost, adding nitrogen and creating rich, fertile soil.

6. Bones

Small bones might seem like fair game, but they can damage your disposal’s grinding mechanism. Stick to tossing bones in the trash or compost, where they can break down naturally.

Why Not: Bones are incredibly tough and can wear down the components of your disposal over time, leading to costly repairs.

Best Practice: Use the garbage or compost for bones. If a small bone accidentally slips down the drain, don’t panic, but don’t make it a habit either.

7. Non-Food Items

Garbage disposals are designed for food waste, not plastic, paper, or metal. These items can damage the blades and clog your pipes. Always check before turning on the disposal to make sure no stray objects have fallen in.

What Happens: Non-food items can jam the disposal, break the blades, or cause clogs deep within your plumbing system.

Check Twice: Before running the disposal, make sure no utensils, napkins, or plastic wrappers are accidentally in the sink.

8. Harsh Chemicals

Avoid using harsh chemicals like drain cleaners or bleach in your garbage disposal. These can corrode the metal parts and wear down the appliance faster. Stick to natural cleaners like baking soda and vinegar for a safer, effective clean.

Why They’re Harmful: Harsh chemicals can erode the internal components of your disposal, leading to leaks, damage, and eventually a need for replacement.

Natural Alternatives: Use a combination of baking soda and vinegar to clean and deodorize your disposal. For tougher jobs, a mix of ice and salt can also help clean the blades.

FAQs

Q1: Can I put small bones in the garbage disposal?
While some disposals can handle small bones, it’s best to avoid them. Bones can damage the grinding mechanism and cause clogs.

Q2: Is it safe to pour boiling water down the disposal?
Boiling water can melt grease and cause it to solidify in your pipes. Stick to cold water when using your disposal.

Q3: Can citrus peels damage my garbage disposal?
No, citrus peels are actually great for your disposal. They help clean the blades and leave your kitchen smelling fresh.

Q4: What should I do if my disposal gets clogged?
First, turn off the disposal and check for any visible blockages. If the clog persists, try using a plunger or a plumber’s snake. Avoid using chemical drain cleaners as they can damage the disposal.

Q5: How often should I clean my garbage disposal?
A quick clean every week with some dish soap and cold water should do the trick. For a deeper clean, toss in some ice cubes and citrus peels once a month.

Wrapping It Up

Taking care of your garbage disposal is all about knowing what can and can’t go down the drain. By following these simple guidelines, you can extend the life of your appliance, avoid costly repairs, and keep your kitchen running smoothly. Remember, when in doubt, throw it out””or better yet, compost it!

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