Your average garbage disposal isn't some incredible mechanical monster that will eat everything you give it.
There are a number of everyday items that you should avoid putting down your garbage disposal.
Some will break the machine, while others might clog the mechanism or even block the pipes.
To help avoid these problems, which can be inconvenient and expensive to fix, I've made a list of red-flag items that your garbage disposal should never have to cope with.
Hopefully, this will help keep your unit running smoothly and avoid expensive plumbing bills when it breaks down.
- Coffee – If you've ever made coffee with a French press, then you know the grounds of the grinds will form a thick paste at the bottom of the glass. So, it's hardly surprising that this paste has the potential to slow down the drainage from your garbage disposal, or clog it up completely. Grinds are a good candidate for the compost as they add nitrogen to the soil.
- Pasta – Avoid putting pasta and even rice into your unit. These foods will swell up when wet, and therefore they can block up your pipes or clog the machinery.
- Potato Peel – Who hasn't thrown potato peel down the garbage disposal? Well, it's not a good idea because when they are wet they can form a pasty gloop and block the pipes. Why do they do that? Because of the significant amount of starch in potatoes.
- Vegetables – Not all vegetables but those that have a lot of fiber. Prime candidates are cobs of corn, celery and even asparagus. They all feature stringy fiber that can wrap around the inner-workings of the garbage disposal unit.
- Oatmeal – Perhaps this is one of the most surprising of all foods that should never be put down a garbage disposal. Oatmeal that dries out in the mechanism will turn hard and either clog the machine, damaging the blades or causing the motor to over-work and burn out.
- Eggshells – Like oatmeal, eggshells fragments can find their way into the mechanism and clog it. The best solution is to put your eggshells into the compost, as they are a prime ingredient for producing high-quality soil.
- Bones – This one is obvious, but it's amazing how many folks cast bones into their garbage disposal without a second thought. Even the smallest bones can splinter and these shards will fly around the disposal, potentially getting into the mechanism with devastating effect.
- Fruit Pits – Stones from cherries and peaches are just too hard for your average garbage disposal, and they can wreak havoc with your blades. Even a softer pit like those from an avocado can cause damage.
