Garbage Disposal Problems
Garbage disposals are handy kitchen helpers, but they’re not invincible. Toss the wrong thing down there, and you could be looking at clogs, motor damage, or even an expensive visit from a plumber. Here’s the truth about what you can’t put into your garbage disposal.
Grease or Oil
It might go down easy, but grease and oil turn into a sticky mess once it cools. That stuff clings to the inside of your pipes and leads to nasty clogs over time, ruining your garbage disposal. Don’t risk it. Pour grease into a container and toss it in the trash instead.
Eggshells
There’s a weird myth that eggshells sharpen disposal blades, and it is most assuredly not true. Instead, the thin membrane inside the shell can wrap around the motor’s parts, and the gritty shell bits can clog pipes once they clump up. Better to toss eggshells in the compost bin if you’ve got one!
Coffee Grounds
So many people throw these in the disposal not realizing that coffee grounds turn into a dense, sludgy paste in their pipes. That sludge can trap other food bits and lead to a slow or fully blocked drain. You can sprinkle coffee grounds in your garden instead.
Pasta
Cooked pasta keeps absorbing water, even after it’s in the disposal. It expands and gets gummy, which isn’t good news for your pipes. If you can’t eat that cooked pasta for some reason, throw it in the trash bin or into a compost heap.
Rice
Just like pasta, rice swells when it gets wet. So a few stray grains might be fine, but a big scoop of the stuff can lead to a sticky, bloated mess in your pipes. It turns into mush and hangs around way longer than you’d want. Again, just throw it in the trash or in your compost.
Potato Peels
Potato peels are thin, starchy, and sneaky. They can form a thick, gluey paste when shredded in the disposal - think mashed potatoes in your pipes. That paste clings to the walls and causes buildup fast. A few bits won’t hurt, but a big handful is asking for trouble.
Onion Skins
The outer skin of onions is super thin and slippery. It doesn’t get chopped up easily and can slip past the blades, potentially wrapping around the inner workings of your disposal or getting stuck in the drain. That can lead to slow drainage or an annoying clog.
Fruit Pits
Trying to grind up a peach or avocado pit is like tossing a rock into your disposal. Those blades just aren’t built for it and you might damage the motor - or just hear a horrible grinding noise that you know means you’re about to spend money. Best to throw pits in the trash or compost.
Bones
Small chicken bones might pass through occasionally, but anything larger is a big no. Bones are tough and hard on the disposal’s blades, not to mention loud. They can also get jammed in the unit and stop it from working altogether. Toss 'em in the trash instead.
Celery
Celery strings and fibers can wrap around your disposal blades like gross dental floss. It may not jam things immediately, but over time it can strain the motor and slow everything down. Better to chop it finely and compost it.
Corn Husks
Corn husks are super fibrous, and they don’t break down easily. In the disposal, they can wrap around moving parts and create a tangled, smelly mess that’s hard to fix. If you’re working with corn, toss the husks in the trash or compost pile instead.
Nuts or Nut Butters
Grinding up nuts is basically how peanut butter is made - so if you toss them into the disposal, you might end up with a thick, sticky peanut butter goo coating your pipes. It doesn’t flush easily and can build up fast. Don’t risk it – never put nuts in the garbage disposal.
Shellfish Shells
Oyster, clam, and lobster shells should never go anywhere near your garbage disposal. They're too tough to grind up properly and can ruin the blades. Even if they break apart, the sharp pieces can hang around and damage the inside. Many people have learned this the hard way.
Asparagus
These tough, stringy veggies are hard to grind and love to wrap around your disposal blades. They might start to go through, but halfway in you’ll hear it jam - and then it's time to break out the wrench, or worse, pay someone your hard-earned cash to sort it all out.
Pumpkin Guts
That stringy, sticky mess from inside a pumpkin that Halloween lovers are all too familiar with is basically a clog waiting to happen. The fibers tangle the blades, and the seeds can jam things up too. Don’t be tempted to wash it down the drain - scoop it into the trash or compost instead.
Flour
Flour might look like a powder, but when it gets wet, it turns into glue. Dump enough of it down the disposal and it’ll coat the insides of your pipes and blades. That sticky buildup attracts other gunk and slows everything down. Keep flour far away from your sink.
Banana Peels
Banana peels are soft, but they’re also incredibly fibrous. The remains of your banana can wrap around disposal blades and resist being chopped up cleanly. Over time, they can strain your motor or contribute to clogging. Toss 'em in the compost instead.
Trash or Non-Food Items
It might seem obvious, but things like rubber bands or cigarette butts can sometimes slip into the sink. These items don’t break down and can seriously damage the garbage disposal. Always double-check what you’re scraping into the sink and bear in mind your disposal isn’t a trash can.
