Schrader Plumbing Blog

Don’t Ever Put These 10 Things Down Your Garbage Disposal

It’s a machine right, like the transformers, it can take on anything, right?…WRONG. It might seem like it can handle anything, but actually, feeding your garbage disposal the wrong items is a surefire recipe for bad smells, clogs, and ultimately, a broken appliance. Here are 10 items you should absolutely never put down your garbage disposal.

1. Seeds and Fruit Pits or Cores: Pits, Seeds, and Cores are too rough on the blades. The noise they make clanging around the disposal is a pretty awful sound.
2. Bones: Like seeds-even tiny bones from chicken wings are too difficult for your garbage disposal to handle. You run the risk of ruining the blades and the motor.
3. Pasta and Rice: Starchy foods like pasta and rice can expand when soaked in water becoming thick and sticky, making them more likely to get caught and clog the disposal.
4. Grease or Oil: One of the biggest garbage disposal faux pas you can make, yet so many of us do. When hot, fatty liquids such as grease and oil are poured down the drain, they will eventually cool, turn solid, and likely cause a clog.
5. Stickers From Produce: When washing fruit, be sure to pick off the sticker and throw in the trash. If it ends up down the garbage disposal, the adhesive will likely get stuck on the blades and will no longer function properly.
6. Seafood Shells: Shells from your favorite seafood dish such as lobster, shrimp or crab can be too wearing on the blades of the disposal.
7. Coffee Grounds: Coffee grounds will not only wear down the blades of your disposal, but large clumps can become packed down and clog up the drain.
8. Egg Shells: It is a myth that eggshells can help sharpen the disposal blades, but that’s not the case. In actuality, the membrane of the shells can get caught and damage the disposal.
9. Stringy Veggies: Stringy veggies can get wrapped around the blades and damage the motor.Some examples to avoid: celery, onion peels, asparagus, corn husks, and lettuce.
10. Things That Arent Food : Although it seems obvious, it needs to be noted- Paper Products, Harmful chemicals( Draino!), and Medicines shouldn’t go down the drain. They can not only damage your garbage disposal, but they can also cause sewer line backups and affect the quality of your water.

We want you to know that if you’re having a problem with your garbage disposal, Schrader Plumbing is here to help. Whether your garbage disposal has quit working or is just making some really odd noises, our experienced plumbers will troubleshoot the problem and get your disposal up and running again in no time. 817-262-0989