7 Essential Tips for Garbage Disposal Care: Avoid These Dangerous Mistakes

Your garbage disposal is a kitchen powerhouse, but misusing it can lead to serious problems. To keep it running smoothly, it’s crucial to know what should never go down the drain. In this guide, we’ll share 7 essential tips for avoiding dangerous mistakes with your garbage disposal. By following these powerful strategies, you can prevent clogs, damage, and costly repairs, ensuring your kitchen stays in top shape.

1. Fibrous Vegetables: A Hidden Threat

Vegetables like celery, asparagus, and artichokes have tough fibers that can wrap around your disposal’s blades, causing jams and motor strain. These fibers can accumulate over time, leading to reduced efficiency or even a complete breakdown. Compost these scraps instead of grinding them.

2. Grease and Fat: The Silent Cloggers

Pouring grease or fat down your disposal is a recipe for disaster. As these substances cool, they solidify, leading to stubborn clogs that can block your pipes. Always let grease solidify before disposing of it in the trash to avoid this common pitfall.

3. Eggshells: A Sticky Situation

Eggshells may seem harmless, but they can cause more harm than good. The thin membrane inside the shell can stick to the blades and walls of your disposal, creating a mess that’s hard to clean. Over time, this buildup can lead to clogs, so it’s best to toss eggshells in the compost or trash.

4. Coffee Grounds: The Sludge Culprit

Coffee grounds might seem small, but they can accumulate in your pipes, forming a thick sludge that leads to slow drains and blockages. Instead of using your disposal, add coffee grounds to your compost pile or dispose of them in the trash.

5. Pasta, Rice, and Bread: The Swelling Menace

Starchy foods like pasta, rice, and bread expand when they absorb water, even after cooking. When these foods go down the drain, they can swell and cause blockages. Avoid this issue by discarding starchy leftovers in the trash or compost.

6. Bones: Blade Destroyers

Even small bones can wreak havoc on your disposal’s blades, dulling them or jamming the motor. Avoid putting any bones down the disposal, and instead, discard them in the trash.

7. Fruit Pits and Seeds: The Tough Stuff

Hard pits and seeds from fruits like peaches and avocados can damage your disposal’s blades and cause jams. These items are better suited for the trash or compost.