These Things Should Never Go in the Garbage Disposal
Garbage disposals speed up kitchen cleanup by grinding down food scraps before they enter your plumbing system. While they're designed to handle small bits of leftover food, they aren't meant to process large amounts of food waste or certain types of scraps.
Most food waste should be scraped into the trash or compost bin before washing dishes. Think of your garbage disposal as a backup for the small pieces of food that accidentally end up down the drain, not as a replacement for your trash can.
Below are some of the most common items homeowners should always keep out of the garbage disposal.
Grease, Fats, and Oils
Cooking grease is liquid when it's hot, but it quickly cools and hardens inside drain pipes. Always allow grease to cool in a disposable container and throw it in the trash.
Never pour these down the disposal:
- Lard
- Butter
- Bacon fat
- Cooking oils
- Meat drippings
- Cooking grease
Why they're a problem: As grease, fats, and oils solidify, they coat the walls of plumbing and trap particles that pass through later.
Stringy and Fibrous Foods
Fibrous fruits and vegetables don't grind up efficiently the way softer foods do, and their fibers will jam garbage disposals.
Common offenders include:
- Celery
- Rhubarb
- Artichokes
- Asparagus
- Corn husks
- Onion skins
- Pineapple tops and cores
Why they're a problem: Their long fibers can wrap around the garbage disposal’s moving parts, which leads to jams and breakages.
Hard Foods and Tough Scraps
Garbage disposals are durable, but they aren't designed to crush extremely hard objects.
Keep these out of your disposal:
- Bones
- Seeds
- Egg shells
- Nuts and their shells
- Fruit pits (avocados, peaches, cherries, etc.)
Why they're a problem: Hard food waste can damage internal components, cause jams, and place unnecessary strain on the disposal's motor.
Starchy Foods
When starchy foods are mixed with water, they will form a thick, paste-like substance.
Avoid putting these foods down the disposal:
- Rice
- Pasta
- Bread
- Beans
- Cereal
- Potatoes/potato peels
Why they're a problem: This paste can cling to the inside of your plumbing, and if that doesn’t cause a clog on its own, it makes it easier for other scraps to stick and form a blockage.
Large Quantities of Food
Even foods that are considered disposal-safe can become a problem if too much is added at once.
Avoid overloading your disposal with:
- Entire plates of uneaten food
- Excessive amounts of leftovers
- Bulk fruits and vegetable trimmings
- Multiple servings of food scraps at once
- Holiday meal scraps or cleanup from large dinners
Why they're a problem: Garbage disposals are designed to process small amounts of food while water is running. Feeding too much food into the unit at one time can overwhelm and clog or break the disposal.
Non-Food Items
Garbage disposals should never be used as a household trash can.
These items should never enter a garbage disposal:
- Glass
- Plastic
- Twist ties
- Paper towels
- Metal objects
- Rubber bands
- Cigarette butts
- Produce stickers
- Anything else that is not explicitly acceptable to be put in a garbage disposal
Why they're a problem: These materials cannot be ground safely and will quickly damage the disposal and cause expensive repairs.
Non-Food Items
There is a common misconception that putting coffee or tea down a garbage disposal will help clean it. In reality, these materials can create more problems than they solve.
Why they're a problem: Coffee grounds and tea leaves do not break down easily, even after being ground up. Instead of washing away, they settle inside the drain line and collect into sludge-like buildup. Over time, that buildup can trap other food particles, slow water flow, and contribute to recurring clogs.
What Can You Put Down A Garbage Disposal
When used properly, a garbage disposal is a convenient tool for everyday kitchen cleanup. In general, it should only be used for small amounts of soft food waste while running plenty of cold water.
Small amounts of these foods are generally safe to put in the disposal, including:
- Ice cubes
- Citrus peels (in moderation)
- Small pieces of cooked vegetables
- Cooked meat, cut into small pieces
- Small food scraps left on plates after meals
- Soft fruit scraps, such as berries, melon, or grapes
- Soft vegetable scraps, such as lettuce, cucumber, or tomato pieces
- Liquids like smoothies, melted ice cream, soups, and beverages
Using your disposal correctly reduces the risk of clogs, unnecessary wear on the unit, and foul odors.
If your garbage disposal is humming, leaking, clogged, or no longer grinding efficiently, the professionals at WyattWorks are here to help. Our technicians can diagnose the problem, recommend the right solution, and get your kitchen back to working order. Call today.
