A disposal is a great way to keep your kitchen clean and free of unwanted food scraps. It can be tempting to put anything and everything down your disposal, but some items can cause serious problems. These are five foods that you should avoid putting down your garbage disposal.
1. Bones
Bones can damage the blades of your disposal and cause them to jam. Throw chicken, fish, beef or any other animal bones in the trash.
2. Fruit Pits
Fruit pits can damage the blades of your disposal and cause them to jam. Throw all fruit pits in the kitchen garbage can or trash compactor.
Some fruits with pits include:
- Peaches
- Nectarines
- Plums
- Cherries
- Apricots
3. Stringy Vegetables
Stringy vegetables like celery and onions can tangle around your disposal blades and cause them to jam. If you must dispose of these items, cut them into small pieces before doing so. Not all vegetables are stringy, however. It’s safe to put small bits of non-stringy vegetables like carrots and broccoli in your disposal.
4. Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds can clog up your garbage disposal and are best when thrown in the trash. Some people believe running hot water while the disposal is on will help break down the coffee grounds, but this is not the case. The coffee grounds will just get caught in the blades and cause a clog.
5. Eggshells
While eggshells are not as likely to clog up your garbage disposal as coffee grounds, they can still cause problems. Eggshells break down and create a sludge that can clog pipes. If you must put eggshells in your garbage disposal, make sure to run plenty of cold water while the disposal is on to help move the eggshells through.
These are just a few of the many items that you should avoid putting down a your garbage disposal. If you’re ever unsure about whether an item is safe to put down your disposal, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and throw it in the trash.
If you end up making a mistake and need a plumbing contractor in California, Fletcher’s Plumbing & Contracting can help. We’re experts when it comes to disposals and can clear any clog you may have. Give us a call today!