What Not To Put In A Garbage Disposal
What can you put down a garbage disposal and what not to put in a garbage disposal; people often seem confused when it comes to the type of kitchen waste they can wipe down the sink. While manufacturers may confidently boast the power of their disposal units approving them of being able to mulch any kitchen discard, it may not be the best idea to do so. If you consistently practice throwing down all kinds of countertop wastes down the garbage disposal, you may be unknowingly threatening its longevity.
People should be educated on topics like what can go down a garbage disposal and what shouldn’t. Irrespective of the type of your garbage disposal, there are some food wastes that you should never be throwing down the sink drain. Irresponsible usage of garbage disposals can harm the disposal unit and potentially harm the environment; right from causing air pollution to water pollution. It’s not uncommon to see people using the garbage disposal improperly, which is why we bring you this write-up discussing what you should and what not to put down the garbage disposal.
Things Not To Put In Garbage Disposal
1. Grease Oil
Your garbage disposal is different from a trash can, period! The fact that this has to be emphasized says enough about how it is generally perceived in domestic kitchens. You must abstain from putting grease and oil down the garbage disposal.
If you do so, the grease can accumulate and slowly hinder the grinding ability of your garbage disposal. It can also give rise to clogged drains and can reduce the overall functionality of the garbage disposal. Furthermore, it can disturb the disposal system in your neighborhood area.
2. Coffee Grounds
Can you put coffee grounds in garbage disposal? Even though coffee grounds seem harmless for garbage disposal, they can still damage and erode the blades and pipes. Coffee grounds are undoubtedly among the foods not to go in garbage disposal. Their accumulation can cause serious problems in pipes and drains, further damaging and clogging the disposal.
The coffee grounds are sedimentary in nature and can create a “slow drain” situation. These grounds cannot be disposed of off directly in the garbage disposal, while coffee powder may seem fine in texture; they still can stick to the pipes when wet. The coffee grounds can then eventually convert into the sludge to ultimately reduce the efficiency of your disposal.
3. Pasta and Rice
Pasta and rice have a tendency to puff up after cooking. These are yet another things not to put in a garbage disposal. Flushing them down in your garbage disposal can result in the stoppage of water going down the pipe. Rice and pasta can get swelled up and can result in a thick paste when clumped together.
This paste can block the pipes, resulting in a nasty disposable garbage system. It can further affect the overall maintenance of your disposal system and can also reduce its efficiency.
4. Bones
Can you put chicken bones in a garbage disposal? Although garbage disposals have sharp blades for disposing of and grinding wastage, you should still avoid throwing bones down the disposal. While small bones pose less harm to the garbage disposal, large bones can cause corrosion and clog your drain pipes.
The garbage disposal blades aren’t strong enough to break down chicken bones so it is better to carry out precautionary measures. Small bones aren’t much to be worried about, so you should definitely avoid throwing off large bones at the disposal.
5. Chemicals
Chemicals can cause serious corrosion and other reactions when disposed of in the disposal system. Since most of the garbage disposal systems are made up of steel, they can corrode after being in contact with chemicals such as bleaching powder, acids, and other chemical agents, etc. Hence, you should abstain from flushing down chemicals into your disposal.
6. Oatmeal
Oatmeal has a similar tendency of swelling up just like pasta and rice. So what do you reckon? Can you put oatmeal down the garbage disposal? Of course not, for the same reason. Since the walls of the garbage disposal are wet, uncooked oats can pass through the pipes and expand when contacted with water.
You should avoid dumping oatmeal as it can also act as a potential trap for the passage of other waste. You should avoid putting oatmeal and cereals down the garbage disposal.
7. Nuts
Nuts such as peanuts, cashews, and other varieties of nuts shouldn’t be flushed down the garbage disposal. They can turn into a paste upon breaking up by the blades. Furthermore, they can line your drain as their texture is of a sticky and thick paste.in other words, it can be very difficult for you to clean out your drain. This gooey mass can end up breaking down the motor of your garbage disposal and can cause the impeller to be jammed up.
8. Fibrous Vegetables
Vegetables having fibers such as lettuce, kale, celery, asparagus, artichoke, rhubarb, etc. are also not meant to be thrown down the garbage disposals. The strings of the fibers can get caught up with the blades of the disposal system. Additionally, they can also be tangled up while going down the disposal. Instead, you can try to convert them for compost or toss them in the trash can safely.
9. Onion Skin
Onions when chopped, diced sliced, or in chunks do not possess a threat to your garbage disposal. The real problem lies with the outer membrane or skins of the onion. This layer can be identified as the dry and outermost layer of the onion. Onion skins shouldn’t be put down your garbage disposal.
This thin layer can get past those blades and can eventually act as a trap for more items while sticking over the drain. These skins are safer when put in a trash can and can further eliminate drain blockages in a garbage disposal.
10. Eggshells
Can you put eggshells down a garbage disposal? Many myths support the concept of dropping down eggshells in the garbage disposal since they are believed to help in sharpening garbage disposal blades. But in reality, this theory can do more harm than good.
Not only do the grounded eggshells stick together and clog the pipes, but they can also trap and catch other items. The thin membrane on the inside of an eggshell should also not be tossed right away in the disposal.
11. Seafood
Seafood such as lobsters, crabs, oysters, shrimps has hard shells they tend to form a garbage disposal menace. These shells are hard, dense, and cannot be ground easily for the easy passage down your disposal system. Unfortunately, they can end up breaking your system due to their hard texture.
12. Carrots
Carrots when peeled can result in some sort of carrot skins. These peels can make up a mess in your garbage disposal since they can tangle around the disposals grinder.it can create problems with the overall maintenance of the disposal system. Carrot peels should be thrown away in a trash can either.
13. Corn husk
Corn husk is also a sort of fibrous silky thread that can get in between the smooth working of your garbage disposal. The kernel can be managed but not these husks. They can jam the motor and cause the drain to clog. These husks can either be thrown in the trash or can be used to make compost instead. Remember, you can’t put corn husks in the garbage disposal.
14. Artichokes
Artichokes also possess fibers that can get in the way of motors and can wrap themselves around shafts and blades. They tend to clog up the impeller and can break down your disposal system. artichokes do come from fibrous vegetables and hence should be thrown away in the trash instead.
15. Paint
Paints when poured straight into the disposal can reach out and stick to the shafts and sides of the disposal. It can eventually harden up to form a clumpy mass. Since paints are diluted, only a little amount of heavily diluted paint can be passed through the system. Little diluted paint is a big no-no for flushing down the system.
Paints when poured straight into the disposal can reach out and stick to the shafts and sides of the disposal. It can eventually harden up to form a clumpy mass. Since paints are diluted, only a little amount of heavily diluted paint can be passed through the system. Little diluted paint is a big no-no for flushing down the system.
Related: How to fix a leaking Garbage Disposal
Summing up
The overall maintenance of the garbage disposal is pretty straightforward. You should run cold water through it while using. And also wash it off with cold water after it has done grinding the food. This helps ensure that all food bits are washed down the drain and that none remain at your disposal. Summing up, you now know what should be and what not to put in a garbage disposal. These were some of the items that you should refrain from putting in a garbage disposal system. Contrarily, if you happen to have been putting these down your garbage disposal and your unit still functions just fine without leakages and/or rattling noises, you know what to do to keep it that way 😉