What Not to Put Down Your Garbage Disposal
Your garbage disposal is convenient, but it is not a trash can. Every week, our plumbers clear kitchen drains clogged by foods that should never have gone down the disposal in the first place. Most of these clogs (and the service calls that follow) are completely avoidable.
Follow these garbage disposal tips to keep your kitchen drain flowing freely.
Never Put These Down Your Disposal
Grease, oil, and fat. The number one cause of kitchen drain clogs. Grease goes down liquid and hardens inside your pipes, trapping everything else. Wipe pans with a paper towel and toss it in the trash.
Coffee grounds. They do not dissolve, they clump into a dense, sludgy mass that packs your drain like sediment. Compost them or throw them away.
Fibrous vegetables. Celery, asparagus, artichokes, corn husks, and onion skins wrap around the disposal’s blades and jam the motor. They belong in the trash or compost.
Starchy foods: pasta, rice, and potato peels. Pasta and rice swell with water and turn into a gluey paste inside your pipes. Potato peels form a thick, starchy layer that blades cannot clear.
Bones and fruit pits. Disposals are not designed to grind bones, peach pits, or avocado pits. They dull the blades, jam the unit, and can burn out the motor.
Eggshells. A persistent myth says eggshells sharpen blades, they do not. The membrane lining can wrap around the shredder plate, and ground shells contribute to sludge buildup.
Harsh chemical drain cleaners. They can damage disposal components and create a hazardous situation for anyone who later works on the drain. Never pour them into a disposal.
What Is Safe to Put Down
Small amounts of soft food scraps are fine: cooked vegetables, small fruit pieces, and the little bits left on plates after scraping them into the trash first. The key word is small amounts, a disposal handles residue, not full meals.
Best Practices That Prevent Clogs
Always run cold water before, during, and for 15 seconds after using the disposal. Cold water keeps grease solid so it can be ground and flushed through, while hot water melts it deeper into your pipes.
Feed scraps gradually, not all at once. Overloading is the fastest way to jam the unit.
Clean it naturally. Grind a tray of ice cubes with a few citrus peels every couple of weeks. The ice scours the grinding chamber and the citrus freshens it, no chemicals needed.
If it jams, use the reset button. Most disposals have a red reset button underneath. Turn the unit off, press it, and try again. If it hums but does not spin, turn it off immediately and call a plumber, never put your hand inside.
Plumbing Help Near You
Need a hand with this job? Our licensed Peoria plumbers can help.
- Drain cleaning in Peoria IL for a slow or clogged kitchen sink
- Sewer and drain line repair if grease has built up in the main line
- Kitchen plumbing for a new sink or disposal install
- Plumber in East Peoria where homeowners own the sewer lateral
Call (309) 322-6312 any time, day or night.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put lemon peels in my garbage disposal?
Yes, small citrus peels are fine and help freshen the unit. Just avoid large, thick peels in big quantities.
Why does my disposal smell bad?
Trapped food particles decay inside the grinding chamber and the drain baffle. The ice-and-citrus cleaning routine above usually fixes it. Persistent odors can mean buildup deeper in the drain.
Is it okay to use hot water with the disposal?
Use cold water while grinding. Hot water melts grease so it flows further into your pipes before hardening, exactly what you want to avoid.
My disposal hums but will not spin. What should I do?
Turn it off right away to avoid burning out the motor, then try the reset button underneath. If it still will not spin, the unit is jammed or the motor has failed, call a professional rather than forcing it.
How long should a garbage disposal last?
A quality disposal typically lasts 8 to 12 years. Frequent jams, persistent odors, and poor grinding are signs it is time for a replacement.
Clogged Despite Your Best Efforts?
Sometimes the problem is deeper than the disposal, in the drain line itself. Call Peoria Heights Plumbing at +1 (309) 322-6312 for fast drain cleaning in Peoria IL, serving Peoria, Peoria Heights, East Peoria, Morton, Washington, Dunlap, Pekin, and Chillicothe. Upfront pricing, licensed plumbers, and our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Can you put coffee grounds down a garbage disposal?
No. Coffee grounds clump together in the drain trap and pipes. Put them in the trash or compost instead.
Is it OK to pour grease down the drain with hot water?
No. Hot water only moves the grease further down the pipe. It cools, hardens and builds a clog in the drain or sewer line.
How do I know if my disposal needs a plumber?
Call a plumber if the disposal hums but will not spin, leaks from the bottom, or the sink drains slowly after you run it. Call (309) 322-6312 for help.
