Garbage disposals are one of the most loved appliances in the home. With the flick of a switch, garbage disposal allows you to mash up various types of foods. While it is convenient, not all foods are okay to dump in your garbage disposal. After all, it is a sensitive appliance (and an expensive one too!). So if you are lucky enough to have one in your home, make sure you know about what you should not put down your garbage disposal.
Since most people think that a garbage disposal can crush down everything, they end up damaging their appliance. To help save this trouble, we have compiled a list of foods that should not go in your garbage disposal so that it can remain in the right working condition, and you can continue to enjoy its benefits for longer.
Grease and Fats
Have you ever let the bacon grease set for some time? Do you know what happens? Yes, it solidifies. Now imagine what would happen inside your garbage disposal if you would pour down grease or fats in your drain. Obviously, the fats will solidify and clog your drain over time, along with damaging the blades of your garbage disposal. So it is always best to avoid pouring fats and grease down the drain.
Egg Shells
The crumbling white eggshells might seem to be an easy target for the sharp blades of your garbage disposal unit. But that is not the case. It might come as a surprise to many people that the membrane inside the eggshell can actually wrap around the disposal and eventually clog your drains.
So if egg salad is one the menu today, make sure you put the eggshells in the trash!
Pasta and Rice
Have you ever noticed what happens to pasta and rice if they remain soaked in water for long? Foods with a lot of starch swell up in the water. As a result, they can clog your pipes over time. A better idea is to throw pasta and rice in thrash after straining them instead of throwing them in the disposal.
Bones
What happens when bones spin in your garbage disposal? Unlike general perception, bones do not get crushed. Instead, they keep spinning around the blades and end up damaging them. Also, since bones will not get mashed up, they will continue to be in your garbage disposal unit and will never make it to the drain.
Seeds
Almost all fruits have seeds, but fruits with hard seeds are a no-go in the disposal unit. So while peaches, cherries, and avocados are delicious, it is best to throw their seeds in trash. As a rule, always remember that if you can chop a seed with a knife, it is safe for your garbage disposal. But if your knife can't handle it, that your garbage disposal unit too can’t take care of it.
In case you accidentally drop a pit down the sink, immediately turn off the disposal unit and only then retrieve the seed.
Coffee Grounds
A morning cup of coffee may be essential for most people around, but coffee grounds are not the best friend of a garbage disposal unit. Over time, coffee grounds can end up damaging the blades of your disposal unit.
Oatmeal
Similar to pasta and rice, oatmeal too expands when in contact with water. In the case of uncooked oats, they are likely to slip down the disposal unit but will eventually gather and expand down the line. In that case, you will need help with drain and sewer line cleaning.
Nuts
- About to dump a handful of nuts down your garbage disposal unit?
- Think again. A garbage disposal unit is an excellent nut grinder.
- Ever thought how peanut butter is made?
- You guessed it right by grinding peanuts.
And you will never want peanut butter in your garbage disposal. So avoid dropping nuts into your garbage disposal, or else you will have to get an intense cleaning of your garbage disposal unit.
Corn Husks
Cornhusk is another no-go food item in your garbage disposal. The husk and the thin threads of corn silk can damage your appliance, so it is best that the fibrous remains of corn goes into the trash and not in your garbage disposal unit.
Shells
This time, it is not about eggshells but hard shells from seafood, especially crab and shrimps. These shells are often too hard for your disposal unit to handle. And in case the little shells of the shrimp may slip through the disposal unit, they may end up clogging your drain. So it is always best to dispose of the shells in a trash bag.
Pumpkin
Ever scooped a pumpkin? If the answer is yes, then you would know how the strands of your pumpkin can cause a sticky mess. Imagine what would happen when you transfer this mess to your garbage disposal. A better idea is to use a trash bag instead so you can avoid all possible problems with your disposal unit.
If you are lucky enough to have a garbage disposal unit at home, make sure you take good care of it. Putting in hard, fibrous foods down the drain will not only cause damage to the disposal unit but will also result in clogged drains.
Despite taking adequate measures, if your garbage disposal unit needs repair, don't worry. At Mesa Plumbing, we offer 24/7 repair and replacement facilities for your garbage disposal. To know more about our services or to schedule an appointment, call now at 480-832-1660 or visit our website.