Grease, bones, fruit pits, coffee grounds, eggshells, pasta, rice, and stringy vegetables should never go down a garbage disposal. These items can dull the blades, jam the motor, or build up in the drain pipe and cause clogs.
Items That Clog the Drain
- Grease and oil: they cool and harden inside the pipe, trapping other food.
- Coffee grounds: they clump together and settle in the trap.
- Pasta, rice, and bread: they swell with water and form a paste.
- Eggshells: the thin inner layer can wrap around parts, and the gritty bits build up.
Items That Jam the Disposal
- Bones and fruit pits: too hard for most home disposals to grind.
- Celery, corn husks, and onion skins: long fibers wrap around the grinding plate.
- Potato peels: large amounts turn starchy and sticky.
- Non-food items: twist ties, utensils, and bottle caps can damage the unit.
Good Disposal Habits
Scrape most food into the trash or compost first. Run cold water before, during, and for a few seconds after grinding. Cold water keeps any fat solid so it can be chopped and carried away instead of coating the pipe. Feed scraps in slowly instead of all at once. Grinding a few ice cubes now and then can help knock loose bits off the grinding parts.
Never put your hand inside the disposal. If it jams, turn it off first and use the tools or reset button the maker suggests.
When the Sink Backs Up
A disposal that hums but does not spin, or a sink that fills with dirty water, may point to a jam or a clog past the unit. Avoid chemical drain cleaners, which can damage disposal parts and splash back. Also avoid running the disposal over and over to force a clog through. Clearing a clogged kitchen line can get things moving again without harming the disposal.
For kitchen plumbing questions of any kind, you can get answers from our plumbing team at (833) 603-1840.