There’s no doubt that garbage disposals are incredibly handy kitchen appliances that make post-meal clean-up a breeze. However, you can’t just throw anything in there – there are some items that can do some serious damage. So, naturally, you may be wondering: what can you put in a garbage disposal?
In this guide, we’ll explore the items that are safe and unsafe for your garbage disposal, ensuring you can make informed decisions about what goes down the drain.
Safe Items for Your Garbage Disposal
If you want to keep your garbage disposal running smoothly and efficiently, then it’s essential to stick with the items that can safely be put down the drain. These items will be easily ground and washed away without causing harm to your disposal.
Soft Foods
Generally speaking, any foods that are soft enough to feed to a baby are generally safe to put in your garbage disposal. These items tend to break down easily when exposed to water, making them a good choice for efficient disposal. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule, which we’ll get into below.
Fruits and Vegetables
Most fruits and vegetables are safe for your garbage disposal. Their high water content and relatively soft texture make them suitable for grinding. However, be cautious with fibrous or stringy items like corn husks and celery, as they can become entangled in the blades.
Ice Cubes
They may not be as soft as some of the others on this list, but running ice cubes through your garbage disposal is an excellent way to keep it clean and sharp. They can help remove debris and residue from the disposal’s blades, preventing them from becoming dull. And as a bonus, the cold temperature can solidify any grease or food particles, allowing the blades to grind them effectively.
Citrus Peels
Citrus peels, such as those from lemons or oranges, serve two purposes: they can help freshen and clean your disposal while leaving a pleasant, citrusy aroma in your kitchen. See, the oils in citrus peels act as a natural deodorizer, eliminating any unpleasant odors that may accumulate in your disposal.
Unsafe Items for Your Garbage Disposal
While your garbage disposal can handle a variety of foods, there are certain items that should never find their way into it. These items can cause clogs, damage the blades, and lead to costly repairs, so be sure to steer clear!
Grease and Oil
Grease and oil may be liquid when hot, but they can solidify and create clogs in your garbage disposal and pipes as they cool. It’s therefore essential to avoid putting any type of grease or oil down the drain, as it can lead to serious plumbing issues over time.
Hard Items
Unlike ice cubes, hard items like bones from steak or chicken wings, fruit pits, and hard shells from seafood should never be introduced to your disposal. These hard materials can damage the blades and may lead to costly repairs or replacements.
Fibrous Foods
As touched on above, fibrous foods, including corn husks, onion skins, and celery, should also be kept away from your garbage disposal. The long, stringy fibers in these foods can wrap around the disposal’s blades and prevent them from working properly. This can result in blockages and reduced efficiency.
Starchy Foods
They may fall under the category of “soft”, but starchy foods like potatoes, pasta, and even oatmeal can transform into a thick, glue-like paste when mixed with water. This paste has the potential to clog both your disposal and your plumbing.
Coffee Grounds
While they may seem harmless to dispose of, coffee grounds can cause issues with your garbage disposal. When they go down the drain, these grounds can mix with grease or other debris, forming a sludgy mass that can clog the drain and the disposal. And it’s not like you can easily use Drano to solve this issue!
Non-Food Items
It may not surprise you to learn that non-food items, such as paper, plastic, glass, or metal, should never find their way into your garbage disposal. These objects can cause significant damage to the disposal’s blades and keep it from working properly.
Tips for Safe Garbage Disposal Use
In addition to sticking to the safe foods and avoiding the unsafe ones, there are some other things you can do to help keep your garbage disposal in good working condition. Here are some of our top tips:
- Run Cold Water: When operating your garbage disposal, always run cold water, and continue to do so for about 15 seconds after you’ve finished using it. Cold water helps solidify any grease or oil, allowing the blades to grind it into smaller particles that can be safely washed away.
- Cut Items into Smaller Pieces: Before putting larger food items into your disposal, consider cutting them into smaller, more manageable pieces. This can help prevent clogs and reduce strain on the disposal’s blades.
- Avoid Overloading: It’s essential not to overload your garbage disposal with a lot of food at once. Instead, use smaller batches to ensure efficient grinding and prevent blockages.
- Regular Maintenance: To keep your disposal in excellent condition, use ice cubes to clean the blades and grind citrus peels to help eliminate odors.
- Professional Servicing: If you experience any issues with your garbage disposal that you can’t solve yourself, such as humming noises or persistent clogs, consider consulting a professional for servicing. They can diagnose and address any problems effectively.
The Bottom Line
So, what can you put in a garbage disposal? Well, if you want to keep it in good condition, then you’ll want to stick with safe items like soft foods, fruits, vegetables, ice cubes, and citrus peels. These items grind easily, helping your disposal stay clean and fresh.
On the other hand, you should steer clear of unsafe items such as grease and oil, hard materials, fibrous foods, starchy items, coffee grounds, and non-food objects. These culprits can wreak havoc on your disposal’s blades and plumbing.
Ultimately, understanding what can and cannot go into your garbage disposal is key to keeping your kitchen running smoothly. By choosing to dispose of items properly, you can save yourself from the hassle of dealing with clogs, damage to your disposal, and costly repairs.
In summary, maintaining your garbage disposal’s health is not only a matter of convenience, but also a financial and practical decision that will keep this handy appliance in excellent working order. With proper care, you can enjoy the benefits of a clean and efficient disposal for years to come.
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