Liquids and soft foods are generally safe to put down a garbage disposal. Other items like citrus rinds and ice cubes are also OK. Avoid hard foods, or fibrous foods like celery, bones, fruit pits, greasy foods, and rice. These items tend to break blades or clog pipes. Read this post for more information about what is safe to put in a garbage disposal, and to learn what not to put in a garbage disposal.
Items Safe To Put in a Garbage Disposal
Liquids
Water, juice, and soup are usually OK to put in a garbage disposal.
Soft Foods
Soft vegetables, cooked eggs, small meat scraps, and most fruits are fine for garbage disposals.
Ice Cubes
These help clean and refresh the garbage disposal. Don’t drop in so much ice you clog the unit, but a few cubes can be helpful.
Citrus
Lemons, limes, and oranges are a great way to clean and disinfect your garbage disposal, and also give it a nice scent. Cut them into wedges before putting into the garbage disposal. Do not drop whole fruit into the device.
Water and Soap
This is also a good way to keep your garbage disposal clean. Don’t use a lot of soap. Just a small amount down the hole with some water will help clean the disposal unit.
Items To Keep Away From the Garbage Disposal Unit
Grease and Oil
Even with hot water, never put grease and oil down a garbage disposal. It hardens when it cools and will cause the disposal unit to back up and clog the drain.
Bones
These are hard on garbage disposals. They can damage the blades, and be hard on the motor because it has to work so hard to pulverize the bones. Some bones could puncture the drain and damage your pipes. Bones also tend to get stuck in plumbing drains.
Coffee Grounds
This seems like it would be safe but it is a deceptive food item. When it cools, it will clump, causing clogs in the drain.
Eggshells
This is another one that seems like it should be soft enough, but eggshells have a membrane that can stick to the inside of the garbage disposal and its teeth.
Rice
This food product expands when wet and will cause clogs in the drain. Avoid dumping rice in the garbage disposal at all costs.
Raw Meat
Raw meat is soft enough to go through, however, it will cause bacteria to grow and can create a toxic environment in your plumbing, causing your family to become sick.
Bread, Pasta, and Flour
These all expand when wet and can clog the drain. They also harden when they dry, which can also create a buildup that will clog the drain.
Fibrous Vegetables
These foods have strings that can wrap around your blades and cause them to stop working and will put stress on the motor. They can also create a clog by trapping other foods.
Non-Food Items
Plumbers often find a variety of non-food items in broken garbage disposals. Food wrappers, packaging, fruit stickers, and more can cause a lot of damage to a garbage disposal unit. Avoid these items down the drain at all costs.
Chemicals
Many people will turn to chemicals for clogged drains. These can damage a garbage disposal and are too harsh for this part of your plumbing system.
Conclusion
There are plenty of items that are safe to put in a garbage disposal, but there are a lot of things that can damage a garbage disposal that should never go down that drain. If your garbage disposal drain is clogged, or you need a new garbage disposal installed, call the professional plumbers at Jerry’s Plumbing, Heating & Welding today.
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