After a long day of work and picking up the kids, you’re looking forward to some much-needed post-dinner relaxation. And then… CLANGITYCLANGITYCLANGGRRR… Uh-oh. It’s the garbage disposal. It’s not supposed to make that sound. Water is filling the sink. Oh no. And now there’s a huge, murky mess to clean up. What happened? Well, there are some items you just can’t put down the garbage disposal. We’re going to go over some of these items.
Grease
Yeah, you might be thinking, “What’s the big deal? Grease is liquid.” Well, you’d be wrong. Sure, hot cooking grease is liquid while it’s warm. And it would easily pass through the garbage disposal and into the drain while warm, well, it’s a different story when things cool down. Grease hardens after it cools and it can cause a clogged drain and a big plumbing problem. You’re better off getting rid of grease by putting it into a heat safe container instead of dumping down the disposal.
Veggies
Many vegetables, peels and cornhusks are a no-go down the garbage disposal. Lettuce, potato peels, celery, rhubarb, asparagus are bad ideas, to name a few. The reason being is that these vegetables are stringy and can get wrapped around the blades of your garbage disposal. Just throw them away or put them in a compost bin.
Eggshells
Eggshells are a bad idea, too. The membranes inside the eggshell can wrap themselves around the blades as well. Just toss ’em. Also, never put seeds, pits or bones down your disposal. Toss those, too.
Pasta and Rice
These delicious dinnertime dishes should not go down the disposal. Why? Well, these starchy staples expand when in contact with water. So, every time you turn on your faucet, they could continue to absorb moisture, causing clogs over time.
Coffee Grinds
Coffee grinds can accumulate in the trap of the disposal. Just get rid of them the old fashioned way: throw them in the garbage.
The Unexpected
Every so often, a small item will fall into the disposal, such as a baby spoon, a bottle cap or a twistie-tie. It’s smart to look and see if any of these unexpected items have fallen in before you turn on the disposal.
Garbage disposals are a convenient appliance and a great way to clean up after meals. But they’re not invincible. Remember this: If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t toss it down the drain. And if you do clog your disposal, call Sun Plumbing in Melbourne, Florida, at (321) 725-2460.
