Wondering if the garbage disposal can handle eggshells or chicken bones?
A garbage disposal is an electronic machine fitted to the underside of a kitchen sink.
It uses blades to grind food waste into pieces small enough to be carried away in the plumbing system.
Credit: Werner Straube
To ensure the long life of your garbage disposal, avoid putting these items down the drain.
Coffee Grounds
Maybe you’veheard a myththatcoffee groundsare good for your plumbing system and keep away bad odors.
Coffee grounds are bestdisposed of through composting, where their nutrients can be put to use.
Potato Peels
Potato peels can create a sticky, gluey mess that causes plumbing blockages.
Small quantities might not do much harm initially, but larger quantities and continuous use can cause trouble.
These can stick to the blades or pipes and create blockages too.
For potato peels and veggies, the compost heap or organicgarbagebin is the most ecological disposal option.
Starchy Foods
Starchy foods like pasta, rice, oats, and beans expand with water.
This could eventually require the repair services of a plumber.
Dispose of these items in the garbage.
Their accumulation can lead to significant plumbing issues such as backups orleaksthat can be costly and time-consuming to fix.
Did you know that, at some point, you’ll have to replace your garbage disposal?
They typically last eight to 15 years with the proper care and maintenance.
It can wrap around the blades, making them operate less efficiently.
Onion skins can do the same or slip past the blades intact, forming a clog in your pipes.
Then pour a pot of boiling water down the disposal to loosen the clog.
If this has no effect, you may need to use a plunger orplumbing snake to remove the clog.
In the worst-case scenario, you will need a plumber.
Onions and eggshells are better disposed of as nutrient-rich additions to acompostheap.
Oil and latexpaintscan coat your pipes before hardening and causing blockages.
Nuts
Nut butters are made by grinding nuts into a paste with food processor blades.
Now imagine that mess in your pipes.
Their buildup over time can cause blockages, allowing water to back up, and damage your plumbing system.
Untreated clogs can also lead to unpleasant odors and bacteria growth.
Throw nuts in the trash or the compost pile instead.
Pits and Seeds
A garbage disposal is designed to handle soft food waste.
Peach pits, mango seeds, and other large stones may be too hard on your gear.
Avocado and peach pits are also large enough to form clogs.
Even smaller pits and seeds, such as cherries and grapes, can cause problems.
Fruit pulp or skins should go in the garbage orcompost heap.
The jury is still out on small bones.
Some experts say this is a no-no, while others say the gear is powerful enough to handle them.
To avoid any mishaps, toss them in the trash instead.
There is also the risk of shards of glass or shattered pieces flying out of the disposal.
Avoid polluting the water supply and dispose of your medicine responsibly.
Check the label to see if there are disposal instructions and follow them.
Consult a local pharmacy or health center to see if they take back expired or unused medication.
