We tend to think of our garbage disposal as unstoppable grinding machines capable of crushing and disposing of anything and everything we throw down there. Just press a button, turn on the water, and watch your waste disappear…

The truth is much less extreme. While garbage disposals can comfortably remove a wide range of foodstuffs, there are some things that are better placed in the garbage can, and then there are those foods that could destroy the disposal itself.

Keep These Foods Away From Your Garbage Disposal

• Bones or Large Pits: Your garbage disposal is not unstoppable, and really tough items like bones or large pits that you would find in a peach or avocado will be too dense for the blades. Even chicken bones that are notoriously frail should not be placed down the disposal.
• Fibrous Fruits and Vegetables: We’re talking about celery, corn husks, asparagus, and any fruit or vegetable composed of long strands bunched together. While this organic waste is certainly soft enough, the blades of the garbage disposal may not cut through all the strands. Instead, they will wrap around the blades and eventually clog the whole system.
• Egg Shells: This one may come as a surprise, but egg shells will actually stick to the sides of the disposal and accumulate over time. They can also catch over food waste as it goes past and accumulates into a serious clog.
• Grease and Oil: Not only is grease and oil bad for your garbage disposal, but it is also bad for your drain as a whole. Grease is not washed away by water alone (that’s why we have to use soap). So, pouring grease or oil down a drain will cause it to cling to the sides and act as an adhesive. Other foodstuffs will also be caught and form a nasty clog just like egg shells.

Need Help? Call a Four Seasons Plumber!

Whether your drain is clogged or your garbage disposal is jammed, there is a Four Seasons Plumber on call and ready to lend a hand. We offer 24-hour emergency service for all manner of residential and commercial plumbing issues, so don’t hesitate to call!