12 things you should never put down your garbage disposal

To extend the life of your garbage disposal, avoid putting these down the drain:

Coffee grounds

They're one of the worst things that you can put down the drain, as they form into a sludgy mess and can block your pipes.

Potato peels

Potato peels can create a sticky, gluey mess that causes plumbing blockages. After the peels pass through the blades of your garbage disposal and into pipes, they get waterlogged and break down into a viscous liquid. 

Fibrous vegetables

Certain veggies, such as celery, rhubarb, pumpkin innards, chard, kale and asparagus may get tangled up in the blades and cause them to malfunction. Remember to take the stickers off the peels before putting them down the disposal.

Starchy foods

Foods like pasta, rice, oats and beans expand with water. This swelling can cause food to become lodged in a garbage disposal's blades or kitchen pipes, leading to clogs and preventing proper sink drainage. The sticky, starchy mixture may also coat the blades of the disposal, making them less effective or causing them to malfunction.

Grease and fats

Oils, butter, poultry skin and bacon grease might slip down your disposal with ease but these substances solidify and stick in your pipes. Their accumulation can lead to significant plumbing issues such as backups or leaks.

Onion skins and eggshells

Some experts say eggshells are relatively safe and may even help garbage disposal blades stay sharp, but the problem is the membrane just beneath the eggshell. It can wrap around the blades. Onion skins can do the same or slip past the blades intact, forming a clog in your pipes.

Paint

Avoid sending paint and harsh chemicals down your drain as they will damage your disposal and the pipes. Oil and latex paints can 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. Avoid putting large quantities of nuts down your disposal as they can become lodged in the pipes and cause clogs.

Pits and seeds

Peach pits, mango seeds and other large stones may be too hard on your device. They are very tough and may overwork, bend, or break your blades, or burn out the motor. 

Shells and bones

Shellfish come with a hard exoskeleton that can be tough on disposal blades and damage pipes. Big bones, like ribs, are definitely not meant for a garbage disposal and may even break the blades. The jury is still out on small bones. Some experts say this is a no-no, while others say the device is powerful enough to handle them.

Non-food Items

Sometimes silverware may fall in or a glass may break in the sink. If your disposal is turned on with these items in it, it can lead to clogs or the bending or breaking of its blades. There is also the risk of shards of glass or shattered pieces flying out of the disposal.

Medicine

Since everything ground up by your disposal eventually gets into the water supply, it's a no-brainer to avoid throwing out medicine with your garbage disposal. 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.