Contents
Dry Pasta
While your garbage disposal can handle much of the food scraps that come with meal prep and sink clean-up, there is one type of food material you should never put down there: dry pasta. It may seem like an innocuous choice, but dry pasta expands when wet, even after it’s cooked. The pasta will cause clumping and sticking around the inner edges of the disposal and jam it up quickly.
Pasta can also form into hardened balls as it comes in contact with water which will cause issues with the blades. Even if you avoid putting dry pasta into the drainage system, take extra precautions when rinsing off leftover pasta dishes, so the small pieces make their way into the garbage rather than end up stuck in your disposal.
Coffee Grounds
Many people believe throwing coffee grounds in their garbage disposal is a great way to freshen up the sink, but this can be quite dangerous. Coffee grounds can quickly accumulate inside the garbage disposal, disrupting the blades and causing them to jam. Even if the coffee grounds don’t result in clogging or jamming, they can create a barrier between the impellers and other particles down the line, leading to further clogs or backups.
This could eventually require professional plumbing repairs, which are typically much more expensive than disposing of coffee grounds in the trash bin. To avoid any issues, always throw your coffee grounds away in a trash bag and not down the sink.
Onion Skins
Onions are excellent ingredients that add flavor and texture to countless recipes, but putting onion skins down your garbage disposal can lead to major problems. The thin strands of the skin can get caught on the blades, causing clogs and blocking the disposal from functioning correctly. Even after dislodging a clog, these onions can still leave pieces of themselves behind and cause more clogs down the line.
Additionally, the oils in onion skins can linger and create an unpleasant odor in your drains. And while it is safe to put chunks of onion into your disposal, it’s best to avoid putting the skins altogether.
Seafood Shells
This last one may seem rather obvious, but it’s worth mentioning – it’s best never to put seafood shells down your garbage disposal. The crunchy and hard shells of shrimp, crab, and lobster can easily get stuck in the impellers or grinding wheels, resulting in clogs or broken pieces. Due to their strong odor, they can also attract pests near your sink, like ants and roaches.
The best way to dispose of these shells is to wrap them in a bag and throw them away in the trash bin. Not only will you avoid issues with plumbing, but your kitchen will also remain pest-free.
Never Put These Items In Your Garbage Disposal!
While it’s true that you can safely dispose of most food waste with garbage disposal, some materials should never go down the drain. If you want to avoid any damage to your garbage disposal and help keep your drains free, then make sure to avoid putting these items anywhere near your sink. And if you have questions about other things you are unsure if they belong at your disposal, then it’s best to err on the side of caution and throw them away instead. Doing so can save you a lot of trouble down the road!