It is in human nature to always want to take the easiest way out. So it is not surprising to want to have every trash go down the garbage disposer. But if you need a healthy, clean disposal system, this is not a good idea.
It is the garbage disposer’s work to make your work easier. It allows you to turn a switch and get rid of food scraps and waste that would have otherwise made your house look a little miserable.
This might make you think that the disposal is indestructible and can handle anything. But this is not the case. Here is a list of what not to put in a garbage disposal as given by appliance repair professionals.
-
Bones
This is the most obvious, but many people do not know. Animal bones are the hardest natural substances in the world. Although some garbage disposal systems can crush and grind them up, they will wear the machine and gradually shorten its lifespan.
A garbage disposal can handle small fish and chicken bones but refrain from dropping everything on the plate down the drain.
-
Egg Shells
There is a popular misconception that eggshells help sharpen the disposer blades. But this is very far from the truth, and in fact, garbage disposal does not have blades. Instead, they have impellers that grind up waste instead of chopping it. Therefore, they do not need to be sharpened.
In reality, eggshells have a film membrane that can potentially rap around the machine parts and disrupt their function. This can significantly slow down your disposer or even cause serious damage.
-
Coffee Grounds
Believe it or not, coffee grounds are also a no-no! They might not necessarily be bad for the disposal machine, but they are terrible for your plumbing.
They might look finely ground and dissolved, but after a few days of shoving them down the disposal, you will end up will a giant pile of gel-like paste clogging up your drain.
-
Nuts and Shells
Most nuts and shells are hard to crush (e.g. seafood shells). Although most garbage disposal can handle them, they tire out the machine a lot quicker and end up causing slow but systematic damage.
Grinding and sending nuts down the drain is also not suitable for your plumbing. For example, Ground peanuts make what? Peanut butter. This thick paste can potentially cause a clog big enough to get your whole house flooded.
-
Grease, Oil, and Fat
Do not let their liquid nature fool you. It will not be long before your liquid-looking greasy fats solidify and thicken and cause a significant clog down your drain. Keep anything oily away from your garbage disposal, and your plumbing will thank you for it.
-
Onion Layers
Onion peels are another unbelievable thing that should be kept away from your disposer. Like eggshells, onions have a film-like membrane that does not go very well with the disposal machine. If they wrap around the moving parts, they can potentially cause serious damage to the garbage disposal.
-
Non-Food Stuff
The garbage disposal is not your trash can. So although the name might be misleading, do not bring out all and sundry and throw them in. For example, paper towels and plastic wrappers should go to the garbage can instead.
Flushing them down your garbage disposal will affect the machine and cause serious plumbing problems. Also, if these materials are not biodegradable, they are likely to be a massive problem to the whole area’s drainage system.
Conclusion
This list only summarises the most detrimental items that can affect the disposal system and the plumbing system connected to it if put into the garbage disposal. But it is in no way exhaustive.
The point is to let you know that not everything goes into the garbage disposal, and your garbage can is there for a reason. To avoid having to hire a commercial appliance repair Northern VA professional now and then, make use of it.
