Items like corn silk, celery, bones and grease should never be put down your garbage disposal. Doing so can have dire consequences for your disposal system. When in doubt, throw it out!
Why These Foods Cause Problems
Stringy, fibrous foods like celery, corn silk, and onion skins don’t break down cleanly. Instead, they wrap around the disposal’s impellers and tangle together, which can jam the motor or form a clog farther down the drain line. Starchy foods like potatoes and rice cause a different problem. Once ground up, they swell with water and turn into a thick paste that sticks to pipe walls and traps other debris. Bones are too hard for most residential units to grind, and they can dull or damage the impellers over time.
Grease Is the Biggest Culprit
Fats, oils, and grease may go down the drain as a liquid, but they cool and harden as they move through your pipes. Over time, that buildup narrows the pipe and catches food particles, creating stubborn clogs that a plunger won’t fix. Grease can also cause problems beyond your home, contributing to blockages in the sewer line. Instead of rinsing it down the sink, let grease cool in a container and throw it in the trash.
Simple Habits That Keep Your Disposal Running
A little care goes a long way. Always run cold water before, during, and for several seconds after using the disposal to help flush waste through the line. Feed food scraps in gradually rather than all at once, and scrape plates into the trash or compost before rinsing them. If your disposal hums without spinning, drains slowly, or gives off a lingering odor, it may be time for a professional inspection. The plumbers at Gene Johnson can diagnose the problem and repair or replace your garbage disposal before a small issue turns into a bigger plumbing headache.
