Many households today enjoy the convenience of their garbage disposal. Food scraps that stubbornly stick to the plate are ground up by the sharp spinning blades and carried out of your pipes, preventing a clog. Most people know that there are certain foods/waste that should never go down the garbage disposal, such as bones and grease. These two materials are infamous for their ability to give your garbage disposal a hard time, harming the blades or bypassing them and solidifying at the bottom of the drain.
There are some foods, however, that many people don’t realize can be extremely harmful to your garbage disposal. This article lists the five foods that you should never dispose of in a garbage disposal. Hopefully, this can help you avoid a broken garbage disposal, a clog, and costly repairs.
1. Celery
Celery is made up of fibrous strings that are nutritious for our bodies, but these same strings create a major problem for the garbage disposal. Just as the strings get stuck in your teeth when you take a bite of your celery, the same happens to your garbage disposal blades as it tries to break the celery down. The strings begin to strip away from the stalk and get caught up in the blades, which can result in the blades breaking down or dulling.
Other Fibrous Foods
Celery isn’t the only fibrous food to be wary of. Asparagus, corn husks, and pumpkins have the same stringy properties. Don’t allow a vegetable to give you a headache; instead, dispose of it in the trash. If you have a worm bin for composting, these vegetables also make great worm food.
2. Coffee Grounds
A warm cup of coffee is good for the soul. Those used up coffee grounds may seem small and easy to just send down your garbage disposal, but take it from the experts, your disposal is not a fan. Coffee grounds are relatively small which means that they don’t break down all the way as they pass through the blades. Instead, they end up in a heap at the bottom of your drain and turn into a gritty and sludge-like mess. This leads to a clog over time and can back up the water into your sink. To avoid this, it is better to just dispose of the coffee grounds in the trash.
3. Fruit Pits
Fruit pits, such as from a peach or an avocado, are as hard as a rock. If you have ever attempted to cut through them, you know it is nearly impossible. Knowing this, it is silly to think your garbage disposal blades will have any better luck cutting through them. Instead, the pit will just rattle around and cause damage to the blades. Damage is absolutely something you want to avoid since replacing the blades in a garbage disposal is very expensive. Discarding your fruit pits, using them to make compost, or even painting them to make arts and crafts with your kids is a better way to go.
4. Pasta
Pasta is a favorite dish for many people. Spaghetti, fettucini, rigatoni, and so many more options fill people’s pantries and bellies every day. Once that family pasta dinner is done though, many people turn to the garbage disposal to eat up the rest of the waste. Unfortunately, the pasta will continue to absorb water while it is in the drain, causing it to grow and clog your pipes.
Rice acts similarly to pasta, so disposing of rice in your garbage disposal can also cause clog the disposal trap or drain.
5. Peanuts
Peanuts are a healthy snack food that tastes amazing. People use them to top their ice cream, make healthy snacks like granola bars, or just eat them on their own. When you are ready to throw out the rest of your peanuts though, think twice before throwing them to your garbage disposal.
Peanut butter is made by grinding up peanuts. The result is a sticky thick substance, almost like a paste. Your garbage disposal acts like a mini-homemade grinder. This peanut butter becomes stuck to your drain, the blades of your garbage disposal, and can lead to a whole slew of problems.
Is Your Sink Clogged? Does Your Garbage Disposal Need Repairs?
Staying away from putting troublesome sticky food down the drain can help save your garbage disposal. Unfortunately, accidents happen or your garbage disposal begins to break down over time. If you are facing a clogged drain, damaged garbage disposal, or any other plumbing issues, the dedicated team at Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Drain can help! Contact us today for more information on our services and an estimate.