Your garbage disposal can process various types of wastes but there are certain things that should not go into it. Otherwise, you may be faced with the inconvenient and costly problem of a clogged drain. This article lists down some of the food scraps that should never go down your garbage disposal.
Coffee Grounds
One of the food scraps that should never go into your garbage disposal is coffee grounds. Rather than making your garbage disposal smell like coffee, you are only causing a block in your drain. When this happens, your best option is to call a blocked drain plumber who will be able to help you solve your plumbing issue. The reason behind this is that coffee grounds can quickly thicken and become a sludgy wad that can clog your pipes.
Egg Shells
Another food scrap that should never go into your garbage disposal is egg shells. Many people believe that putting eggshells in your garbage disposal will sharpen its blades but on the contrary, egg shells can cause a block in your drain. The reason behind this is that the thin membrane under the shell can come off and become a net that can trap larger debris in your pipes. Rather, what you can do with your egg shells is to put them in your compost or scatter them in your garden.
Potato Peels
Potato peels are starchy, which means that they can become a giant wad that other small or big particles inside your pipes can stick to. This is similar to what happens to the thin membrane that separates from egg shells. Rather than putting your potato peels in your garbage disposal, put them in your trash or your compost instead.
Nuts
When you grind nuts and they are mixed with water, you will most likely have peanut butter. This is the same thing that happens when you put nuts into your garbage disposal. The nuts are ground into fine particles but when they are mixed with water, they tend to have a sticky consistency where other particles can stick to. Aside from this, it can be quite challenging to clean your drain with nuts stuck into it.
Bones
Your garbage disposal is not meant to grind bones, which is why you should not put bones in it. While occasional throwing of chicken bones may be harmless, throwing a leftover rack of ribs in your garbage disposal may not be a good idea. Apart from breaking the blades of your garbage disposal, there might be big pieces of bones that can escape to your drain, causing a blockage that can be quite disastrous.
The food scraps listed above are only some of the things that should never go into your garbage disposal because they can cause a significant plumbing problem. Some of the other food scraps that you need to dispose properly of include pasta and onion skins, as well as other fibrous veggies. When you properly dispose of these food scraps, you will be able to avoid any plumbing problems in the future.
