What Not to Put Down Your Garbage Disposal

These Handy Tips Will Help You Avoid Garbage Disposal Repairs

It’s July again, and most Phoenix, AZ families are celebrating Independence Day and other festivities with fun backyard cookouts and picnics. While time spent outside with family is fun, the cleanup required can be a pain. Uneaten food and food waste such as corncobs and watermelon rinds leave many wondering if their garbage disposal is up for the job.

You shouldn’t have to think about your plumbing systems having issues in the midst of your good times! Let Hobaica take some of the stress away with some helpful pointers on what not to put down your garbage disposal this summer.

Eggshells

Egg salads and deviled eggs are a favorite at most barbeques. If you’re cooking a lot of eggs, you will have a lot of eggshells that need to be cleared up before the guests arrive. You might wonder if the easily breakable shells are okay to put down your garbage disposal.

Eggshells are actually best put in the trash. The inner membrane is pretty tough and can get tangled around the blades of your garbage disposal. The shell itself may get stuck in the trap.

Pits & Seeds

Fruit is nature’s candy and a staple for cookouts. But because fruits are such a popular foods, you will probably be left with a lot of pits and seeds at the end of the day that can be easily scraped off plates into the disposal. However, that might not be the best idea.

Pits and seeds are too hard for your disposal. They will not be broken up and may damage or become stuck to the blades.

Bones

If you have a lot of meat eaters in your family, you’ll be dealing with a lot of bones by the end of the day. Some people believe bones will sharpen the disposal blades, but this is actually not true, and in fact the opposite will occur.

Other Foods to Avoid

If any food can get caught in the blades, dull the blades or get stuck in the blades, you should avoid putting them into your garbage disposal. Some foods you should avoid include:

• Fibrous Fruits & Veggies
• Pasta & Rice
• Meat Grease, Fat or Oil
• Coffee Grounds

And when you aren’t sure, just remember the answer to any garbage disposal dilemma is, “When it doubt, throw it out!”

Also Avoid Drain Cleaners

If your sink drain has had enough and is backing up or draining slowly, avoid pouring any kind of drain cleaner or bleach into the drain. Doing so can cause irreparable damage over time, making a call to a plumbing company necessary.

We hope these tips have helped you! Enjoy your summer activities this year with less stress about cleanup time.

Call us at (602) 633-9555 if you run into any plumbing issues. We’ll keep your household running all season and beyond!