Think before throwing it down the sink.
Your garbage disposal might be one of the hardest working appliances in your kitchen, but it’s not invincible. Despite the word “garbage” in its name, it’s not built to handle just anything you toss its way. Use it carelessly, and you might find yourself dialing a plumber sooner than you’d like.
“Garbage disposals are convenient for cleaning up food waste,” says Palla, “but there are definitely things that can clog or damage the system.” In fact, many plumbers use their disposals sparingly. “Basically just the scraps that stick to the plates,” notes Wilson.
Here are 7 things experts agree should never go down your disposal:
- Grease and Oil – Once cooled, these fats harden and stick to your pipes, forming stubborn clogs.
- Bones – Your disposal isn’t built for hard materials. Even small bones can wear down the blades or jam the system.
- Vegetable Peelings – Especially from potatoes, these starchy scraps clump together and form a paste that blocks your pipes.
- Fibrous Vegetables – Think celery or onion skins. Their stringy texture wraps around blades, stopping them cold.
- Fruit Pits and Seeds – If your knife can’t cut it, your disposal can’t either. Pits can break the blades or motor.
- Shellfish Shells – Hard and jagged, shrimp and crab shells can grind your disposal to a halt.
- Non-Food Items – Cat litter, plastic, or paint? Just no. Disposals are for food waste only—never trash.
Your disposal isn’t a magic garbage chute. Treat it right, and it’ll last a whole lot longer.
