Your garbage disposal requires little upkeep, however, there are some things that should never be put into it. The following home maintenance tips for garbage disposals detail some items you should never put down your sink, and what to do with them instead:
Coffee grounds
The same thick, sticky mess that you see in the coffee filter after brewing your coffee is similar to what could happen if you put coffee grounds down your garbage disposal. Instead, be sure to throw them in the trash.
Bones
Some people say that bones will keep your disposal blades sharp, but they’ll actually make them wear out faster. Even industrial strength disposals can have a difficult time grinding up bones.
Pasta
Pasta expands when it’s soaked in water, so if you send a large amount down your disposal, it could keep expanding and cause a clog. Any leftover pasta should be thrown away instead of dumped down the sink.
Grease
If you pour cooking grease in a jar, you’ll see that it solidifies as it cools. If you pour it down your sink, the same thing will happen and create clogs. Instead of putting grease down the disposal, put it in a jar with a lid and let it solidify in the fridge. Afterward, you can toss the whole jar in the trash.
Egg Shells
Egg shells seem thin and harmless, but when they’re ground up, their tiny particles can stick together and clog the drain. The thin membrane that’s inside the shells can also wrap around your disposal’s blades or get trapped over the drain and catch other items.
Corn Husks
Corn husks are fibrous, so they’re very likely to clog your disposal and get wrapped around its blades. This is also true of banana peels and celery.
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