Foods You Never Want to Throw Down the Garbage Disposal

If you’ve ever had a garbage disposal, you know how handy it comes in when cooking and cleaning. But unfortunately, many people don’t realize that despite its name, garbage disposals are anything but a second garbage can.

Items That Will Damage Your Garbage Disposal

The next time you’re in the kitchen, make sure to never throw the following foods and items into your disposal:

Starchy Foods

Starchy foods, like potatoes, rice, and pasta don’t break down easily and often expand when wet.

Grease/Oil

Grease and oil may slide down your drains easily when they’re hot, but the moment they cool, they’ll cause a massive clog. Instead, throw excess oil and grease into an empty can and place it in the refrigerator. Once your greases and oils have cooled, throw them into your garbage can.

Stringy Vegetables

While some vegetables can go down the disposal, “stringy” vegetables, like celery, corn husks, and carrots can also cause a clog. As the blades start to slice through these vegetables, the strings will get caught together and eventually cause the blades to stop rotating.

Non Food Items

Believe it or not, plenty of people throw non-food items down their garbage disposal every day. It’s also easy to accidentally throw non-food items, like forks, knives, and napkins, down the disposal while trying to clear your plate. If that ever does happen, make sure to never put your hand down the disposal, even if it’s not turned on. Instead, give the experts at Mr. Rooter a call.

Mr. Rooter Plumbing has been assisting homeowners with their plumbing issues for decades, and our expertise is unmatched! To learn more, give us a call at (262) 320-4822 or fill out our form!