Here's How to Keep Your Drains Healthy and Clog-Free

While it might be called a garbage disposal, it's important to note that not all kinds of 'garbage' should find their way down it. Feeding the wrong items into it can lead to bad smells, stubborn clogs, or even damage. While soft leftovers, vegetable scraps, and fruit peels are fair game for your disposal, here's a list of 13 items that are better suited for your green bin, compost pile, or regular trash container.

#1 Pasta, Rice and Oatmeal

Ever wondered why macaroni seems to expand when you boil it? Pasta, rice, and oatmeal will all continue to swell with water, even after going through the garbage disposal.

#2 Stringy Vegetables

Most vegetables can be put down the garbage disposal, but fibrous or "stringy" vegetables can tangle around the disposal's blades. Avoid celery, lettuce, kale, asparagus, and onion skins.

#3 Potato Peels

Many people prefer peeling potatoes over the kitchen sink; however, disposing of those peels down the garbage disposal can result in a sticky mess.

#4 Chicken Skin

There are healthy reasons to remove chicken skin before cooking; however, remember not to put it down the garbage disposal.

#5 Bones

While it's true that grinding smaller bones can benefit the garbage disposal and drain, larger bones have the potential to jam or clog them. Therefore, it's advisable to refrain from disposing of any bones altogether.

#6 Seafood Shells

Lobster, clam, oyster, or mussel shells can damage the disposal unit's blade or cause a clog.

#7 Eggshells

The thin membrane on the inside of eggshells can wrap around the blades. The eggshells grind down into sand that can clog pipes.

#8 Fruit Pits

Fruits can be put down the garbage disposal, but remember cherry, peach, plum and other fruit pits can cause damage.

#9 Nuts

Curious about crafting your own peanut butter or almond butter, perhaps with a sticky consistency? The process closely resembles what your garbage disposal accomplishes.

#10 Produce Stickers

The acceptability of putting banana peels down the garbage disposal may be a subject of debate, but there's a unanimous consensus that those tiny stickers found on bananas (as well as apples and certain other fruits) should be removed before disposing of the peels.

#11 Medication

Please don't put drugs down the drain as it affects our water supply. Return unused medications to the pharmacy.

#12 Fat, Grease, and Oil

While it's a well-known fact that pouring grease down the drain is a no-go, some people might mistakenly believe it's acceptable to do so through the garbage disposal. In reality, this isn't the case; grease can pass through the garbage disposal only to eventually clog your drain.

#13 Coffee Grounds

People often recommend putting coffee grounds down the garbage disposal to mask the food odor or "clean the pipes," but, no, coffee grounds form a sludge that can clog your pipes.

Conclusion

The skilled plumbing professionals at Handyside are ready to assist you, regardless of what you've put down your garbage disposal. Whether it's a jammed disposal, a damaged unit, or a clogged drain further down the line, we have the expertise to resolve the issue.