I feel like there is a misconception on what can and can’t go down a garbage disposal. I currently live in a home that is extremely old. Not saying all the appliances in my home are, but some just may be. I made the mistake of throwing meatloaf down the disposal, had it back up, and nothing would drain after that! My landlord had to come and it was a complete disaster. Long story short, I learned my lesson and am super cautious about what can go down there! But the question is, what can’t go down it? Well, we are here to find out!

1. Bones :

I feel like this one just makes sense, but hey I guess you never know! Bones will never grid up in the disposal and will always continue to spin around and around down there! Not to mention, it would clog the pipes up tremendously!

2. Celery :

You may have thought that this was okay to throw down the disposal. I did too! But apparently, with celery being as fibrous as it is, with all the stringy textures it has, it is impossible for you to throw it down the disposal. They will get tangled around your blades, leaving a huge mess! You don’t want that!

3. Coffee Grounds :

This one really caught me off guard! You would think that it will eventually dissolve and what not, but, it is the complete opposite. The grounds will turn into a sludgy mess, clogging your pipes!

4. Eggshells:

Growing up, my mom always threw egg shells down the drains. So, as I began living on my own, I totally thought this was normal to do. Apparently, we were both wrong! The eggshells have that membrane lining that will stick to sides of the disposal, resulting in a messed-up shredder! Other people say it is completely fine! I guess that this is one that should just be left for your best judgement! 

5. Fruit Pits:

This one goes along the same guidelines as bones. The pits are extremely dense and will never shred. Your blades and disposal will completely break before every starting to grind down. This one just is not going to work.

6. Grease/Oil :

This was one I have always known about, even as a little girl. But why? It’s a liquid, so why would it clog anything? The oil will simply clog your pipes because of the composition of the oil. No, I am not a scientist of foody that can explain to you the composition, but I do know that oil and water don’t mix. Therefore, I would not try allowing oil to go in the drain, that is supposed to be draining water.

7. Pasta/Rice :

This one is a must-not-do. For sure. As we all know, when cooking pasta or rice (any starchy substance) It expands as it cooks. Therefore, if you put pasta down the drain, it will continue expanding, eventually taking up the whole drain. The same as rice!

Who knew that there were so many things that need to be thrown away, rather than down the drain. All I know is that I never want to take a chance on the integrity of my disposal! However, if you ever run into an issue with your disposal, please give us a call to come check it out! We are always available! 

List Provided By Delish