Don’t Throw That Down the Disposal

Posted on: November 1, 2015
By: Baker Brothers
Posted in: Sewer Repair, Preventative Maintenance, Garbage Disposal, Drain Cleaning, Plumbing

Unless you are rocking a dino-pig disposal like the Flintstones, chances are your garbage disposal and it’s maintenance comes with a lot of dos and don’ts. We see a lot of clogs or strained disposals as a result of misguided care.

A lot of people think lemons or coffee grounds will take care of sink bacteria and improve the smell of the kitchen. While lemons or coffee grounds may mask unwanted odors, both will cause damage to your disposal and drainage system in the long run. The citric acid in lemons corrodes the metal components that make up your disposal. Coffee grounds, while appearing to drain just fine, actually get stuck in the trap of the garbage disposal. The buildup of grounds will eventually disable the disposal and cause unwanted damage.

It’s best to use ice or mild soap and warm water to freshen your disposal. Although it seems easy to toss coffee grounds and other harmful debris down your disposal, it will save you time and money to put it directly in the trash—or better, yet, especially for coffee grounds, you might consider composting.

If your disposal is causing you problems, be sure to reach out to your friends at Baker Brothers Plumbing. With plumbing troubles, it’s always best to get to the source of the problem before it gets out of control.

For your reference, we’ve put together a list of items that are OK to put down your disposal and others we would avoid. When it doubt, it’s best to save your disposal the trouble. It’s never a bad idea to break down large pieces of debris before dropping them down the sink.

DO put down your disposal:

Fruit/Vegetable Scraps
Cooked Meat/Seafood Scraps
Small Bones
Grains and Beans

DON’T put down your disposal:

Grease/Oil/Fat
Lemons/Citrus
Coffee Grounds
Starchy or Stringy Vegetables
Egg Shells
Popcorn/Kernels
Bones
Fruit Pits/Seeds
Banana Peels
Nuts
Pasta/Rice

Happy disposing. Let us know if you find a dino-pig anywhere!