9 Things You Should Never Drop Down Your Garbage Disposal

1. Grease, Oil, and Fat

These might go down as liquids but become thick, sticky gunk once they cool. Grease, oil, and fat can coat your pipes and create serious clogs. Over time, it can even damage the disposal itself. Always let grease cool, then toss it in the trash.

2. Eggshells

There’s a big myth out there that eggshells sharpen the blades. But garbage disposals don’t have blades — they have impellers that grind. Eggshells break into tiny pieces that can stick to the sides of your pipes. The membrane inside the shell can also wrap around parts of the disposal and cause problems that require a plumber in Arlington, TX to fix.

3. Coffee Grounds

They might seem harmless, but coffee grounds don’t break down like you think. Instead, they clump into a thick sludge that can block your pipes. That’s a mess you’ll want to avoid. Toss them in the trash or compost bin instead.

4. Pasta and Rice

These foods swell when they get wet, even after they’ve been cooked. If you put pasta or rice in your disposal, they can expand and clog up the drain. It’s not just about the disposal — it can also lead to bigger issues that require a plumbing service.

5. Bones

Even small bones from chicken wings or fish aren’t a good match for your garbage disposal. They’re too hard and can damage the motor or wear down the grinding components. Over time, you could need a full garbage disposal installation just to replace the one you ruined.

6. Fibrous Vegetables

Things like celery, corn husks, and asparagus have long, stringy fibers. These fibers can wrap around the moving parts at your disposal and cause them to jam. If that happens, you may need help from someone like Mr. Rooter Plumbing to get it running again.

7. Fruit Pits and Seeds

Avocado pits, peach seeds, and even cherry pits are too hard to dispose of. Trying to grind them is like throwing rocks into your unit. They can damage the impellers and motor, leading to expensive repairs or even complete garbage disposal installation if it burns out.

8. Potato Peels

When potato peels go through the disposal, they often turn into a thick, starchy paste. That paste can cling to your pipes and create a clog that doesn’t budge. It’s another case where throwing them in the trash is smarter.

9. Non-Food Items

This might sound obvious, but it’s worth saying: never put plastic, paper, metal, or glass in the garbage disposal. Accidents happen, like a fork slipping into the drain, but double-check before flipping the switch. Non-food items can wreck the disposal fast.

Call a Pro When You Need Help

Even when you're careful, sometimes problems still happen. That’s when calling a professional plumbing service is your best move. Whether you’re dealing with a stubborn clog, a jammed unit, or need a garbage disposal installation, help is just a call away.

The experts at Mr. Rooter Plumbing have seen it all. They’ve unclogged disposals packed with eggshells, cleared drains stuffed with pasta, and even replaced units ruined by bones. So don’t wait until a small issue becomes a major headache.

Call a trusted plumber today if your disposal isn’t working right or you’re worried you might have damaged it. And remember, keeping the wrong things out of your garbage disposal is one of the best ways to avoid the hassle in the first place.