They can even be helpful, as the bone pieces will help scour the walls and keep your disposal clean. Stick to foods that can be easily chopped, and avoid disposing of pieces that are larger than a golf ball.Įven fine bones, like fish or chicken bones, are fine for most disposals. Most small pieces of biodegradable food waste are ready for the disposal. Use your disposal selectively, and if you anticipate loads of food waste, favor the trash can or the compost pile instead.Īlso, always run cold water while your disposal is on, and never, ever treat it with chemical drain cleaners.Ģ) What Should Go in My Garbage Disposal? During the holidays or other times when you’re having a marathon cooking session, it can be tempting to put lots of food down the drain, but that increases your chance of a clog. However, overuse can pose its own issues. Make a habit of running your disposal for a minute or so every couple of weeks, even if you don’t actually grind anything. However, an unused unit can rust and seize up, which can lead to leaks and mechanical problems.
Practice these three everyday maintenance tips to help you maximize the lifespan of your garbage disposal.īecause it’s out of sight, it can be easy for some homeowners to forget they even have a garbage disposal - especially if it was installed by a previous owner. This is especially pertinent during the holidays when the kitchen is filled with people and the sink with dirty dishes. Knowing the difference between what can go down the disposal and what should go into the trash can save you an emergency call to the plumber. In fact, there are lots of everyday scraps you should never send down the drain. A garbage disposal is a handy appliance, but far too many people use it as a catch-all depository for every bit of waste that enters the sink.