Garbage Disposal Do’s and Don’ts: Advice from a Master Plumber
Most everyone has habits they’ve formed that they assumed were harmless—like putting anything and everything down the garbage disposal. I recently spoke about the dangers of dumping flour down the disposal for this Chowhound article. It’s little lesser-known mistakes like this that can lead to expensive repairs—especially if it's become a frequent habit.
Flour is just one of many common drain culprits that can ruin your day. We want to take this time to show you what really happens when garbage disposals are misunderstood and misused, and how you can avoid costly damage by changing a few simple habits.
Are You Abusing Your Garbage Disposal?
Most homeowners use their disposal every day. It’s quick and convenient. But convenience leads to shortcuts, and over time, that can backfire. Many folks assume if something fits in the drain, the disposal can handle it. Sadly, that’s just not true.
A disposal isn’t a blender or a trash compactor. It’s designed to handle small food scraps from rinsed plates—not full leftovers, pasta, or oil.
We often get calls after someone dumps a big load of food down the drain and runs the disposal to send it south. Suddenly the sink won’t drain, the blades are jammed, the line is clogged, and the whole system backs up with murky water and last week’s lasagna. At that point, you need a plumber. While we love helping homeowners, we know that you’d rather never have to see our faces.
Don’t Put These Foods Down the Drain
Here’s a breakdown of the most common foods guilty of clogging kitchen sinks:
Grease and Oil
Most people know this one, but not everyone! Once grease cools, it hardens. It coats the inside of your pipes and narrows them over time. Even if you rinse it down with hot water, the grease just moves further down before solidifying. There’s no beating this one.
Coffee Grounds
Try to avoid sending your used coffee grounds down the drain. They form wet mounds and clumps in the pipes that don’t break apart easily. Add grease or food particles, and you’ve got concrete forming in your drain. Not fun.
Eggshells
Some people say eggshells sharpen disposal blades. That’s a myth. I’m sorry, I wish it were true. The thin membrane inside the shell can wrap around parts of the disposal, while the shell fragments settle in the trap and pile up.
Pasta and Rice
These expand in water, even after they’ve been cooked. When all your pasta and rice collects in the pipes, they can swell and trap other debris trying to make their way down the drain.
Potato Peels
This one is not one of those po-tay-to, po-tah-to moments. A thick, starchy paste can form from potatoes that gums up blades and clogs drains.
Fibrous Vegetables
Celery, corn husks, and onion skins are stringy. They can wrap around moving parts like an ornery octopus and jam the disposal.
Flour
When flour gets wet, it forms glue. Not actually, but in essence. That glue binds to grease, crumbs, and whatever else is nearby. Once it dries inside your drain or trap, it’s a solid clog, like some sort of stale fruitcake.
Misusing Your Garbage Disposal Can Cause Major Issues
We’ve seen disposals crack under pressure, motors burn out, and sink traps filled with sludge. Clogs in the disposal often lead to bigger issues down the line—literally. A blockage can affect your main kitchen drain, causing backups into your dishwasher or even leaking under the sink.
Sometimes a jammed blade can overheat the motor. Other times, a buildup in the pipe can force a leak at the trap or faucet base.
In rental homes, we’ve even seen tenants lose security deposits over disposal misuse. Landlords notice the damage and bill for repairs.
How to Use a Garbage Disposal Properly
Here are the habits we strongly recommend to every homeowner:
Scrape excess food into the trash.
Always scrape and dump as much food as you possibly can into the trash. Treat the disposal like a backup quarterback.
Run plenty of water during disposal use.
Let cold water run before, during, and after using the disposal. Let it run!
Cut the waste into small pieces.
If you insist on throwing stuff down the disposal, at least break any large scraps into small pieces.
Use cold water only.
Hot water melts grease, which re-hardens deeper in the line. It may sound counterintuitive, but trust us on this.
Take the list of ‘Dont’s’ seriously.
Keep grease, starches, and stringy veggies out. Build the habit!
Clean the disposal weekly.
Drop in ice cubes and lemon slices to knock loose debris and deodorize every week or so.
Signs Your Garbage Disposal Needs a Plumber
Reach out to Rx-Plumbing & Drain as soon as possible if:
The sink is draining slowly or not at all
The disposal hums but won’t spin
There’s a leak under the sink
A reset doesn’t fix the problem
You’ve already tried a plunger or baking soda and vinegar
We carry the right tools and can often clear the line without having to remove any pipes. But when the disposal’s burned out or the clog is deeper, we can also replace the unit or inspect the line with a camera.
Are Cheap Garbage Disposals Worth It?
If your home came with a bargain-brand disposal, it’s more likely to jam or wear out. Cheap disposals use weaker motors and lighter parts. They also vibrate more, which can loosen drain fittings over time.
If your disposal is underpowered, consider upgrading. We install reliable models that can handle heavier use without constant repairs.
How to Fix Your Garbage Disposal Fast
If you threw some stuff down there and now there’s a problem, don’t panic. Try running cold water and flipping the switch a few times to see if it clears. If not, turn the power off, reach in with tongs, and remove any loose material.
If the clog is deeper or the motor won’t run, call us. We’ll keep the problem from getting worse and help you avoid damage.
Your Garbage Disposal Can Cause Issues with Your Dishwasher
Your dishwasher often shares a drain line with your garbage disposal. A bad clog can cause backups into your dishwasher or prevent it from draining.
If you’re seeing standing water in the bottom of your dishwasher, the garbage disposal might be the root of the issue.
Rx-Plumbing and Drain Can Help
We want to see homeowners treat their garbage disposals right. The best advice we can give is to see your garbage disposal like a backup tool, not a trash can. Be thoughtful with what you feed it, rinse it well, and clean it now and then. A few healthy habits will help your kitchen plumbing stay in great shape for years. And that means you won’t have to see our faces!
If you ever have any plumbing questions, give me a call. I’ll offer some advice, insight, and can usually show up within the hour to help you out. Our team can handle any job: big, small, or mysterious!
