Garbage Disposal Do's and Don'ts

Do's — Best Practices

Follow these habits for a long-lasting, clog-free disposal:

• ✓ Run cold water 15 seconds before and after grinding
• ✓ Feed food slowly — don't overload
• ✓ Grind small bones occasionally (helps clean blades)
• ✓ Run disposal regularly, even without food waste
• ✓ Clean monthly with ice cubes and citrus peels
• ✓ Cut large items into smaller pieces first

Don'ts — What to Never Put In

These items damage the disposal or clog your drain:

• ✓ Grease, oil, or fat (solidifies in pipes)
• ✓ Fibrous foods: celery, asparagus, artichoke, corn husks
• ✓ Starchy foods: pasta, rice, potato peels (expand and paste)
• ✓ Coffee grounds (accumulate in P-trap)
• ✓ Eggshells (membrane wraps around blades)
• ✓ Bones larger than a chicken wing
• ✓ Non-food items: glass, metal, plastic, rubber bands

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Jammed (hums but won't spin): Use the Allen wrench in the bottom center hole. Reset button popped: Let the motor cool 5 minutes, then press the red reset button. Bad smell: Grind ice cubes with lemon peels, or pour baking soda and vinegar. Slow draining: The drain line is clogged, not the disposal — needs snaking.

When to Replace

Replace your disposal if: it jams frequently, the motor hums but can't be freed, you see water leaking from the bottom (internal seal failure), or it's over 10 years old. Upgrading from a builder-grade 1/3 HP to a 3/4 HP model dramatically improves performance and reduces jams.

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