What Can (and Can’t) Go Down a Garbage Disposal?

Garbage disposals are one of the handiest tools in your kitchen—until something goes wrong. Whether it’s a strange smell, a jammed motor, or a complete breakdown, most garbage disposal issues can be traced back to one thing: putting the wrong items down the drain.

In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what you can and can’t put down your garbage disposal, why it matters, and how to avoid costly repairs.

✅ Safe Items for Your Garbage Disposal

Here’s what won’t harm your disposal (in moderation):

Soft Food Scraps

✔️ Cooked vegetables, rice, pasta, and fruit scraps can go down just fine—just avoid stuffing them all at once.
Pro Tip: Run cold water while the disposal is on to help food wash through the pipes.

Citrus Peels

✔️ Lemon, lime, and orange peels can freshen the smell of your disposal while helping clean the blades a bit.
Note: Small pieces only—don’t shove whole peels in at once.

Small Cooked Meat Scraps

✔️ A few scraps from dinner? Fine. But don’t overdo it—large or fibrous chunks of meat can clog your system.

Cold Water

🚿 Not food—but crucial. Always run cold water for 20–30 seconds before, during, and after using your disposal.

🚫 What Should Never Go Down a Garbage Disposal

Some of these items are common mistakes—and some might surprise you.

Grease, Oil, and Fat

🛑 These may go down as a liquid, but they solidify and coat your pipes, leading to blockages and nasty backups.

Fibrous Vegetables

🛑 Celery, asparagus, corn husks, and artichokes can tangle around the blades and burn out the motor.

Eggshells

🛑 A common myth is that eggshells sharpen the blades. In reality, the membrane layer can stick to the sides and cause buildup.

Coffee Grounds

🛑 These don’t break down easily. Instead, they turn into a thick sludge that can clog your pipes over time.

Pasta and Rice

🛑 These expand in water and can build up into a sticky mass that clogs your drain—even in small amounts.

Bones, Fruit Pits, and Shells

🛑 Hard items like chicken bones, avocado pits, peach stones, or seafood shells will damage the grinding blades.

Non-Food Items

🛑 Glass, plastic, paper towels, rubber bands, twist ties, and sponges—none of these belong in your garbage disposal (but yes, we’ve seen it all).

How to Keep Your Garbage Disposal Running Smoothly

Run cold water before and after each use
Cut large scraps into smaller pieces
Clean the disposal weekly using ice cubes and baking soda or citrus
Never use harsh drain cleaners, which can damage the disposal and pipes

Having Garbage Disposal Issues? We Can Help.

At Rapid Rooter Plumbing, we’ve seen every kind of disposal problem—from stuck utensils to full-blown replacements. Whether you need a quick repair or a brand-new unit, our expert plumbers can get your kitchen back to normal fast.

💰 Need help but worried about the cost? We offer financing options to keep repairs affordable and stress-free.

Let’s Talk Garbage Disposals

Have a weird smell, a strange noise, or something stuck in your disposal? We want to hear about it. Drop a comment below or reach out directly. Our local plumbing pros are here to help.

Book a Service with Rapid Rooter

Click the “Book Now” button in the footer to schedule your service. With same-day appointments, honest pricing, and expert service, we’ll take care of it—so you don’t have to worry.

Final Thoughts

Treating your garbage disposal right can save you time, money, and a major plumbing headache. Stick to soft, non-fibrous scraps, avoid grease and hard items, and keep it clean—and if trouble starts, Rapid Rooter is just a call away.

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