Garbage disposals are not really GARBAGE disposals. There are things that should never be chopped up and sent down into our outgoing water lines. The machine just cannot do a good job of chopping and the lines cannot always get it right either. The machine should be called “selective garbage disposal”. That way we might not have so much trouble with them. But…then the plumbers might not make so much money on garbage disposals that aren’t working….

• Artichoke leaves
• Asparagus stems
• Banana peels
• Beans
• Carrots
• Celery
• Chard
• Corn husks
• Edamame shells
• Fruit peels
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Onion Skins
• Pea Pods
• Potato Peels
• Poultry skins

• Bones
• Cooking oils
• Egg shells
• Oatmeal Pasta
• Pits
• Plant or flower clippings
• Rice
• Seeds

• Ice Cubes- this helps the blades get rid of anything that is stuck to them
• Citrus peels
• Chopped less fibrous vegetable scraps
• Coffee grounds-a little at a time
• Fruit scraps-bananas, grapes, apples
• Yogurt, soup with not bones, applesauce
• Cold water should be run before, during, and after you run the disposal
• White vinegar to clean your disposal at least once a month.

Now that you are in the know; the next time you have to spend $189 for a new garbage disposal that will only work on some things. You can decide if maybe, you should have a compost pile in your yard. It might work better and its cheaper.

Good luck with your garbage disposal and be careful of what goes down the drain!