This article on Home Living Handbook might contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link on the site, we may earn a commission.
Your kitchen drain and garbage disposal are a hardworking duo, but they're often tasked with more than their share of the chores.
While you might think your sink can handle anything, there are plenty of things you should avoid.
Plumbing experts agree, and frankly, homeowners that haven't caught on are keeping them in business. Learn from them. A smoothly flowing drain pipe does more than manage small food particles and soft wood items, it keeps your kitchen in good working order—and prevents poorly-timed plumbing headaches.
Before we dive in: We substituted our traditional compost bin for a Mill food recycler last year. It solved many of our household issues, including plumbing problems. After 18-months of use, we're still telling everyone we know how much we love these types of systems. We think you'll see that it can handle almost everything on this list in moderation, and more.
What to Avoid Putting Down the Sink
No one wants to invite a plumber's snake to your next gathering. Deborah Albero-Darata, franchise owner of Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Virginia Beach, a Neighborly company sent us a great list of things that are leading causes of plumbing repairs:
- Grease and cooking oil
- Coffee grounds
- Fibrous foods (celery, potato peels)
- Eggshells
- Pasta
- Rice
- Large chunks of food
"These items can contribute to severe clogs and expensive plumbing issues over time. Instead, dispose of them in the trash or compost heap to protect your sink drain system."
What to Do With Grease and Oils
Pouring grease and oils down the kitchen drain lines may seem convenient, but it's a recipe for plumbing disasters. "Over time, the grease from these items will solidify, creating a headache on your drainage system," cautions Dario Compain, Director Mid-Atlantic & Northeast at Michael Bonsby HVAC, Plumbing, & Electrical.
"Take bacon grease for example," he says. "When you let it sit in a pan, the grease will solidify as it cools to room temperature because of its molecular structure. By pouring these foods down a drain, you significantly increase the chances of a clogged pipe."
Instead:
- Pour excess grease into a metal container and allow it to cool. (If you're reserving bacon grease, remember that you can always save it for future recipes!)
- Put it in the refrigerator to help grease revert back to solid.
- Place other fatty foods that won't solidify in a container with a lid; it can be sealed and thrown out in the garbage without making a mess.
Remember: Mill can handle small volumes of grease and oil, but never large quantities. I would never put all of my used cooking grease in it.
What to Do With Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds might seem harmless, but they don't dissolve in hot water or cold water. Just as they do in the coffee filter, grounds clump together, risking a sludgy mess in your pipes.
Large amounts of coffee grounds can contribute to drain blockages, especially when combined with other debris.
Instead:
- Reserve the coffee grinds for your garden. They're rich in nitrogen and will help your garden thrive.
- If you're like me, you have a lot of coffee grounds. You can save them in a large container in the freezer until you need to fertilize, or add them straight to your compost pile.
What to Do With Chicken Bones
For the most part, keep animal bones out of the sink; however, a few small, delicate bones (like fish bones) can actually help to clean food residue from the inside of your disposal.
Instead:
- Put your chicken wing bones and whole turkey carcasses in the garbage (after you make bone broth, of course).
- Reserve smaller bones for your food recycler.
What to Do With Fruit Pits
Keep hard seeds and pits from fruits like peaches, cherries, plums, and avocados out of the sink! Moreso than clogging pipes, you'll risk damaging your garbage disposal blades.
Instead:
- Plant a tree!
- Or, I guess, put them in the outdoor compost.
- We haven't found a pit that the Mill doesn't love. Avocado? Yes. Peach? Yes.
What to Do With Fibrous Material (Celery, Potato Peels, Banana Peels, Etc)
"Food items including spinach, broccoli, and brussels sprouts can wreak havoc on your garbage disposal thanks to their shape and texture," notes Compain. "They can very easily tangle with the blades, creating potential damage to the motor, and becoming very difficult to remove."
Similarly, watch out for all forms of potatoes. Compain adds "Mashed potatoes can turn into a sticky paste that builds up on the inside of pipes, making clogs worse over time. Also, be wary of potato skins as well, since they have a tendency to wrap around the blades of your garbage disposal."
Instead:
- Put these items right into the outdoor compost bin with other organic material. The worms handle them better than the disposal.
- The Mill does really well with fibrous material when it is deposited as smaller bits. (If you're tired of me linking to Mill, keep in mind that they aren't paying me to recommend their product.)
What to Do With Eggshells, Pasta, Rice, and Large Chunks of Solid Food
While the garbage disposals in your kitchen sink can handle some starchy food scraps, avoid disposing of large quantities of expandable foods like egg shells, green beans, pasta, rice, or sizable food chunks. These items can overwhelm the disposal's capacity and contribute to blockages, reducing its efficiency and potentially causing backups in the plumbing system.
Instead:
- Spare the disposal and send these to the compost, too.
- Use your food recycler system.
How to Keep Your Drains Running Smoothly
Prevention beats repair every time. A few simple habits can save you from expensive plumbing bills and kitchen disasters.
- Run cold water before, during, and after using your disposal. Cold water keeps fats, oils, and grease solid. When it's solid, it moves through pipes instead of coating them. And, it also helps to let the water run for 10-20 seconds after you turn off the disposal to fully rinse the plumbing.
- Clean your disposal monthly. We're big fans of keeping this easy, and what could be easier than ice cubes? If you have them handy, add citrus peels into the disposal at the same time. Then run it with cold water. The ice sharpens the blades while citrus oils cut through buildup to clean the inside of the system and infuse a fresh smell.
- Skip the chemical drain cleaners. Enzymatic drain cleaners can be a quick fix, but anything more harsh could damage pipes over time. Do what you can to stick with natural cleaning methods and household products, but don't hesitate to call a professional plumber when it gets tough.
- Listen to your disposal. Unusual sounds signal trouble. A humming noise without grinding? Something's stuck. Rattling? It could be loose parts. Before you try any DIY fixes, unplug your disposal completely and turn off the power at the breaker to disconnect the electricity.
FAQ
Can I put citrus peels down the disposal?
Yes, but in small amounts. Like, half an orange at a time. Too many peels at once can overwhelm the system and create clogs.
Why does my drain smell bad even when it's not clogged?
Think about it: Food particles stick to the inside of pipes and decompose! Gross. If plain ice and citrus isn't enough, do a deep clean by pouring a mixture of baking soda and vinegar down the drain. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then flush with hot water.
Is it okay to use hot water when running the disposal?
Use cold water instead. Hot water melts fats and grease. Once they cool deeper in the system, they solidify and create blockages.
What should I do if my disposal stops working suddenly?
Check the reset button first. Look under the sink for a small red or black button on the bottom of the disposal unit. Press it to reset the motor. If that doesn't work, something might be jamming the blades. Turn off the power at the breaker and use tongs (never your hands) to remove any visible objects.
