If properly used, a garbage disposal can be an extremely useful and efficient appliance for kitchens. If it is not handled with care, it could cause more hassle than it is convenient. This post will go over the top reasons you must avoid doing so at your disposal. You might be aware of some, but some might come as unexpected.

• Grease and oil are major no-nos. When hot, fat-laden liquids like grease and oil are dumped into the drain, they'll eventually cool and become solid, and eventually will cause a blockage.

• Rice and pasta. Starchy foods such as rice and pasta can expand after being immersed in water (even after cooking) and then become sticky, which means they are more likely to be sucked up and clog your pipes.

• Grounds from coffee. Not only do coffee grounds wear away the cutters on your disposal, but huge amounts of them can be compacted and block the drain.

• Bones. Even small ones such as chicken wings are too difficult for the garbage disposal to manage. There is a risk of damaging the blades as well as the motor.

• Pits of fruit and seed. Like bones, seeds and pits are too hard for blades. Additionally, the round objects are thrown around in the disposal, making an awful sound.

• Produce stickers. When washing fruits, make sure to take off the sticker and dispose of it in the garbage. If it falls into the disposal for garbage, then the glue could get stuck to the blades.

• Celery. Stringy vegetables can become entangled in the blades and cause damage to the motor. This is why it's important to avoid peeling onions and asparagus, lettuce as well as corn husks.

• Seafood shells. Shells made from crab, shrimp, and lobster are often too thick and cause wear on the cutting blades of the garbage disposal.

• Eggshells. Despite claims that eggshells assist in sharpening the blades, that's actually not the situation. The membranes of the shells may be entangled and cause damage to the disposal.

• Non-food items. This is obvious, but things such as medications, paper towels, and even harsh chemicals should not go in the trash. Not only do they ruin your garbage disposal, but they could create sewer line backups and can affect the water quality.

The message is straightforward -- take proper treatment of the garbage disposal, and it'll take the best care of you. A tiny amount of things that fall into the garbage disposal accidentally will not cause any major problems. However, you should be careful to avoid letting it happen again.

If the garbage disposal seems not to get the job done any longer or you're noticing that your kitchen sink is draining slow, do not hesitate to contact us.