Maintaining Your Appliances: 8 Things to Never Put in Your Apartment’s Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals are one of the most overlooked yet heavily relied-on appliances in apartment living. They’re quick and great at removing food waste, especially in smaller kitchens. But despite their convenience, garbage disposals aren’t invincible. Misusing them can lead to clogged drains, broken blades, jammed motors, and emergency maintenance calls.

If you’re renting, knowing what not to toss down your kitchen sink can save you time, money, and frustration. Here are eight common household items that should never go into your apartment’s garbage disposal, and how to dispose of them instead.

What Not to Put Down Your Garbage Disposal

1. Fibrous Fruits and Vegetables

Stringy foods like banana peels, celery, asparagus, corn husks, and potato skins can wrap around the blades and jam the motor.

What to do instead: Start a compost bin. These fibrous scraps break down well and create nutrient-rich soil for houseplants or community gardens.

2. Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds may seem harmless, but they clump together and form a thick, sludgy paste that can clog your drain over time.

What to do instead: Toss used grounds in the trash or compost bin. You can also repurpose them in DIY exfoliating scrubs or as a natural deodorizer for your fridge. Small amounts of coffee grounds can be mixed in with dirt to act as a fertilizer for your plants.

3. Eggshells

Eggshells break into fine, sharp pieces that cling to disposal components and pipe walls. Plus, the sticky membrane can tangle grinders.

What to do instead: Add eggshells to your compost pile or garden. They’re rich in calcium and act as a natural fertilizer. Or, simply dispose of them in the trash.

4. Pasta, Rice, and Oatmeal

These foods expand significantly when exposed to water. Once inside your disposal, they can swell, clump together, and block your pipes.

What to do instead: Let leftovers cool and scrape them into the trash. Better yet, store extras for later.

5. Grease, Fats, and Oils

Although they pour in as liquids, cooking oils solidify as they cool, coating your pipes and blades with thick buildup.

What to do instead: Pour cooled oils into a sealable container and dispose of them in the trash. Reuse fats like bacon grease for cooking if you’d like—just store them in the fridge.

6. Fruit Pits and Hard Seeds

Items like avocado pits, peach stones, and popcorn kernels are too tough for your disposal to handle. They can break blades or jam the system.

What to do instead: Toss them in the trash or compost bin. A good rule of thumb: if you can’t chop it with a knife, your disposal can’t grind it either.

7. Bones and Seafood Shells

Even small bones or shrimp shells can dull your blades and strain the motor, shortening the life of your disposal.

What to do instead: Throw bones and shells in the trash or bury them in a compost pile if you have one. Don’t risk damaging your disposal over one meal’s worth of scraps.

8. Harsh Household Chemicals

Drain cleaners, bleach, and other corrosive chemicals can eat away at your disposal’s metal components and PVC piping.

What to do instead: Clean your disposal naturally by grinding up citrus peels with ice cubes. It freshens your sink and sharpens blades safely. Alternatively, you can use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda.

How to Use a Garbage Disposal Properly

According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, a garbage disposal lasts about 12 years with proper maintenance and usage. Here are some guidelines on how to use your garbage disposal to help you extend the life of your appliance.

1. Make sure the drain is free of any utensils. Non-food items like utensils, glass, or paper can damage the unit. Remove any food waste that should not go down your garbage disposal.
2. Run cold water before, during, and after use. Cold water will help solidify any oils and fats that have made it into your drain, making them easier to grind up and flush away. Cold water also helps prevent overheating of your unit. Avoid using hot water when running your disposal.
3. Turn on the disposal before adding food waste when possible. In the case that your drain is clogged, it's okay to run the disposal when food waste is already in your drain.
4. Only feed small amounts of soft food scraps into the disposal at a time, while continuously running cold water.
5. You'll hear a change in the sound when the grinding has stopped. Let the disposal run for about 5-10 seconds after the grinding stops to ensure everything is flushed through.

Tip: Use a drain catcher to prevent utensils and unintended food scraps from accidentally falling into your drain.

How To Maintain Your Garbage Disposal

To maintain your garbage disposal, implement a regular cleaning schedule dependent on your usage.

If your garbage disposal is emitting foul odors, isn't working properly, or is making strange noises, you may need to clean your disposal more frequently

There are a few ways to clean a garbage disposal. Try these out to determine what works for you:

• Ice cubes and citrus peels. Place about two cups of ice cubes into the garbage disposal. Optionally, add citrus peels and salt. Turn on the cold water and disposal and let it run until the ice is completely crushed.
• Vinegar and baking soda. Sprinkle ½ cup of baking soda in your drain and follow with 1 cup of white vinegar. Let sit for 5-10 minutes. Flush with cold water while running the disposal.
• Garbage disposal cleaners. Use store bought cleaners for ease.

Note: Avoid harsh chemicals, as these can damage the disposal's components and your pipes.

Keep It Clean, Minimize Maintenance Calls

While garbage disposals are built for convenience, they’re not garbage cans. By being selective about what goes down the drain, you’ll not only protect your appliance but also support a healthier home and environment. Composting, proper food waste disposal, and natural cleaning alternatives can all contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle and fewer maintenance calls.

For issues with your Greystar apartment appliances, reach out to your property's maintenance team.

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