Your garbage disposal is one of the hardest-working appliances in your kitchen — but it's also one of the most misused. Knowing what to put down it (and what to keep far away) can save you from a nasty clog, a burned-out motor, or an expensive service call. Here's what the pros at Plumb-Tec LLC want every homeowner in Corbin and south-central Kentucky to know about proper garbage disposal care.
The Do's: How to Use Your Garbage Disposal the Right Way
A well-maintained garbage disposal can last 10–15 years. The secret? Using it correctly from day one. Follow these best practices to keep your unit running smoothly and your pipes flowing freely.
- Run cold water before, during, and after use. Cold water keeps the motor cool and helps solidify any grease so it gets chopped up and flushed away rather than coating your pipes. Run the water for at least 30 seconds after you turn the disposal off.
- Cut large scraps into smaller pieces. Your disposal isn't a wood chipper. Feed food waste in gradually and in small amounts to avoid jamming the grinding plate.
- Grind citrus peels occasionally. Tossing in a few lemon or orange peels every week or two is a great natural way to freshen up a smelly disposal. The citric acid helps break down residue on the grinding components.
- Use dish soap and cold water to clean it. Squirt a little dish soap down the drain, run cold water, and let the disposal run for a few seconds. Simple, effective, and safe.
- Grind ice cubes to sharpen the blades. A handful of ice cubes once a month helps knock off buildup and keeps the grinding components sharp. Add a little rock salt for an extra scrubbing boost.
- Grind soft food scraps. Cooked vegetables, small fruit scraps (no pits!), and most soft leftovers are perfectly fine for your disposal.
The Don'ts: What Should Never Go Down Your Disposal
This is where most homeowners run into trouble. It's tempting to treat your garbage disposal like an all-purpose food trash can — but certain items can jam the unit, dull the blades, corrode the drain line, or cause serious clogs deep in your plumbing. Avoid putting any of the following down your disposal.
Grease, Fats, and Oils
This is one of the most common causes of kitchen drain clogs in homes across Kentucky. Grease, cooking oil, and animal fat should never go down any drain — disposal or not. Even if they're liquid when warm, they solidify as they cool and coat the inside of your pipes, eventually causing a stubborn blockage. Pour used grease into an old can or jar and dispose of it in the trash.
Fibrous Vegetables
Celery, asparagus, artichokes, corn husks, and onion skins might seem harmless, but their stringy fibers can wrap around the disposal's grinding components and cause the motor to jam or burn out. Compost these instead.
Starchy Foods
Pasta, rice, oatmeal, and potato peels expand when they get wet and can form a thick, paste-like sludge that clogs your drain line. Even small amounts of these foods can accumulate over time and lead to a slow or completely blocked drain.
Coffee Grounds
Despite the popular belief that coffee grounds help deodorize your disposal, they're actually a significant clog risk. Grounds clump together and settle in the trap and drain line. Toss them in the compost bin or use them in your garden instead.
Bones and Fruit Pits
Chicken bones, fruit pits (peach, avocado, cherry), and similar hard items are too tough for a standard residential garbage disposal to handle. They'll damage the grinding plate and can cause the motor to seize.
Non-Food Items
It sounds obvious, but twist ties, rubber bands, glass, sponge pieces, and even small bottle caps find their way into disposals more often than you'd think. If it's not food, it doesn't belong in your disposal.
Egg Shells
There's an ongoing debate about egg shells, but most plumbers recommend keeping them out of the disposal. The thin membrane lining the inside of the shell can wrap around the shredder ring, and the ground shell particles can contribute to clogs further down the line.
Troubleshooting Common Garbage Disposal Problems
Even when you follow all the rules, disposals can occasionally act up. Here's a quick guide to the most common issues and what to do about them.
The Disposal Won't Turn On
First, check the reset button — it's a small red button on the bottom of the unit. If the disposal overloaded, it may have tripped the built-in circuit breaker. Press the reset button firmly, wait a minute, and try again. If it still won't run, check your home's electrical panel for a tripped breaker before calling a plumber.
The Disposal Is Humming but Not Grinding
A humming sound with no grinding action usually means the grinding plate is jammed. Turn off the disposal immediately — running it while jammed can burn out the motor. Use the hex wrench (usually a ¼-inch Allen wrench) in the slot at the bottom of the unit to manually rotate the plate and free the jam. Never put your hand inside the disposal.
Slow Draining
If water is draining slowly after you run the disposal, you likely have a partial clog in the drain line. Try running cold water and the disposal together for a full minute. If the problem persists, the clog may be deeper in the drain line and it's time to call a professional.
Bad Odors
Persistent smells are usually caused by food buildup on the underside of the rubber splash guard or inside the grinding chamber. Clean the splash guard with a brush and dish soap, grind some citrus peels, and try a baking soda and vinegar flush. If odors keep coming back, the drain line itself may need to be cleared.
When to Call a Professional Plumber
Some disposal problems are easy DIY fixes — a jammed plate or a tripped reset button, for example. But others are a sign of something more serious going on with your plumbing system. Call a licensed plumber if you notice any of the following:
- Leaking from the bottom or sides of the disposal unit
- Persistent clogs that don't clear with normal methods
- Loud grinding, rattling, or metal-on-metal sounds
- The disposal frequently trips the reset button
- Water backing up into the sink or dishwasher
- The unit is more than 10–12 years old and having repeated issues
Trying to force an aging or damaged disposal to keep working often leads to bigger (and more expensive) problems down the road. Sometimes a replacement is the smarter investment.
If your garbage disposal is giving you trouble — or if you just want to make sure your kitchen plumbing is in top shape — the team at Plumb-Tec LLC is here to help. We proudly serve Corbin, Kentucky and the surrounding south-central Kentucky area with honest, reliable plumbing service. Give us a call today at 606-406-7586 and let us take care of it for you.