The garbage disposal is convenient but using the disposal as a second trash can is a very easy thing to do, and half the time people don't realize that the things they put in their disposal can actually cause serious long-term damage.

Here are 5 bad things you should not put down your garbage disposal and why it's better to make the extra few steps to the trash can instead.

1. Grease From Cooking

Fatty foods, vegetable oil, meat trimmings, and bacon grease are very bad when it comes to your garbage disposal and drains. These items can over time, dull your garbage disposal blades and the fats become more solid after cooling, which will coat your drain pipes and form clogs.

2. Bones

Even though your garbage disposal blades are strong, they aren't designed to break down tough animal bones. You'll be much better off throwing them in the trash.

3. Stringy Foods

Foods such as celery, string cheese, and Brussels sprouts. Foods that are stringy can wrap around the base of the garbage disposal underneath the blades and wear out the motor. If the motor blows, you're pretty much looking at a whole new garbage disposal replacement.

4. Fruit and Vegetable Seeds and Pits

Dropping these in your drain is a really bad idea. The hard pits and seeds will simply bounce around the disposal blades and blunt them. Blunt disposal blades are much less effective at breaking down food.

5. Coffee Grounds

You might be surprised to find coffee grounds on this list, however, coffee grounds tend to stick to wet surfaces and your disposal and drains are almost always wet. Over time, the coffee grounds will stick to the inside of your disposal, eventually building up to form sludgy blockages in your drains.

If you have questions or need help with your garbage disposal, sinks, or any other plumbing issues, we’re here to help. Give Richie’s Plumbing a call Today, 504-241-1556