11 Things Illinois Residents Should NEVER Put Down Their Garbage Disposal

If you're fortunate enough to have a garbage disposal in your home, make sure you use it properly. If you've never seen what a garbage disposal looks like, here it is.

Learn The Do's and Don'ts of the Disposal

There are many food items that should not be put down your disposal as they can clog your pipes and damage the disposal itself.

While it might be tempting to get rid of those pesky food scraps, a little extra effort in throwing them in the trash will save you a lot of hassle in the long run. Be kind to your garbage disposal and only use it as intended.

Here Are 11 Foods You Should NEVER Put Down The Garbage Disposal

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11.) Coffee Grounds

Unlike most foods, coffee grounds clump together in water rather than breaking down. With time, the grounds can build up inside your sink drains, creating clogs that can prohibit the drains from doing their job. When brewing coffee, be sure to discard the used grounds into the trash or a garden rather than the sink. Those grounds may seem like an insignificant byproduct, but in actuality, they are full of nutrients that can help make your garden beautiful.

10.) Rice, Pasta & Bread

Think twice before putting bread, pasta, or rice down the sink. It may seem like a good idea but it can lead to serious trouble. The rice and pasta get mashed up into a thick paste which can clog your drain and make your disposal unable to work properly. So save yourself a headache and find another way to dispose of your cooked pasta and rice.

9.) Animal Bones

Don't put your animal bones down the garbage disposal - that's a no-no. Despite what mom may have told you, garbage disposal blades do not sharpen when you feed them bones. In fact, it's just the opposite; those tough bones can damage and dull the blades, just like your kitchen knives when you try to chop up a chicken bone. Keep the disposal in good shape by making sure you only use it for soft items. Keep it running smoothly by tossing those animal bones into the trash can.

8.) Nuts and Shells

Do not put any type of nuts down a garbage disposal. It will turn the nuts and your drain into a jar filled with peanut butter. The blades will break down the nuts and cause them to line your drain, which can also attract unwanted guests, such as insects and drain flies.

7.) Pits & Seeds

Most fruit pits are too big, and they will damage your disposal blades if you try to grind them down.

6.) Onion Layers

The thin outer layer of an onion can get caught in the drain and not get ground, which eventually causes waste to pile up in your garbage disposal.

5.) Eggs and Shells

To avoid clogs in your garbage disposal, never put eggshells or entire eggs down it. The tiny granules of eggshells will stick to any sludge and cause a clog, while the membrane of an entire egg could wrap around the impellers and cause serious damage. It's always better to dispose of eggs and their shells in the trash instead.4.) Fibrous or Stringy Fruits and Vegetables

4.) Fibrous or Stringy Fruits and Vegetables

This one is easy to see why. Many fruits and veggies have fibrous strands that can tangle around your disposal's grinder. Don't smash it down the drain.

3.) Potato Skins

Fats and grease are one of the most important items to not put down a garbage disposal. As fats cool down, they solidify. Without proper flushing that pushes the fats further down the line, these solidified liquids can sit on the bottom of the disposal unit, creating drainage and clog issues.

1.) Non-Food Materials