5 common mistakes you’re making with your garbage disposal

Your garbage disposal works hard to handle food scraps, but certain habits can lead to clogs, damage, or bad smells. Are you making any of these common mistakes? Let’s discover what you might be doing wrong and how to fix it to keep your garbage disposal running great like a pro. 

Please note: The information provided here may not align perfectly with your specific appliance model. While we strive to offer helpful tips for a wide range of DIY appliance repairs, different models and setups may require unique troubleshooting steps, error codes, or part replacements. For the most accurate guidance, we recommend consulting the user manual for your appliance or contacting us with any questions.

Mistake 1: Pouring grease or oil

Why it’s a problem:
Grease, oil, and fat might go down the drain easily as liquids, but they solidify as they cool. This can coat the inside of your pipes and the grinding components, leading to clogs, reduced performance, and foul odors.

How to avoid it:

1. Dispose of grease properly: Let grease and oil cool, then pour them into a disposable container and throw it in the trash.
2. Clean existing buildup: Flush the disposal with hot water and a mix of baking soda and vinegar to break down grease residue.

Key tip: Always run cold water when using the disposal to solidify any residual grease, making it easier to flush through the system.

Read more: How to Clean a Garbage Disposal That Smells Bad

Mistake 2: Grinding hard items

Why it’s a problem:
Hard items like bones, fruit pits, and hard seeds can dull or damage the grinding ring and impellers. They can also jam the flywheel, causing the motor to strain or trip the reset button.

How to avoid it:

1. Know what’s safe to grind: Stick to small, soft food scraps and avoid grinding anything too hard.
2. Dispose of hard items another way: Throw bones, pits, and shells in the trash or compost them if appropriate.

What to do if you accidentally grind a hard item:

1. Turn off the disposal and unplug it or flip the breaker.
2. Remove any visible debris using tongs or pliers.
3. Check the flywheel by turning it manually with an Allen wrench to ensure it’s free of jams.

Mistake 3: Overloading the disposal

Why it’s a problem:
Adding too much food at once can overwhelm the motor and grinding components, leading to clogs or jams. It also increases the risk of tripping the reset button or damaging the flywheel.

How to avoid it:

1. Feed scraps gradually: Add small amounts of food waste at a time, allowing the disposal to process each load before adding more.
2. Use water while grinding: Always run cold water to help flush food through the system and prevent overloads.

Key tip: Listen to the motor. If it sounds strained, turn off the disposal and reduce the load before restarting.

Read more: How To Quickly And Easily Unclog Your Kitchen Double Sink With A Garbage Disposal

Mistake 4: Not using enough water

Why it’s a problem:
Water helps move food waste through the disposal and into the drainpipes. Without enough water, food particles can accumulate in the grinding chamber or pipes, leading to clogs and odors.

How to avoid it:

1. Run water before and during use: Start with a steady flow of cold water before turning on the disposal, and keep it running while grinding.
2. Flush with water after use: Let cold water run for at least 15–30 seconds after you turn off the disposal to clear any remaining debris.

Key tip: Use cold water, as it helps solidify grease and makes it easier to flush out of the system.

Mistake 5: Using harsh chemicals

Why it’s a problem:
Chemical drain cleaners can corrode the metal components of your garbage disposal and damage your pipes. Over time, they may weaken the disposal’s grinding ring and other internal parts.

How to avoid it:

1. Choose natural cleaning solutions: Use a mix of baking soda and vinegar or grind ice cubes with rock salt to clean the grinding chamber and remove buildup.
2. Avoid using chemical cleaners altogether: If a clog persists, use a plunger or manually clear the P-trap instead of relying on chemicals.
3. Prevent clogs before they happen: Run cold water while using the disposal to flush waste through the pipes and avoid grinding materials that are likely to cause buildup, like grease, fibrous foods, and starches.

Read more: How to prep your garbage disposal for Thanksgiving and other holiday events

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