Garbage disposals are designed for small food scraps, not everything. Putting the wrong items down the drain can clog pipes, jam blades, or damage the unit. Here are the most common items to avoid:

1. Eggshells
Contrary to popular belief, eggshells don’t sharpen disposal blades. They can form granules that stick to grease and create clogs. Toss eggshells in the trash or compost instead.

2. Starchy Foods
Potatoes, potato peels, pasta, and other starchy foods can turn into a sticky paste that clogs drains. Avoid putting these down your disposal to prevent blockages.

3. Grease, Oil, or Animal Fats
All types of grease, including cooking oils and animal fats, can harden in pipes and cause clogs. Never pour them down the drain.

4. Fibrous Vegetables
Stringy foods like celery, corn husks, onion skins, and artichokes can tangle blades and jam the disposal. Compost or discard these instead.

5. Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds can create a sludgy paste that sticks to drains, leading to backups. Avoid putting them in the disposal.

6. Bones
Bones are too hard and can jam or damage disposal blades, potentially straining the motor.

7. Fruit Pits and Seeds
Avocado pits, peach stones, and cherry seeds don’t grind properly and can crack or wear down the disposal.

8. Shells (Seafood)
Shrimp, lobster, and crab shells are tough and fibrous, which can tangle blades and create blockages.

9. Flour and Dough
When mixed with water, flour, dough, and batter form a sticky paste that clogs pipes over time.

10. Paper Towels or Napkins
These items don’t break down in water and can expand inside the disposal, blocking drains and damaging the mechanism.

11. Rice
Like pasta, rice expands in water and can clump in the disposal or pipes, causing soft blockages.

12. Medication
Crushing or flushing pills down the sink harms plumbing and the environment. Avoid disposing of medication this way.

What Can You Put Down a Garbage Disposal?
Use your garbage disposal for small food scraps that come off plates during rinsing. Everything else—eggshells, starchy foods, grease, fibrous vegetables, and tough items—should go in the trash or compost. This simple habit helps prevent costly and inconvenient plumbing problems.