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Stop Screwing Up Your Garbage Disposal with These Simple Do's and Don'ts

Here's what you can and can't put down it

A good garbage disposal is a girl’s best friend…until it clogs and starts shooting smelly broccoli stalks up into the air. Save yourself a call to the plumber by sticking to these cardinal rules.

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No Way, Jose

1. Celery: Those strings tend to tangle.

2. Bones: The suckers will go round and round, jamming up the grinding wheel. Even if they do make it through, they won't go down the drain.

3. Fruit Pits: Ever try to chop an avocado pit? Yeah, it’s not easy.

4. Grease: You could run cold water while you pour grease down the drain. But then it will probably congeal in horizontal pipes and cause a clog, anyway. To be safe, just put it in the trash.

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Totally Fine

1. Potato Skins: The leftovers from that scrumptious side of creamy mashed potatoes or potatoes au gratin are A-OK.  

2. Carrots: Just make sure they're chopped into slivers before you give them the heave-ho.  

3. Eggshells: In fact, they help to sharpen your grinder blades.  

4. Coffee Grounds: Keep it to small amounts (no more than a few tablespoons at a time) to avoid choking your pipes.

5. Fruit Scraps and Rinds: Bits of grapes, oranges and more will go down easy and can even help keep things fresh.


jillian quint editor in chief purewow

Editor-in-Chief

  • Oversees editorial content and strategy
  • Covers parenting, home and pop culture
  • Studied English literature at Vassar College