If it follows that your Palatine rental home has a garbage disposal, you should know that it is one of the hardest-working appliances in the kitchen. But, sadly, that doesn’t mean that it could handle all types of “garbage.” While most garbage disposals handle a lot of food scraps with ease, there are numerous items that you ought to never put in a garbage disposal. Doing so could understandably damage the disposal’s motor, blades, and more. To steer clear from expensive repairs and keep your garbage disposal working great, keep these items out of your kitchen sink.
- Coffee grounds. It would feel like those coffee grounds would just slip right down your kitchen pipes, but in fact, they just build up in your pipes and create a nasty sludge. Aiming to grind them up with the disposal won’t do your disposal blades any good, either.
- Eggshells. A lot of people disagree whether eggshells should stay out of your garbage disposal because they really could cause real, nasty problems. The shell’s thin membrane can get stuck around your disposal’s blades and causing the whole thing to breakdown and fail. It’s fine to simply toss your eggshells in the trash.
- Fruit seeds and pits. Small, hard objects should never be put down your garbage disposal. Fruit seed and pits are definitely in this category. In case that you can’t cut the seeds or pit with a knife, your garbage disposal won’t be able to grind it up, either.
- Popcorn kernels. Similar to fruit seeds, popcorn kernels are too hard for your disposal blades to grind. Those kernels will get stuck in your disposal’s machinery and may cause the whole thing to seize up. And trying to get them back out will be an undesirable nightmare, for sure.
- Bones and seafood shells. Very small bones and seafood shells will slip through the disposal without additional complications, then again bigger ones might make a mess of your plumbing and your disposal unit. Most bones are too hard and dense for the disposal to break down. They will clog your pipes.
- Potato peels. It is irresistible, because it’s so easy, to simply wash your potato peels down the drain and let your disposal try to chew them up. But it’s because potato peels are full of starch that will cause them to clump together in a thick paste that will clog your pipes. The same holds true for rice.
- Fibrous vegetables. Any type of vegetable that is stringy should always be kept away from your garbage disposal. Celery, pumpkin, lettuce, artichokes, and asparagus can all get wrapped around your disposal’s blades. This could, almost always, cause expensive plumbing repairs.
- Nuts. In a number of ways, your garbage disposal blades are a lot like a blender. Anything at all you put down there will get ground up. When you grind nuts, the end product is nut butter, which is sticky and not at all good for your disposal or your pipes. It can easily stick to the walls of your pipes and the inside of your disposal, creating clogs and other forms of annoyances.
Other than these eight items, the basic principle for keeping your garbage disposal working properly is if you wouldn’t dump it down the drain, don’t put it in the disposal. By understanding what you shouldn’t put in a garbage disposal, you assuredly can avoid unnecessary maintenance calls and repairs. Your landlord will love you for it!
If it’s true that you’re looking for a rental home or need advice managing your Palatine rental property, do not hesitate to contact Real Property Management Northwest Chicago Suburbs at 847-892-4040 to have a word with an experienced Palatine property manager today!
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