If used correctly, the garbage disposal can be an extremely efficient and useful appliance for kitchens. If it is not handled with care, it could be more trouble than it is a convenience. We'll go over the top reasons you must avoid doing at your disposal. There are some you might know about - other things could be unexpected.

• Oils and grease are a major no-no: If hot, fatty liquids like grease and oil are dumped into the drain, they'll eventually cool, becomes solid, and create a blockage.

• Rice and pasta: Starchy food items like rice and pasta can expand after they are soaked in water (even after cooking) and turn sticky, which means they are more likely to be sucked up and clog your pipes.

• Grounds from coffee: Not only do coffee grounds clog the cutters on your dishwasher, but huge amounts of them can be filled with debris and block the drain.

• Bones: Even tiny bones such as chicken wings are too much for garbage disposals to deal with. There's a chance of damaging the blades as well as the motor.

• Seeds, pits, and fruits: Like bones, seeds and pits are too hard for blades. Furthermore, round objects bounce around the disposal, making quite a groaning sound.

• Produce stickers: When washing fruits, be sure to take off the sticker and dispose of it in the garbage. If it falls into the disposal for garbage, then the glue is likely to get stuck on the blades.

• Celery: Stringy vegetables can become entangled in the blades, which can damage the motor. The same is true for other reasons. Beware of onion peels and asparagus, lettuce, or corn kernels.

• Shells of seafood: Shells from crab, shrimp, and lobster are often too thick and cause wear on your disposal's blades.

• Eggshells: While some claim eggshells may assist in sharpening the blades, that's actually not the situation. The membranes of eggshells could be entangled and cause damage to the disposal.

• Non-food items: This ought to be obvious, but things such as medications, paper towels, and even harsh chemicals should not go in the trash. They not only cause damage to your garbage disposal, but they could cause sewer line backups and can affect the quality of water.

The message is clear: Take good control of garbage disposals and they will eventually take good care of you. A tiny amount of objects that go down the drain by accident will not cause any major problems; however, try to avoid letting it happen again.

When your disposal seems not to get the job done and you're seeing that your kitchen sink is draining slow, do not hesitate to contact us.