Call Aqua Care for Garbage Disposal Installation & Repair Near Fort Myers

What Can & Can’t Go in a Garbage Disposal?

Garbage disposals are definitely helpful, but many assume they can simply dump any and all of their supper scraps and leftover food bits in it, and the blades will magically make it all go away. This is definitely not the case, and sending the wrong things down there might invite clogs, jams, or worse – a complete system break down when you have a sink full of dirty water. 

What can go in a garbage disposal?

• Soft food scraps, like cooked vegetables, fruits, and small bits of meat (just avoid bones).
• Small amounts of citrus peels – in fact, they freshen up your drain and can help reduce odors.
• Ice cubes are fine to send down the disposal, and they can be helpful for loosening up any existing food or residue.
• Fruit pits can go into your disposal, and can leave behind a nice, fresh scent while they’re at it.

Just remember that, whatever you’re sending down your disposal, be sure not to overload it with a mountain of food at once, and run plenty of cold water while things are breaking down.

What can’t go in the garbage disposal?

• Grease, oil, and fats may be liquid when hot, but once cooled, they solidify and clog pipes.
• Fibrous vegetables, like celery stalks, corn husks, onion skins, asparagus, etc., have stringy fibers that tangle around blades and cause jams.
• Hard items – think bones, shells (like from nuts or shrimp), etc. – can dull or damage blades.
• Starchy foods, like rice, pasta, or potato peels can swell and clog drains.
• Non-food items (plastic, metal, glass, paper towels, etc.) should never go in.
• “Flushable” wipes or paper products don’t break down well and can clog pipes.

Can Egg Shells & Coffee Grounds Go in the Garbage Disposal?

There are a lot of mixed answers about this, but best practice is to keep these items out of your garbage disposal.

• Egg shells can break into small, sharp pieces that cling to the inside of pipes and combine with other debris, increasing the risk of clogs. 
• Coffee grounds can form a thick, sludgy paste that builds up over time and blocks your drains. 

To keep your disposal running smoothly and prevent plumbing problems down the line, it’s best to throw these items in the trash or compost them instead.

How Long Should a Garbage Disposal Last?

Your garbage disposal is one of those kitchen workhorses that often goes unnoticed, churning through food scraps day after day without complaint…but it can’t last forever. How long should you expect your garbage disposal to stick around before it starts showing its age? 

A typical lifespan for a garbage disposal is around 8-15 years.

That said, several factors influence where in that range your disposal might fall, including:

• Usage frequency (the more you use it, the faster it wears out)
• Whether or not you use it correctly (hard or fibrous scraps can cause more wear)
• Whether you invest in regular cleaning and servicing
• Brand and build quality – premium disposals often last longer.

Be sure to use your disposal as it’s meant to be used. Are you grinding small veggie scraps? Great – that’s totally fine. Tossing bones, coffee grounds, or fibrous stuff like celery in there? You may face issues sooner than expected.

Even simple maintenance habits, like running cold water while using it, keeping grease out of it, and occasionally grinding ice cubes to sharpen blades, can keep your disposal humming longer.

Why Does My Garbage Disposal Smell Bad?

A smelly garbage disposal is a common kitchen mystery, but luckily, the cause is usually pretty straightforward – and fixable. 

Your garbage disposal is basically a mini food processor…yes, it chops up scraps, but it doesn’t disappear them. Some bits can get trapped inside the disposal or pipes, and over time, these trapped food particles start to rot, leading to that unmistakable bad smell. 

How can you get rid of bad garbage disposal odors?

• Run cold water and grind citrus peels. Lemon, lime, or orange peels work wonders in freshening things out, and the oils help clean the blades.
• Use baking soda and vinegar. Pour ½ cup baking soda into the disposal, then 1 cup vinegar. Let it fizz for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with hot water.
• Grind ice cubes and salt. This can help scrape off stuck-on gunk, and it freshens the blades in the process, as well.
• Flush with plenty of water. Always run cold water while using your disposal, and run the water for longer than you’d think (like 15-30 seconds) to flush everything through.

All that said, while old food is usually the culprit, it isn’t always. The moist, dark environment inside a disposal is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and mold, both which create smelly fumes, as well. And sometimes it’s the pipes themselves that are bringing up odors. If bad smells persist despite your best efforts, it might be time for a professional cleaning or inspection.

For Garbage Disposal Services Near You, Reach Out

Don’t let a faulty or missing garbage disposal slow down your kitchen cleaning routine. Call Aqua Care today for professional garbage disposal installation and repair near Fort Myers, Naples, and more. Our experienced team is ready to provide quick diagnostics, expert repairs, and top-quality installations tailored to your home’s needs. 

With Aqua Care on the job, you can enjoy a cleaner, more efficient kitchen with confidence. Reach out now to get started.