Garbage Disposal Do's and Don'ts

A garbage disposal handles more abuse than most kitchen appliances, but a few bad habits shorten its life and clog the drain line behind it.

Do

Run cold water while operating the disposal, feed food scraps in gradually rather than all at once, and run it regularly even with light use to keep components moving freely.

Don't

Avoid fibrous items like celery and corn husks, grease and oil, coffee grounds in large amounts, and bones or fruit pits, all of which jam blades or clog the drain line downstream.