The holiday season brings joy, celebration, and plenty of delicious home-cooked meals. But with all the extra cooking, prepping, and entertaining, your kitchen plumbing—especially your garbage disposal—faces a lot more stress than usual. One wrong move can lead to clogs, jams, or even a full-blown disposal breakdown right in the middle of hosting guests.
To help keep your kitchen running smoothly this season, here are the top garbage disposal no-nos homeowners should avoid, plus how Scaran can help keep your drains clear and worry-free.
Don’t Treat the Disposal Like a Trash Can
Garbage disposals are designed to grind food scraps, not absorb the workload of a garbage bin. Non-food items like plastic, paper, twist ties, and packaging materials should never go down the disposal. These can jam the blades, damage the motor, or cause costly plumbing problems. If you’re prepping a holiday feast, be sure to dispose of non-food items in the trash—not the drain.
Avoid Hard-to-Grind Foods
Some foods may seem harmless, but they can cause significant trouble in your disposal and drain line. During the holidays, avoid putting items like:
- Bones
- Fruit pits
- Hard seeds
- Cornhusks
- Fibrous vegetable peels
These items are difficult for the disposal to process and can quickly become lodged in the blades or create stubborn clogs further down the line.
Keep Fats, Oils, and Grease Out of the Drain
Turkey drippings, melted fats, pan grease, and oily leftovers may seem liquid when warm—but they quickly solidify once they cool inside your pipes. This leads to sticky buildup that can block your drain and force the disposal to overwork. Instead, pour cooled grease into a heat-safe container and dispose of it in the trash. Your pipes (and your holiday plans) will thank you.
Don’t Overload the Disposal
Hosting a big holiday dinner often means dealing with large amounts of food waste. But feeding too much into your disposal at once can overwhelm the motor and jam the blades. Feed small amounts into the disposal gradually, running cold water before, during, and after to help keep everything moving. This reduces strain on the system and helps prevent clogs in the drain line.
Skip Stringy, Starchy, or Sticky Foods
Foods like potato peels, pasta, celery, onion skins, and pumpkin innards can wrap around the blades or expand inside your pipes. The result? Slowed drainage, unpleasant odors, or the need for professional clog removal. When in doubt, toss these items in the trash or compost instead of risking a disposal malfunction during holiday gatherings.
When Trouble Strikes, Scaran Is Here to Help
Even with proper care, disposal problems can happen—especially when your kitchen is working overtime. Whether your disposal is jammed, your sink is draining slowly, or a clog has brought prep work to a halt, professional help can get things flowing again quickly.
This season, you can take advantage of:
- Free or discounted drain clearing
- Waived emergency fees for club members
These promotions make it easier and more affordable to keep your kitchen plumbing in great condition throughout the holidays.
A little prevention goes a long way when it comes to garbage disposal care. By avoiding these common holiday mistakes, you’ll keep your kitchen running smoothly and avoid unnecessary headaches during your celebrations.
Contact Scaran today to schedule an appointment with our professionals.
