If you have a garbage disposal, you are likely very happy to use it. After all, it reduces the amount of items that you throw away and is very convenient. But did you know there are things you shouldn’t put down it, according to a plumbing company? Here are some of the big things that people put down their disposals that make a plumbing company groan.

• Fat, Grease, and Oil – These kinds of things can become solid and clog your pipes.
• Bones – These can splinter, damaging your blades and clogging your drain.
• Nuts, Pits, and Seeds – Much like bones, they’re hard and may damage or clog the drain.
• Fibrous Vegetables – Vegetables such as asparagus and celery can become tangled in your disposal’s blades.
• Starchy Foods – Foods that are starchy like pasta, potatoes, and rice often expand and create a gluey, thick mess that will cause clogs.
• Coffee Grounds – Like starches, these can become gluey and sticky and clog your pipes.
• Anything non-food – You should never put anything that isn’t food down your garbage disposal. Keep things like paper towels, condoms, and other things out of it! They don’t belong anywhere but the trash.

If you want to avoid a visit from your plumbing company, don’t put these things down your garbage disposal. Otherwise, you may find that you need to have a plumber come out, and you may wind up having a hefty plumbing repair bill or needing a new garbage disposal.