When the kitchen floor is flooded, plumbing has gone bust, and the home insurance man comes around, if you have put any of the following in it then he may well refuse to pay out on the basis that your negligence caused the damage.

Paper – Once this gets wet then it clings to the inside machinery and clogs it up.

Plastic – Quite simply, this is too tough for a garbage disposal to be able to process.

Bones – What do you think is going to happen to that bone once its in the garbage disposal?

Eggshells – They might be easy to crack but they are not so easy to turn into pulp.

Grease – It will stick to, and build up on the disposal tube.

Stringy Vegetables – These do not do well in the garbage disposal because they become balls that clog the entire system up.

Coffee Grounds – A little at a time you might get away with but not a whole basket full.

Rice & Noodles – The high starch content causes a bad reaction with the other items put in with them.

You must be wondering – so what can I put in there? Your plate scraps are fine, as are small bits of meat and chopped up veggies (but remember to avoid the stems). Apply some common sense and follow the golden rule – “If in doubt, keep it out”.

Now you know what items to keep out of your garbage disposal, here are some tips for keeping it in good condition…

- Whenever it is on, make sure the water is running too.

- Occasionally put ice in there as it will scrape off food items stuck to the side of the tube.

- Throw some lime or lemon juice down there every so often to keep it smelling fresh.

Following the above advice will ensure that your garbage disposal stays in good working order. They are not cheap pieces of equipment so, to prevent needing to have an awkward conversation with an impossible home insurance man, make sure that you look after yours.

Do you need homeowners insurance? Then visit http://www.henryinsurance.com for a home insurance quote.

categories: garbage disposal,appliances,kitchen,waste management,home management,home improvement