A garbage disposal feels like a magic “make it disappear” button, until your sink backs up and you’re staring at a plumber bill you didn’t budget for. The truth is that disposals are built to handle small scraps, not act like a trash can or a compost bin. Some foods gum up the blades, some expand and clog pipes, and some create greasy sludge that sticks to everything. The best money move is preventing the problem in the first place, because drain issues rarely stay cheap. Here are seven common items plumbers warn against, plus what to do instead.
