It may be a garbage disposal, but there are some things, however much you know that they are garbage, which you should keep out of it. When the kitchen floor is flooded, plumbing has gone bust, and you have to call in the home insurance man, if you have put any of the following down there then he will probably refuse to pay out on the basis that your negligence caused the damage.

Paper – The inside machinery gets clogged up as soon as the paper gets wet.

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

Poop – Dog poop will not damage it, but just create a bad smell; however, diapers will cause a big problem.

Bones – Even small ones a problem because they get wedged in the disposal tube.

Eggshells – Bad, they only clog your disposal system.

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.

Fruit Seeds – Do not put fruit pits in there as they will not go anywhere.

Shrimp Shells – Bad, plus they stink.

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 you should be ok. The golden rule though is “If in doubt, keep it out”.

Now you are aware of what items to keep out of your garbage disposal, here are some additional tips to keep your garbage disposal in top condition…

- Regularly pour water down it.

- Throw some ice in there – it will freeze anything that may be stuck and knock it out.

- Put lemon or lime juice in it to keep it smelling fresh.

Doing all of the above will ensure that your garbage disposal remains in good working order. Repairs are expensive so, to avoid a difficult conversation with an impossible home insurance man, make sure that you look after yours.

http://www.henryinsurance.com are home insurance specialists. If you need homeowners insurance, then be sure to pay them a visit.