More than a handful of food down the drain is usually too much for a garbage disposal to handle. Always run a moderate amount of cold water when using the disposal and keep the water running a few seconds after turning off the disposal to clear the pipes. Why cold water? Cold water will cause any grease or fat in the disposal to harden, allowing it to be chopped up before moving through the drain.

Safe items to put down the garbage disposal:

• Vegetable ends
• Soft food matter
• Citrus peels (for freshness)
• Ice Cubes (to clean the garbage disposal out every now and again)
• A little dish washing soap (helps freshen the smell)

Items to avoid putting down the  garbage disposal include:

• Potato skins
• Large animal bones
•  Banana peels
• Onion skins
• Stringy vegetables like asparagus and celery
• Glass, plastic, metal, or paper
• Anything combustible
• Cigarette butts
• Grease, fats, or oils
• Used coffee filters

Keep this list handy and download it here: a-simple-guide-to-avoid-garbage-disposal-jams