Can eggshells go in a garbage disposal? 

Garbage disposals are some of the most useful and convenient kitchen appliances. Thanks to their ability to eliminate food waste by grinding it into small particles that can easily pass through the drain pipes without clogging them. 

On the downside, these units can be very costly to repair. For that, it’s essential to consider what you put in them to avoid costly repairs and extend the machine’s lifespan. One of the most controversial questions asked by many homeowners is whether eggshells can go in a garbage disposal. While some people claim putting eggs in a garbage disposal is a bad idea, others recommend using them to sharpen the impeller blades. 

So, which group is right? Can eggshells go in a garbage disposal? Or will they end up clogging the garbage disposal? 

Let’s find out! 

Can you put eggs shells in a garbage disposal? 

First of all, egg shells break very easily when put in a disposal since they’re too brittle. Therefore, they will not directly harm anything in your garbage disposal. However, eggshells can clog the garbage disposal and drainage pipes. So, while garbage disposals can handle eggshells, putting them in the device is not a good idea for various reasons. 

For instance, the eggshells may not break on time, thus building up and clogging the drain. On the same note, the eggshell detritus can be ground into a sandy substance that can build up and accumulate in the drain. 

In addition, the egg shells have a membrane that may stick to the shredder ting of your garbage disposal. As a result, the unit will not operate properly. On top of that, the membrane can start to smell if it lingers in the garbage disposal for a long time, filling your kitchen with an unpleasant smell. 

With that in mind, I’d recommend you look for alternative ways to dispose of eggshells instead of sending them down your garbage disposal. 

Do eggshells sharpen garbage disposal blades? 

The idea that eggshells can help to sharpen garbage disposal blades is just a myth. Egg shells will do more harm to your garbage disposal than good. 

More importantly, if you know how garbage disposals work, you’ll notice that these units don’t have sharp blades like a grinder or blender. Instead, they have a rotating plate that throws food waste against a stationary shredder ring that is fitted on the wall of the unit’s grinding chamber. 

While egg shells could probably clean the disposal to some extent due to their coarse nature, there are better ways to clean gunk and grime in a garbage disposal. 

For instance, you can use salt and a few ice cubes to get enough scrubbing action to remove any sticky and buildup food waste. Best of all, the ice will melt away without causing any clogs in the garbage disposal and drain pipes. However, the same cannot be said about putting eggshells in a garbage disposal. 

Alternatively, you can try using a mixture of baking soda and vinegar if you want to be a little more thorough in your garbage disposal cleaning. The nice thing about this method is that it will clean the gunk away and get rid of any stenches in your garbage disposal. 

How to unclog eggshells in your garbage disposal

Now that you know putting eggshells in your garbage disposal can clog the unit, how do you fix the issue when it occurs? 

First and foremost, if you start noticing that your garbage disposal drains slowly or seems stuck after putting some egg membranes, there is a good chance it’s clogged. Luckily, you can easily unclog your unit with salt and some ice cubes. This combination will scrape off most of the eggshell membrane from the grinding components of the disposal, unclogging it in no time. However, in some instances, you may want to repeat this process a few times until the water starts to drain properly.

As an alternative, you can use the vinegar and baking soda approach. With this method, you need to sprinkle some baking soda into the garbage disposal and let it sit for about 10 minutes before adding 1-2 cups of vinegar. After a few minutes, run water into the disposal, add some salt and ice cubes, then turn on the unit and grind them until you get rid of all the eggshells in the disposal. 

The best way to get rid of eggshells instead of using a garbage disposal 

While egg shells are bad for your garbage disposal, they have many beneficial uses when disposed of properly. So, instead of putting them in a garbage disposal, try disposing them using the following simple methods; 

• Use them as fertilizer for flowers and plants 

Plants and flows require nutrients to grow healthy, vibrant leaves. Interestingly, you can use eggshells as fertilizers to supply these nutrients to your flowers and plants. This is because eggshells contain calcium carbonate that helps plants absorb other nutrients like magnesium and potassium, which are necessary for plant growth. 

• Put them in a compost pile 

Tossing eggshells into a compost pile is a great way to add some nitrogen and calcium to the pile. This highly absorbent material will speed up the decomposition process while adding plant nutrients to the compost. In addition, you can crush them up and sprinkle them on your garden beds to deter pests like ants, weevils, beetles, snails, and slugs.  

• Feed them to your chicken and other backyard animals 

Lastly, you can dry and grind the egg shells to feed them to your chicken and other backyard animals. This is because egg shells are a great source of calcium, which is important for healthy bones in animals. 

Conclusion 

To sum up, putting eggshells in your garbage disposal is very risky as it can clog your drainage system. For that, it’s important to become vigilant when disposing of eggshells in a garbage disposal. Instead, consider disposing of the eggs in the methods we’ve mentioned above to enjoy the attached benefits.