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Garbage Disposals Do’s and Don’ts this Thanksgiving

It’s Thanksgiving in the Seattle area: a full table, relatives in the living room, football on TV—and a mountain of dishes waiting their turn in the sink.  

Your garbage disposal works nonstop when it's time to clean up. One bad load of scraps or a little too much grease, and a clogged disposal can stop everything cold right when you need your kitchen most. 

There’s a reason Thanksgiving weekend is one of the busiest times of year for plumbers in the Pacific Northwest: rich meals, extra guests, and long hours at the sink add up to more garbage disposal clogs and slow drains than any other time of year.  

The good news? A few smart habits can keep a clogged disposal from interrupting your holiday. 

In this guide, we’ll cover: 

  • What makes holiday weekends harder on Seattle-area drains 
  • Key garbage disposal do’s and don’ts 
  • PNW-specific tips (like how to handle fats, oils, and grease) 
  • What to do if your sink backs up—plus when to call for help 

Why Thanksgiving Is Extra Hard on PNW Drains & Disposals 

  • Heavy holiday meals + cold pipes. Big meals mean more scraps and more grease. Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) slide down the drain warm, then hit our cool, damp PNW pipes and solidify fast, increasing blockage risk. 
  • Older Seattle-area plumbing. Many homes around Seattle and the Eastside have decades-old pipes. They’re less forgiving when they get a heavy dose of FOG and starches. 
  • Increased use = extra strain. More cooking, more dishes, and more guests mean your disposal runs longer and more often. 

These factors are a prime recipe for a clogged disposal or a garbage disposal not draining. 

Do’s and Don'ts for Keeping Your Garbage Disposal Working This Thanksgiving 

Do: 

  • Use cold water—before, during, and after. Cold water helps fats harden fast so the grinder can break them up, and pushes small particles down the line. 
  • Feed small amounts at a time. Let the disposal clear each handful before adding more. This prevents jams and reduces the chance of a clogged disposal. 
  • Run the disposal a little longer. After the last bits are ground, keep cold water and the motor on for 10–15 seconds to flush the line. 
  • Freshen and clean gently. After the holiday rush, grind a few ice cubes to knock off buildup, then a couple citrus peels to deodorize. 

Don’t: 

  • Treat it like a trash can. Never send whole plates of leftovers through the disposal. It’s for small scraps only. 
  • Dispose of bones, large fibrous veggies and large amounts of starchy food. Onion skins, celery strings, corn husks, and pumpkin pulp can wrap the blades or cling to the pipe and be a major cause of a garbage disposal not draining. Bones are hard and can break your disposal. 
  • Run hot water while grinding. Hot water melts grease, letting it travel down the pipe before it cools and hardens—leading to bigger blockages. Use cold water instead. 
  • Pour grease, gravy, or pan drippings down the sink. Fats, oils, and grease coat the inside of pipes and build up fast. Do this instead: cool it, can it, and trash it. 

Quick reminder: If you’re unsure, toss it in the trash or compost—don’t risk a clogged kitchen sink with disposal on a holiday weekend. 

Tips for Pacific Northwest Homeowners During the Holidays 

  • Follow local FOG rules. In the PNW, pouring fats, oils, and grease into the sink is not allowed, as it ends up in the sewer system. Let grease cool, scrape it into a labelled can or jar, then trash it. This simple step prevents garbage disposal clogs and sewer back-ups. 
  • Older Seattle homes need extra care. Many houses here have decades-old pipes that are rough inside and narrower. Watch for slow drains—it’s a sign to schedule professional cleaning before it becomes a clogged kitchen sink with disposal.  

What to Do If Your Disposal or Sink Backs Up 

  • Cut the power, then inspect. Turn the disposal off and cut power at the wall switch or breaker. Use tongs to remove any obvious item you can see from the top. Note: Never put your hand inside the disposal. 
  •  Try the reset button. With power still off, press the small reset button on the bottom of the unit. Restore power and run cold water. Turn the disposal on briefly. If it hums or trips again, turn it off. 
  • Manually free a jam (power off). Most units include a small Allen/hex wrench. Insert it into the center hole on the bottom and turn it back and forth to free the flywheel. Remove the wrench, run cold water, and try again. This can unclog a garbage disposal safely. 
  • Skip chemical drain cleaners. They can damage the disposal, harm older pipes, and make future repairs risky. If the sink is still slow or the garbage disposal is not draining, move to the next step. 
  • Know when to call a pro: 
    • Water backs up into other fixtures (nearby sink or tub) 
    • Gurgling, recurring clogs, or sewer odors after your reset attempt. 
    • Disposal hums but won’t spin or trips the breaker repeatedly. 
    • You’ve got a clogged kitchen sink with disposal and nothing is moving. 

Need help fast? Day & Nite offers 24/7 emergency plumbing for a clogged disposal or backup. Contact us anytime. 

Get Ahead of Holiday Clogs—Schedule Your Disposal Tune-Up 

The best Thanksgiving tip? Prepare ahead with a pre-holiday garbage disposal tune-up. 

Day & Nite can inspect your drains, clear minor build-ups, and make sure your disposal is ready—especially if you’ve had clogged disposal issues, hear gurgles, or smell odors.  

We’re here day or nite: Schedule your tune-up.  

From our team to your family, we wish you a happy, clog-free holiday season.