topic Re: Suggestions for Garbage Disposal in Kitchen

Suggestions for Garbage Disposal

CherryHugs — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 16:54:49 GMT

We dont use the garbage disposal. I was wondering if there is something you can put down the disposal to keep it working when you dont use it?

Due to not using it, it had stopped working and hubby got it running again.

I looked online to see what to put in the disposal to keep it working but its complicated and one site it has a list then another site says not to use those things!

Need it to be working or it has a terrible smell

Re: Suggestions for Garbage Disposal

LizzieInSRQ — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 16:53:32 GMT

Cup of ice

Re: Suggestions for Garbage Disposal

Desertdi — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 17:01:51 GMT

I quit cooking when I retired, so I don't have any garbage.....however, I run the thing with cold water once a week, so it doesn't "freeze up".

Re: Suggestions for Garbage Disposal

ValuSkr — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 17:02:47 GMT

Just run it once in a while with the water running. That's what I do. I don't use the disposal either but, even with a strainer in the sink, small bits get through and accumulate and, in time, can jam the disposal. Use the tool that came with the disposal to get it going again. If that doesn't work, press the reset button on the bottom.

Re: Suggestions for Garbage Disposal

CherryHugs — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 17:06:43 GMT

Hi, there is no tool that came with disposal. We looked for a button but didnt see one!

Re: Suggestions for Garbage Disposal

PhilaLady1 — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 17:12:41 GMT

I read somewhere to use white vinegar. Also baking soda. I haven't tried either so I can't comment on results. Seems to make sense, though.

Re: Suggestions for Garbage Disposal

Tinkrbl44 — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 17:15:33 GMT

@Desertdi wrote:
I quit cooking when I retired, so I don't have any garbage.....however, I run the thing with cold water once a week, so it doesn't "freeze up".

@Desertdi @CherryHugs

I do the same thing, and after running it with water I place a heaping tablespoon of baking soda down into the drain and let it sit there. Keeps it fresh smelling.

Re: Suggestions for Garbage Disposal

millieshops — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 17:18:20 GMT

@CherryHugs Even if you don't use it for garbage regularly, I was told I should have been running mine weekly. I couldn't get it running myself when mine stopped, and the plumber I asked to look at it told me it wasn't worth paying him to try to fix it.

I knew how little I used it and had lived years without ever having one, so I had him dismantle mine and when I replaced my countertop, I put in a new wide deep sink to replace the inconvenient double sinks original to my condo. No garbage disposal.

A friend who had removed their disposal when they put in new countertops told me that not one person asked about the disposal when their house was on the market.

Re: Suggestions for Garbage Disposal

CoffeeNut — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 17:20:29 GMT

Buy a lemon and cut it up into quarters and run that through the disposal once a week. Keeps it running and keeps it fresh smelling.

Re: Suggestions for Garbage Disposal

ValuSkr — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 17:24:32 GMT

@CherryHugs Google "garbage disposal tool." It's a small thing you can get for $2 or $3 from Lowes / Home Depot. Just make sure it's the right size for the make & model of your disposal. To be on the safe side, you could probably order one from the manufacturer but it would be a little more expensive.

As for the reset button, I didn't think my disposal had one either. Finally, with the disposal not working and me on the verge of replacing it, I looked again, found it, and voila!

Re: Suggestions for Garbage Disposal

mspatmac — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 17:35:24 GMT

Curious as to why folks choose not to use a garbage disposal. I do use mine so virtually no wet garbage.

Re: Suggestions for Garbage Disposal

LizzieInSRQ — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 17:47:56 GMT

I use my disposal for onion skin, egg shells, scrapings from dinner plates etc. I hate being without one. No wet garbage to stink up my kitchen except fir chicken bones tbat i tie up in grocery bags in my garbage.

How or why , if you have one, do you not use it?

Re: Suggestions for Garbage Disposal

Desert Lily — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 18:19:06 GMT

@millieshops When I had my new house built, I put in a single oversized sink and ditched having a garbage disposal, too.

Re: Suggestions for Garbage Disposal

Krimpette — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 18:21:49 GMT

Just read this on Google:

DON’T: “Sharpen” the Blades with Ice or Eggshells

Garbage disposals do not have blades. They have impellers that are not sharp, but blunt. So, putting ice or egg shells down the disposal to sharpen the blades will not do any good. In fact, egg shells are not recommended for the garbage disposal as the membrane can get wrapped around the impellers and cause damage.

Re: Suggestions for Garbage Disposal

Desertdi — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 18:34:33 GMT

@mspatmac wrote:
Curious as to why folks choose not to use a garbage disposal. I do use mine so virtually no wet garbage.

@mspatmac Answer: "It came with the house -- Don't need it"

Re: Suggestions for Garbage Disposal

pieman — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 18:39:28 GMT

I took it right out.

Was so tired of the stinks.

We never used it but man, despite all the lemons we used to kill the oders coming from it, ewwwwwwwwwwww..

So we took it out,no more ordors,ahhhhhhh.

Re: Suggestions for Garbage Disposal

Scooby Doo — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 19:48:55 GMT

I put an enzimatic garbage disposal cleaner in my sink every couple of weeks. It gets rid of the organizism that cause the stink and slime. It's cheap, around $5. Also melts the grease that accumulates in the drain. I put very little waste down my drain but I wouldn't be without a disposal.

Re: Suggestions for Garbage Disposal

CherryHugs — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 19:53:47 GMT

At home growing up we didnt have one. There is a very long list of what you shouldnt put in a disposal its just not worth the hassle!

Re: Suggestions for Garbage Disposal

chickenbutt — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 20:17:46 GMT

@CherryHugs wrote:
Hi, there is no tool that came with disposal. We looked for a button but didnt see one!

When I had a prob with mine a number of years ago (sorry, I can't even recall the details), somehow I learned that using that tool would allow you to adjust something on the bottom of the unit.

I didn't have that tool either, but I bought on (probably on amazon) and it was very helpful. I wish I could recall what it was called. Maybe somebodyy else knows. It was a kind of small-ish wrench type thing.

Re: Suggestions for Garbage Disposal

Sooner — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 20:27:37 GMT

I think it is a wrench--can't remember what kind--that lets you manually turn the blades to get it unstuck.

We put everything down ours and when we replace one, get the biggest and best we can find because of that. If ours had access to a phone it would call DHS and file an abuse complaint.