topic Re: Garbage disposal pros/cons in Home

Garbage disposal pros/cons

shopqvcless — Sun, 04 May 2014 18:16:47 GMT

We have never had one and I don't think I really care to now but our kids think we are crazy for not getting one. I've heard of so many things you CAN'T put down them, I think why mess with it. I've heard you shouldn't put potato peels….is that true. What about rind from melons?

Re: Garbage disposal pros/cons

Shelbelle — Sun, 04 May 2014 18:20:14 GMT

Have had had one my entire married life, could not be without it. Only thing I can think of that I dont put down there are bones from meats or poultry. I love putting rinds from lemons and oranges and grapefruit down there, makes it smell so good. My current one is 3/4 HP, some are a little less.

Re: Garbage disposal pros/cons

kaydee50 — Sun, 04 May 2014 18:22:30 GMT

We're from NYC and never had a garbage disposal. Now living in NV and they are standard in homes. I have never used mine. Don't know what to use it for. When I ask people what they put down them, I never get a clear answer. So it is basically rusting and because it is connected to our kitchen sink drain, has caused us problems. If I had an option, I would never get one but as I said, they are standard in this part of the country.

Re: Garbage disposal pros/cons

author — Sun, 04 May 2014 18:24:07 GMT

I just had a replacement one installed a few days ago. It had quit working a long time ago and I never used it for anything but bits left on plates, etc. I sometimes put a slice of lemon down it to freshen it, but I prefer no garbage disposal. We are planning on selling the house in the next year or so and that's why I replaced it.

In our last house I had it taken out and never a problem with the drain in the kitchen sink. The underside of the rubber flange that is in the top of the drain tends to get disgusting, and "others" in the house might put something down it and clog it, jam it, or break it.....! It is no fun fishing around in it to dislodge something so it will run again.

If you've been fine without one, why get one now? One more thing to break, maintain, worry about. JMO of course!

Re: Garbage disposal pros/cons

shopqvcless — Sun, 04 May 2014 18:28:10 GMT

Author, I agree….the only reason I was thinking about it is because our trash can will now be in one of the cabinets (dreading this but conceded) and I think about how yucky my hands will be scraping or carrying peels, etc to drawer instead of just hitting step button on trash can now. I thought maybe it would be easier just dumping in sink.

Re: Garbage disposal pros/cons

colliegirls — Sun, 04 May 2014 18:30:59 GMT

We have always had one, we put everything down except bones. Now I never want to be without one, I dislike leftovers, etc in the kitchen garbage can.

Re: Garbage disposal pros/cons

Marsha2003 — Sun, 04 May 2014 18:31:14 GMT

I have one and use it for everything except rice, bones and egg shells. It wouldn't bother me to live without it, though. I have before in other houses.

Re: Garbage disposal pros/cons

mousiegirl — Sun, 04 May 2014 18:32:28 GMT

There are many things that cannot be ut into one, strings from peas, beans and corn silks, silica gel, and on and on. I don't use mine much.

Re: Garbage disposal pros/cons

Shaunac — Sun, 04 May 2014 18:32:57 GMT

I don't intentionally put anything in my disposal to grind, dispose of. Only bits and pieces from plates go in it.

Re: Garbage disposal pros/cons

colliegirls — Sun, 04 May 2014 18:35:17 GMT

On 5/4/2014 mousiegirl said:
There are many things that cannot be ut into one, strings from peas, beans and corn silks, silica gel, and on and on. I don't use mine much.

Silica gel?????

Re: Garbage disposal pros/cons

terrier3 — Sun, 04 May 2014 18:35:21 GMT

When I renovated my kitchen, I had mine removed.

I throw garbage at least once, usually twice a day when I clean the kitty litter, so I didn't need it.

Plus it always seemed to attract those pesky little sewer flies.

Re: Garbage disposal pros/cons

brii — Sun, 04 May 2014 18:37:58 GMT

I wouldn't be without one. I can't stand food in the garbage. The only thing I do not put down there is bones and watermelon rinds.

Re: Garbage disposal pros/cons

jackthebear — Sun, 04 May 2014 18:39:28 GMT

I have one, although I compost all waste that is compostable so anything that goes down is stuff from the sink, plates etc.

I am so used to not having any food waste in my trash that I would not want to be without.

Re: Garbage disposal pros/cons

gazelle77 — Sun, 04 May 2014 18:43:03 GMT

I just do not put raw meat, bones, egg shells. Pretty much anything else is fine except celery or stringy vegetables. I could not live without it... I clean it once a week with little packet I put down it that is for cleaning and refreshing the disposal... you just buy them at the grocery store.

Re: Garbage disposal pros/cons

Shelbelle — Sun, 04 May 2014 18:43:28 GMT

On 5/4/2014 Marsha2003 said:
I have one and use it for everything except rice, bones and egg shells. It wouldn't bother me to live without it, though. I have before in other houses.

I put egg shells and rice in mine all the time!!!

Re: Garbage disposal pros/cons

stilltamn8r — Sun, 04 May 2014 18:44:51 GMT

I never considered living without one and I must say, never realized how many folks don't have one..

So you scrape your plates into the garbage? IF you have sour milk or something liquidy that is no longer good, what do you do with it?

Re: Garbage disposal pros/cons

gazelle77 — Sun, 04 May 2014 18:45:57 GMT

On 5/4/2014 Shelbelle said:
On 5/4/2014 Marsha2003 said:
I have one and use it for everything except rice, bones and egg shells. It wouldn't bother me to live without it, though. I have before in other houses.

I put egg shells and rice in mine all the time!!!

I also once heard not to put lemon rinds in them... but I do... what I do is microwave the lemon rind until soft and then put it down the disposal... it really cleans it out and freshens it up!

Re: Garbage disposal pros/cons

brii — Sun, 04 May 2014 18:46:39 GMT

All that food sitting in the garbage would attract rodents and bugs, I would think

Re: Garbage disposal pros/cons

sunshine45 — Sun, 04 May 2014 18:47:35 GMT

On 5/4/2014 Shelbelle said:
On 5/4/2014 Marsha2003 said:
I have one and use it for everything except rice, bones and egg shells. It wouldn't bother me to live without it, though. I have before in other houses.

I put egg shells and rice in mine all the time!!!

so do I.....never heard the rice thing!

I pretty much put everything in it other than bones, pits, AND heavy fruit rinds (watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, etc.....)

Re: Garbage disposal pros/cons

brii — Sun, 04 May 2014 18:48:54 GMT

A little measuring glass fell down the drain and I turned on the disposal and it whizzed that right up. I don't recommend that. Lol