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[brii]

I put coffee grounds and rice and egg shells down there.

Why would cooked rice expand anyway?

[FranandZoe]

I wouldn't be without one. Raw potato and carrot peels tend to clog so I don't put those in it. No banana peels. I have cut up melon rind in small pieces and they've been fine. I can't think of anything else I don't put in there. I was without one for a few days some years ago when my old one conked out - I forgot how to clean up after breakfast and dinner without it lol. I love it because I don't have any (or very little) food garbage. Some people say they smell but if you keep underneath the splash guard clean you don't have that problem. Putting raw lemons in it helps keep it fresh too. And there are various cleaners for garbage disposals that work very well too.

I put smaller poultry bones in but not larger heavier bones altho you can.

[ValuSkr]

As I understand, the kinds of things that can be disposed in a disposal depend on the HP. The higher the HP, the more grinding power, hence more stuff in the disposal. Of course, higher HP are also more expensive. Further, I guess it goes without saying that you can't have a disposal with a home septic system. I've lived without disposals, but currently have one. Don't use it much - think I could return to without. Larger food scraps and such that can't be disposed are put in the fridge or freezer until garbage day.

[GloriBee]

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 do the egg shells all the time, but recently read you are not supposed to (but I still do).

I messed mine up (which clogged the lines to my sink) when I trimmed some roses I was given. Guess it didn't like the stems. The disposal was just fine, just clogged things up so bad it took a plumber. When he came he pulled out onion peelings from days before the roses, so I now don't put those peels down there.

[Allegheny]

I didn't grow up accustomed to having a garbage disposal. We had a septic tank as a kid, and my Dad taught us all what and what not to put down the drains.

I got one as a wedding gift from our home builder 25 years ago. Never had a problem. I too have heard there could be issues with disposals and septic tanks so I replaced it 4 years ago when we remodeled with an InSinkerator Evolution Series Septic Assist. I follow the guidelines issued by the manufacturer.

I never put anything greasy or oily down my drains period. Egg shells and coffee ground go into my compost pall. Since I do compost instead of putting peels down the disposal they too go into the pail. I always run the cold water while using the disposer. Bones and the like I freeze in a baggie until trash day.

Like any appliance, yes it will need cleaned. The rubber gaskets get gungie and I take it out and clean it. And just a thought, the more that is put into a septic tank the more frequent it will need pumped. Yes, one does have to be mindful what goes into the septic tank so it and the leech field continue to operate efficiently.

[Nannerbelles]

My husband works at the plant in Racine, WI that makes In-Sink-Erators. They are a good American made product. Believe it or not I don't have one, haha!!

[mima]

On 5/5/2014 happy housewife said:

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!!!

Me too - and watermelon rinds.

Me too and we have a septic tank. My mom puts chicken bones (cooked) down hers but I don't. Never tried it.

[Shaunac]

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!!!

Rice or pasta should not be put in a garbage disposal. They will get gummy and stop it up. Next thing you know, you'll be visiting with a spendy plumber to unclog your drain.

[ChynnaBlue]

I love having a garbage disposal. It means that I can rinse my dishes in the sink before I put them in the dishwasher and I won't have to pull any gross gunk out of the sink stopper or worry about my sink clogging up. My parents had, so I grew up knowing knowing what was okay and what wasn't okay to put in the disposal.

Several of my offices have had signs in the break rooms that read this or similar: "This sink does NOT have a garbage disposal. Please do not rinse food down the drain or we will have to pay for a plumber to come out and fix the drain."

That's what having one means to me - I can rinse little bits of food down the drain without having to worry about it or call the plumber.

[151949]

On 5/5/2014 Shaunac said:

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!!!

Rice or pasta should not be put in a garbage disposal. They will get gummy and stop it up. Next thing you know, you'll be visiting with a spendy plumber to unclog your drain.

I have had a garbage disposal for over 30 years and have been putting rice and pasta down mine the entire time - with no clogging. I wonder if some of you put stuff in there and don't run it - or if you aren't running the water the whole time or some other mistake in using it - because both of mine - 2 different homes - I have never had this problem and I put everything(all our food waste) in there but coffee grounds and bones. I even put the end of the celery and the lettuce and cabbage cores down there.

BTW - my first one was a kitchen aide but the one I have now is builder grade GE.