Anonymous
Post 01/19/2012 17:48     Subject: Settle an argument - purpose of a disposal
Totally with DH on this. What do you think happens to your pipes when you're shoving pasta and cereal down them every day? Most people don't--until the pipes are clogged and it's serious $$$$ to fix. Same with dishwasher, always scrape first.

DH usually complies, without argument...I don't think he wants the I-told-you-so to ever come, though he puts coffee grinds and lemons in it to "keep it moving."
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2012 15:49     Subject: Re:Settle an argument - purpose of a disposal
I use mine daily. All eggshells and table scraps go down there. I will put lemon or orange peel in there, in small amounts, to freshen the disposal. I rarely put anything like potato or apple peels in there. I have had 2 disposals back up thanks to this. The peelings are very flexible and can make their way through the disposal without being adequately chewed up so a backup can totally happen.

BTW - it's really awesome when it happens on Thanksgiving and you're making mashed potatoes.

Anonymous
Post 01/19/2012 15:02     Subject: Settle an argument - purpose of a disposal
Did you not read higher up about the joys of having to dismantle and de-sludge the U-pipe that's just underneath the disposal?

When you use the disposal, you're not magically sending the food into the city sewers, you're sending it about 6 inches below the sink, where it sits until it decomposes.

And there is nothing "easier" about scraping dishes into the sink versus over the trash (sorry, "garbage") can.
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2012 13:27     Subject: Re:Settle an argument - purpose of a disposal
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

Celery, banana peels, because of their strings, should not be put in a garbge disposal.


Add broccoli stems, artichoke leaves (also strings) and asparagus stems (too woody).

Basically I put anything soft down the disposal. I keep out anything hard, stringy or rubbery (like gristle or fat). Yes, all a disposal does is crush food into smaller particles and sometimes they can clog the drain. But most of the clog typically ends up in the U-bend in the sink trap. You can open the u-bend and dump that residue in the trash if it blocks up. Otherwise, let the disposal do its work. My mother has lived in her house for 28 years and only had to replace the disposal about 3 years ago. 25 years is a lot better than most household appliances. In my first home, the previous owner used it for 7 years, I used it for 13 years before I sold my house and never had to replace the disposal and I use it frequently. I've used the current one 6 years and it's still in fine working order. I can't believe that all of you save your disposal for only special events.

As for these recommendations, my plumber has been with me for 14 years and my wife for 10 years before that. He's excellent and has never made those suggestions about disposal use. And he's periodically had to check out the kitchen sink for other reasons (he's the one who taught me years ago how to check and clean out the U-bend trap under the kitchen sink if the sink backs up).



I cannot believe anyone would consider sticking this stuff in their disposal. Is it really not common sense? Di your plumber really need to teach you about how to fix a P-trap? And your a man? I find this hard to believe.


I can't believe that people would NOT use a disposal. Yes, I'm a guy. I didn't know how to fix this because I was a young single first time home owner that had been a renter and had always left things like that to the landlord or property manager.

While I understand and agree that you should limit use when you're on a septic system, if you're on city sewage, why wouldn't you use the disposal and just grind up otherwise biodegradable foods and such and wash it down the drain? Then you don't have to take the garbage out every night like some people are doing. It's an appliance. It's made to use to make certain chores easier. So I use it.
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2012 13:23     Subject: Settle an argument - purpose of a disposal
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:is this a Southern thing? No self-respecting southern housewife would ever put food scraps in the garbage for fear of attracting roaches. My mother would throw a fit if she found food scraps in her garbage can.

Not sure why throwing food in plastic garbage bags would be more environmental than a disposal, but composting would be...


My Southern mother would pitch a fit if she found garbage in a "trash" can, but it was ok in the "garbage" can (which was the one in the kitchen.


ITA

Did she put groceries up instead of putting them away, too?
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2012 13:15     Subject: Re:Settle an argument - purpose of a disposal
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

Celery, banana peels, because of their strings, should not be put in a garbge disposal.


Add broccoli stems, artichoke leaves (also strings) and asparagus stems (too woody).

Basically I put anything soft down the disposal. I keep out anything hard, stringy or rubbery (like gristle or fat). Yes, all a disposal does is crush food into smaller particles and sometimes they can clog the drain. But most of the clog typically ends up in the U-bend in the sink trap. You can open the u-bend and dump that residue in the trash if it blocks up. Otherwise, let the disposal do its work. My mother has lived in her house for 28 years and only had to replace the disposal about 3 years ago. 25 years is a lot better than most household appliances. In my first home, the previous owner used it for 7 years, I used it for 13 years before I sold my house and never had to replace the disposal and I use it frequently. I've used the current one 6 years and it's still in fine working order. I can't believe that all of you save your disposal for only special events.

As for these recommendations, my plumber has been with me for 14 years and my wife for 10 years before that. He's excellent and has never made those suggestions about disposal use. And he's periodically had to check out the kitchen sink for other reasons (he's the one who taught me years ago how to check and clean out the U-bend trap under the kitchen sink if the sink backs up).



I cannot believe anyone would consider sticking this stuff in their disposal. Is it really not common sense? Di your plumber really need to teach you about how to fix a P-trap? And your a man? I find this hard to believe.
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2012 12:02     Subject: Settle an argument - purpose of a disposal
I put most food waste down the disposal and have never had an issue. I don't put in fatty/greasy things or stringy things like celery. If something goes in that shouldn't, I usually throw some ice cubes down it and that clears it out. Never had a plumbing issue because of it (and neither have my parents who have been using one my entire life).

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/the_green_lantern/2008/09/should_we_dispose_of_disposals.html
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2012 11:59     Subject: Settle an argument - purpose of a disposal
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm the bath mat poster and I have to say that my husband and I had this debate as well! He was on the side of your husband. We have moved recently and are on a septic system so he is even more adamant that we limit what we put down the disposal.


We are on septic too and were told not to put any food down the garbage disposal. We put down small bits left on the plate (ex. one or two noodles), but nothing big. Mostly liquids and such IF you have to do it. They suggest not using a garbage disposal at all with septic.


We use our disposal liberally here but our summer house is on septic and agree with above to put very little in it. In fact they are against code where we are but everyone has them - you just have to remove it before you sell.
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2012 11:38     Subject: Settle an argument - purpose of a disposal
You all put food scraps down the sink drain? I would think that would contribute to algal bloom in the Chesapeake, no?

My husband puts them in the dishwasher, I recently learned. :/
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2012 11:33     Subject: Settle an argument - purpose of a disposal
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Back up here. Do people really take the garbage out everyday???!


Nope, only the night before trash day, unless it's full before then.


Same here. I think it's because we recycle AND compost.
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2012 11:17     Subject: Settle an argument - purpose of a disposal
OP's DH and the plumber poster are correct.

We use a bathroom-size garbage can under the sink for our kitchen trash and take it out pretty much every day, sometimes more than once, so there's no problem with any smell.
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2012 10:46     Subject: Settle an argument - purpose of a disposal
Anonymous wrote:I'm the bath mat poster and I have to say that my husband and I had this debate as well! He was on the side of your husband. We have moved recently and are on a septic system so he is even more adamant that we limit what we put down the disposal.


We are on septic too and were told not to put any food down the garbage disposal. We put down small bits left on the plate (ex. one or two noodles), but nothing big. Mostly liquids and such IF you have to do it. They suggest not using a garbage disposal at all with septic.
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2012 09:06     Subject: Settle an argument - purpose of a disposal
Anonymous wrote:Back up here. Do people really take the garbage out everyday???!


Nope, only the night before trash day, unless it's full before then.