Hello sirstephen,
Thank you for your question.
According to a discussion at That Home Site:
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/cleaning/msg0821524912204.html
"Recently I moved into an apartment with a garbage disposal which I've
never had. Exactly what can you put into a disposal--other than soft
foods? We wondered about coffee grounds AND the filter, as well as tea
bags--can either of these go in it?...
...don't put coffee grounds/filters or tea bags in mine. Don't know
where I put the book on it, to check either. Do NOT put egg shells or
meat in it. Maybe in an apt it wouldn't make a difference, but with a
septic system it doesn't break down fast enough...
...I do not put anything that could clog it--paper, onion skins (the
onion itself is ok), stringy things like banana peels and celery. No
bones. Fancy disposals can take bones...
...Don't put any fibrous material into it, like corn husks or such...
...We have a friend who is a plumber and he says not to put any potato
peels into it since they clog it up quickly...
...HALLOWEEN WARNING:
Don't put pumpkin innards in a garbage disposal...
...Don't put pasta or potatoes in it. The starch can clog it up real
quickly, especially when combined with cold water...
...Be sure to let the water run a while after you put anything in the
disposal so it will wash it on out of the pipes.
I put pasta, potatoes and peelings in mine all the time and it has
never hurt it as long as I run the water for a few minutes afterward.
I don't live there anymore (I don't have one where I now live) but I
used it for over 10 years with no bad results from those...
...Why would you have a garbage disposal if you couldn't put that
stuff in it? I have a mid range In-sink-erator....cost about 60 bucks
as I recall. I put most everything down it.....well not corn husks and
huge ham bones...or all the bones from a spare rib dinner. But for
sure all the chicken and steak bones...as well as coffee filters, egg
shells ( but not dozens and dozens...once I put the shells from 6
dozen eggs down the disposer and plugged it up!!) I absolutely put
potato peelings, and carrot peelings....and pasta!
My plumber tells me ( when he installed this one....last one was a $30
cheapie....and I got my money's worth...but no more!) that as long as
you run lots of water.....and run the water long enough to wash it
down the drain, you're fine.
One house I lived in had a Maytag....the instruction book said to put
glass down it periodically to sharpen the blades. I never
did....intentionally!..
...I always put chicken and steak bones (was told to do this to
sharpen the blades) as well as potato peels and coffee grinds down
mine and have never had a problem. I also make sure I run cold water
while doing this...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can read on and see that the layperson has as many ideas and
misconceptions about in sink disposals as you can imagine. I went off
to see what a few manufacturers might say. Popular Mechanics had this
article which settles my mind on what is allowed and forbidden:
http://www.growinglifestyle.com/article/s0/a116495.html
A Bone To Pick
In-Sink-Erator sets the record straight on garbage disposal use
"It's a source of debate among people who own garbage
disposals--strange as it sounds---about what you're supposed to put
down one. Word must have trickled back to disposal manufacturer,
In-Sink-Erator, because the company has issued a press release that
sets the record straight. We can't say this will settle the discussion
in the kitchen. After all, what you do with your disposal in your
kitchen is your business.
Peach pits, chicken bones and even steak bones are all just fine, the
company says, adding that these materials help scour and clean the
inside area of the disposal known as the grind chamber. To prove the
point, the company even issued a photo of one of its technicians
contentedly dropping a big pan full of beef bones down a disposal, one
at a time (see photo above).
The company also advises:
1. Use cold water when running the disposal.
2. Don't put corn husks, artichokes or any other fibrous materials
into the machine. These materials don't grind well and are liable to
cause binding and blockage.
3. Grind peels from lemons and citrus fruits to minimize disposal
odors.
The company provides an online troubleshooting guide at its Web site
www.insinkerator.com. You can also write the company: In-Sink-Erator,
4700 21st St., Racine, WI 53406.--Roy Berendsohn"
And WebgSpawner shows:
http://www.webspawner.com/users/mattsqanda/
10 MOST PLUMBING QUESTION ASKED WITH ANSWERS!
"1. WHY DOES MY GARBAGE DISPOSAL JAM UP AND GET CLOGGED?
A. MOST OF THE TIME PEOPLE USE GARBAGE DISPOSALS INCORRECTLY, WHICH
LEADS TO PROBLEMS THIS IS THE CORRECT WAY TO USE YOUR DISPOSAL.
1. TURN COLD WATER ON FOR 3 SECONDS BEFORE TURNING ON DISPOSAL.
2. TURN DISPOSAL ON
3. SLOWLY ADD FOOD WANTING TO BE DISPOSED OF
4. CONTINUE TO RUN COLD WATER AFTER SHUTTING OFF DISPOSAL
LISTEN TO THE MOTOR CLEAR THE FOOD... ALLOW WATER TO RUN ABOUT
5 TO 10 SECONDS AFTER FOOD HAS BEEN CHOPPED UP.
B. THE REASON FOR THIS IS TO ALLOW FOOD PARTICLES TO TRAVEL THROUGH
YOUR PLUMBING SYSTEM AND NOT BE LEFT LAYING IN YOUR PIPES.
C. YOU SHOULD NEVER PUT POTATO PEELINGS, CHICKEN BONES, CORN HUSKS,
CELERY STALKS OR ANY MATTER THAT DOESN'T NEED TO GO THROUGH THE
DISPOSAL..."
And perhaps the foremost authority, Heloise:
http://www.caymannetnews.com/Archive/Archive%20Articles/January%202003/Issue%20315%20Mon/Hints%20From.html
Hints from Heloise
"Rules of Disposal
Dear Heloise: Upon moving into a new apartment, I now have a DISPOSAL.
However, no instructions were left for me as to how to use it.
Can you please tell me how to use it, as I have had many conflicting
reports as to what and what not to put down the disposal? -- Virginia
Pschirrer, Fairport, N.Y.
Ah, the joys and maintenance of a disposal.
First, check with the maintenance personnel at your apartment complex,
or take a look on the side or bottom of the garbage-disposal unit
(under the sink cabinet) for the manufacturer, appliance model and
serial number. Armed with these three pieces of info, you should be
able to get a phone number and contact the manufacturer for the use
and care of your garbage disposal. The manufacturer might send you a
manual at no cost -- others charge for these.
If you have Internet access, go to the manufacturer's Web site and
click on your model of garbage disposal. Here you can sometimes find a
copy of the use-and-care guide that can be downloaded free and printed
within minutes. If a guide for your model is not available, look for a
mail-in request form.
A general rule of thumb is to avoid putting in hard substances (fruit
pits, bones, shellfish shells) or fibrous things (celery, asparagus,
corn silk or husks, artichokes). Also, DO NOT drain grease down the
disposal or even a sink drain, for that matter, and avoid drain
cleaners -- they can cause damage.
Just remember to run lots of cold water when using your garbage
disposal, and grind up citrus rinds, when you have them, to help
"freshen" it. "
-- Heloise
So, there you have a number of opinions. If it were me, I'd find the
800# for the manufacturer of your unit and give them a call to see
what your model can handle.
Search Strategy:
what not to put down a kitchen disposal
"garbage disposal" +never
I trust my research has put forth a number of opinions on what can
safely go down a sink disposal. Some of them even agree 8^)
If a link above should fail to work or anything require further
explanation or research, please do post a Request for Clarification
prior to rating the answer and closing the question and I will be
pleased to assist further.
Regards,
-=clouseau=- |
