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Oregon gal
Citizen
Username: Oregon_gal
Post Number: 72
Registered: 6-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 10:26 pm: | 
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The house we just bought doesn't have a garbage disposal (but we do have room under the sink). My husband is lobbying hard for one. I'm on the fence. I've had one most of my adult life, but I can live without if need be. I think there may be some environmental reasons not to get one - can anyone educate me? Are there other negatives? Or positives I'm not considering (other than making my husband stop pestering me about it)? |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 8520
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 10:29 pm: |
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Unless you are composting your organic matter, go for it. I love having ours; we have much less smelly garbage. |
Oregon gal
Citizen
Username: Oregon_gal
Post Number: 73
Registered: 6-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 10:36 pm: |
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Good point on the garbage. Until my 2 1/2 year old figures out that poop goes in the potty - my garbage is never going to smell good! He's cute but oh, oh so stinky. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 8523
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 10:46 pm: |
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Another plug for the disposal, just hold him bare-assed over the sink.... |
Jersey_Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 1454
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 11:35 pm: |
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"Plug for the disposal?"
J.B. |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4816
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 6:54 am: |
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I love having one, this is the first time I've had it and I'll miss it when we move! |
NJguy99
Citizen
Username: Njguy99
Post Number: 61
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 8:08 am: |
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I loved having one at our old place too. But one warning:
If you have an older home with steel (or iron) drain pipes, it may be more trouble than it's worth. Over time, it's likely those pipes have built up a layer of gunk inside, and adding crushed-up food to the mix is likely to lead to drain problems.
So, if you've ever noticed the kitchen sink drains slowly or you've had to call a drain cleaner out, stay away from the disposal. It may make things worse. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 8529
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 9:51 am: |
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We did a lot of new pipe work with the new kitchen, but they do all empty into the old iron pipes. My plumber snaked them and then told me to grind things in small batches and flush with lots of water. Someone else (Master Plumber, maybe?) online said grind ice cubes once in awhile, which we also do.
We've had no problems, with the exception of the time my sis-in-law tried to dispose of an entire watermelon in one grinding.
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Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 1042
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 10:21 am: |
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A good way to help flush-out greasy build-up in pipes is to plug your drain and fill your sink with the hottest water you can produce, add a little bit of cleaner (NOT soap, something like liquid lysol or pine-sol or even simple green) and pull the plug (do NOT run the garbage disposal while doing this however!) This should be done about once a month and it is good for all sinks not just the kitchen sink.
I grew up w/garbage disposals and couldn't live without one. Tips on garbage disposals: Never put stringy veggies down it - no celery and no onion skins. Garbage disposal instructions usually list the no-no's. Never put any dried pasta product down it, and I would advise never to put any rice into it, cooked or uncooked. Always run cold water while the grinder is on, and let the water run for a bit after turning it off to help everything get flushed down.
Grinding ice is a good for helping to clean the grinder as are coffee grounds. After peeling a citrus fruit, or squeezing a lemon, put the rind into the grinder and you have yourself a nice smelling kitchen! There are garbage disposal cleaners called "Plink" that are probably a good idea to use once in a while (I do).
I've had to have our kitchen drain snaked once in the 9 years we've lived here, but it was closer to when we move in and the previous owners did not have a garbage disposal. My theory is more crap went down the drain that shouldn't have when they used the sink sans disposal.
I put entire slices of pizza down the disposal, chicken bones, cherry pits, veggie peelings (except celery!), old left-overs, melon rinds etc.
Oh, and I almost forgot - never turn it on while your hand is in the disposal! |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 1246
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 12:24 pm: |
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We have one, and it's convenient when food scraps slip into the drain (just grind them, instead of having a clog). I don't use it intentionally, though, except to put through a lemon rind once in a while to sweeten it.
To me, garbage is an unnecessary burden on the water-cleaning system. Ours (vegetables/fruit, not meat) mostly goes into compost. Maybe an argument could be made for putting the organic waste into the water stream instead of into "sealed for eternity" landfill, though. hmm |
Oregon gal
Citizen
Username: Oregon_gal
Post Number: 75
Registered: 6-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 9:43 pm: |
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Well, so far I've lost this argument to the husband. To use a Dr. Philism (I really don't watch daytime TV I swear) I'd rather be happy than right.
Thanks for the input and good maintenance advice.
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