Potato peels are notoriously tough on disposals, I've seen my fair share of clogs and unhappy grinding noises after trying to get rid of them. Citrus peels can definitely help freshen things up, but I wouldn't rely solely on them to sharpen blades—more of a myth than reality, in my experience. They do give a nice smell though, especially lemon or orange.
Honestly, if your disposal is making strange noises and struggling to grind, it might already have some built-up residue or even a partial blockage. Before tossing anything extra down there, I'd recommend a quick reset and clean-out. First, unplug or switch off the disposal at the breaker (safety first!), then use a flashlight and carefully check for any obvious blockages or debris. A pair of needle-nose pliers can help remove any visible gunk.
If it's just general sluggishness, running a handful of ice cubes through it occasionally can help clear out stubborn residue and sharpen the blades slightly. I've found this trick works surprisingly well and is budget-friendly. Follow that up with some baking soda (half a cup) and vinegar (one cup)—let it fizz up and sit for about 15 minutes before rinsing thoroughly with warm water. This combo cuts through grease and grime better than most commercial cleaners I've tried, and it's gentle on your plumbing.
Also, a quick tip from personal experience: try running cold water before, during, and after using the disposal. Hot water can melt fats temporarily, but they'll solidify further down the pipes—causing even bigger headaches later.
Hope this helps you tame your sink monster... good luck!
Good points overall, but I'd caution against relying too heavily on ice cubes for sharpening blades. From what I've seen, garbage disposal blades aren't actually sharp in the traditional sense—they're blunt impellers designed to grind food by force rather than slicing it. Ice cubes can definitely help loosen stuck-on residue and improve performance, but they're not really sharpening anything.
Also, while baking soda and vinegar are gentle on plumbing, I find they aren't always effective for serious grease buildup. For stubborn grime, I've had better luck using enzyme-based cleaners occasionally—they break down organic matter more thoroughly and can help prevent future clogs.
As for potato peels, totally agree they're troublemakers. But citrus peels, despite smelling nice, can sometimes cause issues too if you're tossing large amounts down there regularly. I've had a few service calls where orange peels got tangled around impellers, causing sluggish grinding and noise. Moderation's key with those.
Just my two cents from experience... disposals can be finicky beasts sometimes.
Definitely agree on enzyme cleaners—they've saved me from calling a plumber more than once. Also, sometimes the weird noises are just something small like a utensil piece or bottle cap... worth checking before assuming it's broken.
Totally agree on checking for small objects first—can't tell you how many times tenants have called me panicking over a "broken" disposal, only to find a stray spoon or plastic bread clip jammed in there. If it's clear and still grinding weird, try resetting it: unplug or switch off the breaker, then use an Allen wrench underneath to manually rotate the blades. Usually does the trick. If not, might be time to replace it... disposals don't last forever, unfortunately.
Yep, small objects are usually the culprit, but I've also found that sometimes the blades themselves get dull or bent over time. Had one disposal that kept sounding off even after clearing and resetting it—turned out the blades were worn down from years of use. If yours is older than 8-10 years, might be worth just swapping it out. They're not too expensive, and honestly, a fresh disposal can save you a lot of headaches down the line...
