"Bottle caps—tenants seem to think disposals eat anything metal."
Glad I'm not the only one dealing with weird stuff down there. Just moved into my first house and already had a run-in with a rogue spoon... sounded like the sink was about to explode. Had no idea about the wrench trick until I googled it—total lifesaver. But twist ties? Really? Guess I'll be extra careful with bread bags now...
Bottle caps and spoons are classics, but twist ties? That's a new one for me. I've seen some pretty wild stuff jammed down disposals—coins, keys, even a random AA battery once (still scratching my head over that)—but twist ties seem oddly specific. Maybe someone thought the disposal blades could handle thin metal wires wrapped in plastic? Spoiler alert: they can't.
The wrench trick is definitely handy, but honestly, prevention beats repair every time. I usually tell folks if it's not food scraps (and even then, avoid fibrous stuff like celery or banana peels), just toss it in the trash. Disposals aren't nearly as tough as people think. They're basically spinning blades designed to handle soft leftovers, not industrial shredders.
Also, quick tip: if your disposal starts sounding weird or grinding poorly even after you've cleared it, check underneath for leaks or loose fittings. Sometimes a jam can shake things loose down there. Better safe than sorry—water damage under the sink is no joke.
And yeah, bread bags are sneaky. Those little twist ties always seem to vanish until you hear that dreaded grinding noise...
"Disposals aren't nearly as tough as people think. They're basically spinning blades designed to handle soft leftovers, not industrial shredders."
Exactly! Learned that the hard way when my kid decided to "help" by shoving a handful of pistachio shells down ours. Thought they'd grind up easy, but nope... ended up with a jammed disposal and a mini flood under the sink. Now I compost most scraps—way easier on the plumbing and better for the garden anyway. Live and learn, right?
Yeah, pistachio shells are sneaky little troublemakers—seen plenty of disposals choke on those. Most people don't realize disposals aren't really blades at all, more like blunt impellers that fling food against a grind ring. They're great for soft stuff like veggie scraps or pasta bits, but tougher items (shells, bones, fibrous veggies) just bounce around and cause jams. Composting's definitely the smarter move...your pipes (and wallet) will thank you later.
Yeah, pistachio shells are definitely trouble. Another sneaky culprit I've seen a lot is rice—it seems soft, but it expands and clumps up in pipes, causing slow drains or jams. Ever had to deal with rice buildup in your disposal? Curious if anyone else has noticed other "soft" foods that surprisingly cause issues...
