"Cold water's usually better—it keeps fats solid so the disposal can grind them up properly."
Definitely agree with this. Also, if your sink monster is growling louder than usual, try tossing in some lemon or orange peels along with the ice cubes. It freshens things up and helps clear minor buildup. And if it's still making weird noises afterward, check underneath—sometimes a sneaky utensil or bottle cap gets lodged down there... speaking from experience, fishing out a bent teaspoon isn't exactly my idea of weekend fun.
Good tips all around. I'd add that running hot water occasionally can actually help clear out grease buildup, since it softens and flushes away some of the residue that cold water alone won't budge. But yeah, citrus peels and ice cubes are great for freshening things up. And speaking of weekend fun... last month I spent a good half-hour pulling out a mangled plastic straw from mine. No idea how it got there, but lesson learned—check twice before flipping the switch.
Running hot water definitely helps soften grease, but I've always heard that too much hot water can actually push the grease further down the pipes where it cools and solidifies later on. Anyone else heard that? I usually stick to cold water when grinding stuff up, then occasionally do a hot water flush afterward.
Also, since you mentioned weird noises, have you checked under the rubber splash guard thingy? Last time mine started growling like a hungry bear, I found a sneaky bottle cap hiding under there. Here's what I usually do step-by-step when things get noisy:
1. Turn off power at the breaker (safety first!).
2. Grab a flashlight and peek inside—look for anything obvious.
3. If nothing visible, carefully feel around the blades (again, breaker OFF).
4. Use long pliers or tongs to remove any foreign objects.
5. Reset breaker and run some ice cubes through to sharpen blades and clear debris.
And yeah, straws are sneaky little devils... been there myself.
Yeah, I've heard the same thing about hot water pushing grease further down. Makes sense, right? It cools off eventually and then you're stuck with a clog deeper in the pipes. I usually stick to cold water too, but honestly never thought about doing a hot flush afterward... might give that a try.
Also, quick question—does the ice cube trick really sharpen the blades, or is it more about cleaning them off? Always wondered about that one...
I've always heard the ice cube thing is more about cleaning off the gunk than actually sharpening anything. I mean, garbage disposal blades aren't exactly kitchen knives, right? They're more like blunt hammers spinning around in there. But hey, if it makes the sink monster happier and quieter, I'm all for it.
Speaking of weird disposal tricks... anyone ever toss lemon peels down there? I've done it a few times to freshen things up—smells great for a bit—but then I started wondering if citrus peels might actually be too tough on the disposal long-term. Maybe that's why mine's growling at me lately...
