"Ever tried the ice cube trick to freshen up the blades? Seems weird, but it actually helps quiet mine down sometimes..."
Interesting, I've heard about the ice cube method but haven't tried it myself yet. Usually, when mine starts acting up, it's because something sneaky slipped in—like a tiny measuring spoon that somehow vanished from the drawer. I once spent half an afternoon troubleshooting only to find a bent teaspoon jammed underneath the blades. Maybe I'll give your ice cube suggestion a shot next time it gets noisy... does it help sharpen them too, or just quiet things down?
I've recommended the ice cube trick to clients before, and it's pretty effective for knocking loose minor buildup or residue that's causing noise. It won't really sharpen the blades—disposals have blunt impellers anyway, not sharp blades—but it can definitely quiet things down by breaking up small bits of debris stuck in there. Still, always worth checking carefully first... I've seen bottle caps and even coins jammed inside those things. Glad you found your teaspoon before it caused bigger issues!
Yeah, ice cubes are a decent quick fix for minor gunk, but honestly, half the time I get called out for disposal issues, it's something random jammed in there—like a Lego piece or a rogue fork tine. You'd be amazed at the stuff people accidentally drop down the drain. If the noise keeps up after ice cubes, I'd definitely take a flashlight and peek inside. Better safe than sorry... disposals aren't picky eaters, but they're terrible at digesting metal bits.
Totally agree with checking visually first—flashlight's your best friend here. But before you dive in, always unplug or flip the breaker. I've seen enough accidental startups to be wary. Once it's safe, manually rotate the blades with an Allen wrench from the bottom (most models have a slot underneath). If it turns freely, you're probably clear. If there's resistance, something sneaky's hiding in there—had a client once who swore nothing dropped in, till we pulled out a bent teaspoon... happens more than you'd think.
"If there's resistance, something sneaky's hiding in there—had a client once who swore nothing dropped in, till we pulled out a bent teaspoon..."
Yep, seen that more times than I'd like. Good call on the breaker—can't stress enough how important it is to double-check power's off. Also, if everything seems clear but it's still grinding weird, check the mounting bolts and gasket. Sometimes vibration loosens things up over time, causing odd noises even without debris stuck inside. Better safe than sorry...
