I've actually used wooden spoons plenty of times without issue—maybe I'm just lucky? Metal tools make me nervous around disposal blades, but I get your point about chopsticks snapping off. Guess it depends on how sturdy your utensils are...
I've had similar luck with wooden spoons, but honestly, I'd still advise caution. Even sturdy utensils can chip or splinter if they catch the blades wrong, and those little bits can jam things up worse or even damage the disposal motor. Metal tools definitely make me uneasy too—one slip and you risk damaging the blades or hurting yourself.
If you're hearing weird noises or noticing poor grinding performance, it might be worth checking if something small got lodged in there—like a piece of bone, glass shard, or even a stray utensil fragment. I'd recommend unplugging or cutting power at the breaker first (safety first!), then using a flashlight to inspect inside carefully. Most disposals have a hex key slot underneath that lets you manually turn the blades to free up jams safely. It's usually safer and more effective than poking around from above.
Better safe than sorry... disposals aren't cheap to replace, and neither are fingers.
Have you checked if the blades spin freely when using the hex key underneath? Sometimes it feels like there's nothing stuck, but a tiny shard of glass or even a pebble can wedge itself in there and cause weird noises. Wooden spoons are okay-ish...but honestly, I've seen them splinter more than once, and then you're just fishing out little wood chips along with whatever else was stuck.
Also, is your disposal old? If it's been grinding poorly for a while, it could just be dull blades or worn bearings causing the racket. I've found that older units sometimes just get noisy and less effective over time, even without anything stuck inside. Might be worth considering replacement if it's been giving you trouble consistently.
Either way, definitely unplug or flip the breaker before poking around—I've had a close call myself once and learned my lesson the hard way. Better safe than sorry for sure.
"Wooden spoons are okay-ish...but honestly, I've seen them splinter more than once"
Yeah, I second this. Wooden spoons seem handy at first, but those tiny splinters can turn a quick fix into a bigger headache. Sounds like you're on the right track though—just take your time and stay safe!
"Wooden spoons are okay-ish...but honestly, I've seen them splinter more than once"
Yeah, wooden spoons can be sneaky troublemakers. I learned that the hard way when I tried fishing out a stuck lemon wedge from my disposal—ended up with tiny wood splinters jamming the blades even worse. Had to call a plumber, and he recommended using something plastic or metal instead. Honestly, better safe than sorry... disposals are finicky enough without adding extra hazards into the mix.
