I’ve tossed in lemon peels a few times, mostly for the smell. Honestly, I can’t say I’ve noticed any real difference in cleaning power compared to ice. The citrus scent is nice, but I doubt it’s doing much heavy lifting.
I get where you’re coming from—lemon peels make it smell fresher, but they’re not really scrubbing anything out. If you’re after actual cleaning, have you tried flushing the disposal with hot water and a bit of dish soap? I’ve seen that do more for grease than any citrus ever did. Curious if anyone’s noticed buildup from using peels regularly...
Curious if anyone’s noticed buildup from using peels regularly...
I’ve wondered about that too. Citrus peels seem harmless, but could they actually clog things up over time? I always hesitate to put anything fibrous down there. Anyone ever had to unclog a disposal because of peels? I stick to ice cubes and a splash of vinegar now and then—less risk, maybe?
Citrus peels actually help more than hurt, in my experience. Here’s what I’ve seen:
- The oils in citrus can cut through grease and freshen things up.
- Peels break down pretty fast, so they’re not as risky as fibrous stuff like celery or corn husks.
- If you run cold water and don’t overload the disposal, peels shouldn’t cause clogs.
I’ve pulled out way more pasta and potato peels than citrus. Ice cubes are fine, but they don’t clean blades—just make noise. Vinegar’s good for smells, but won’t clear out gunk by itself.
That lines up with what I’ve seen, too. Citrus peels seem to break down way faster than stuff like potato skins or celery strings—those are the real troublemakers. I used to think ice cubes would sharpen the blades, but after watching a few disposals get torn apart, it’s more noise than anything else. Vinegar’s great for smells, but yeah, it won’t do much for a jammed-up mess. You’re spot on about not overloading it and using cold water... that’s saved me from a few headaches.
