What is the garbage disposal (the whirring blades of death) in the kitchen sink used for?

Question

My roommate and I have a disagreement about it's purpose. My roommate believes that all unusable food should be thrown in and disposed of, while I on the other hand believe that it should only be used if the sink gets clogged while washing dishes and such.

Are either one of us right? Are we both wrong? Any advice would certainly help!

Answer 1

This should be used for the storage of your finest and most valuable jewelry, cash, stocks, bonds, and coin collections. Who's going to look in there?

OK, just kidding...Most all waste foods can go down there. Once a month run a lemon or an orange through to keep it smelling fresh. Was that a boring answer or what?

Answer 2

Both are correct, but you'd want to avoid bones or anything that's way too hard.  Pretty much common since can be used to figure out what should be sent down it.  We used ours for plate scraps and veggie peels.

Answer 3

You're both wrong! The purpose of the disposal is to eventually (depending on how much c**p your putting down it) clog up your kitchen line so we plumbers can make a living, hahaha A disposal will not clear a clogged sink, by the way, lol!

Answer 4

I vote for the roommate being right.

Answer 5

Not ALL unusable foods should go in there.  Generally meats don't belong, but just about any other food stuff goes.  I use egg shells to help keep mine clean and citrus peels, lemon or orange, to make it smell better.  Sorry, but your room mate is closer to being right.

Answer 6

It's a GARBAGE disposal and for disposing of unusable food (except for bones).

It is not for clogged sinks.  Many people do use it for that to get the water to drain faster, but the remedy for clogged sinks is Liquid Plumber, not the disposal unit.  The disposal does not clear clogs in the pipe.