As an outsider, the American concept of having a motorized "garbage disposal" inside your kitchen sink is fascinating. Is this standard in every home, and isn't it incredibly dangerous?
Posted by Necessary_Angle2117@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 366 comments
I live in Kenya, and here we generally just scrape our plates directly into the bin before washing them.
But in almost every American movie, TV show, or vlog, people just scrape entire plates of leftover food directly down the drain, flip a switch on the wall, and turn on a loud grinding machine.
Is this actually a standard appliance in every American kitchen, or just a luxury? Do they constantly break, or are you genuinely able to just toss leftover food down the sink without completely destroying your plumbing? It seems so convenient but also terrifying to reach into!
FreeStateOfPortland@reddit
It’s pretty common in the US to have one. The way it should be used is to scrape large pieces of food into the trash or better yet compost, and then small scraps that wind up in the sink can be broken up with the disposal.
AbeLincolns_Ghost@reddit
Yeah I think this is a big misconception people outside the US have with them. They aren’t meant to dispose of all food or be a replacement for trash. They are only there to dispose of small amounts of incidental food so you don’t need to use a drain filter or something
nicohubo@reddit
Yes! Had to correct my British MIL one day when she was staying over because she thought you could throw any trash into the garbage disposal. It was kind of comical.
sweatyboobs56@reddit
Yeah, you only put potato peels down it once :-(
DifferentBeginning96@reddit
Wait what? I’ve been doing this for 30 years with the same disposal, zero maintenance on it
LTG-Jon@reddit
Same. I’ve had disposals for 40+ years in various places and never had a problem putting vegetable peels or skins in them.
Slow_D-oh@reddit
Same. The only time I’ve seen one clog is when people don’t let the disposal run long enough and turn off the water too quickly.
ImColdandImTired@reddit
Small amounts at a time, with lots of water, usually is no problem.
All the peelings at once for the giant pot of mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving dinner is the problem.
maddjaxmaddly@reddit
I think the difference is if you have one powerful enough. I bought the one with the biggest motor, and I put potato peels down it all the time, I’m careful about how many I do at a time, but it works like a charm.
HRCOrealtor@reddit
Truth!! And we’ve all done it once, usually a holiday like Thanksgiving when you have a house full of people! 🤦♀️
bigfoot17@reddit
20 years and every Thanksgiving I hear "remember that time you ......?"
scarlettohara1936@reddit
I worked for a plumbing company for a minute at a desk job. The day after Thanksgiving and Christmas are the busiest days of the year!
Far_Shop_3135@reddit
Thanksgiving at my in laws' had my FIL deconstructing the basement cieling once to break up a potato skin clog.
lilspark112@reddit
My family did exactly this and learned exactly the lesson you think.
Specific-Culture-638@reddit
It was Christmas at my house. Once.
BuildNuyTheUrbanGuy@reddit
Wait what happens
zolakk@reddit
If it's anything like the time my room mate decided a whole ginger root was a good idea, it'll turn your counter top air gap into the bellagio fountains next time the dishwasher runs
BuildNuyTheUrbanGuy@reddit
Counter top air gap? What the hell is that lol.
zolakk@reddit
In many (all?) places in the US when you have a dishwasher, the drain hose has to run up to a thing on the counter (or highest point under the sink) and back down into the drain to avoid siphoning nasty dish water down into your dish washer. In my experience, it goes through a thing that the dishwasher hose and drain hose both plug into with a plastic cap that snaps off to create a gap of air to help break the backflow (as I understand it). It usually looks like an unassuming silver nub on the countertop next to the faucet when it's not doing an impression of old faithful because the disposal side of the line is plugged
BuildNuyTheUrbanGuy@reddit
Ohh yeah I gotcha. I didn't know about that cap that stops the backflow.
Madrona88@reddit
Not all states require them
VERY_MENTALLY_STABLE@reddit
It jams it? It's not a trash can, it can't handle that much stuff
ccarpenter04@reddit
Why is that?
PlanktonPlane5789@reddit
You want to avoid putting anything starchy down the disposal.
dmonsterative@reddit
more fibrous than starchy.
No-Clerk-5600@reddit
They get caught between the blades and create a clog. Onion skins do the same thing. My father was a plumber, and while he did allow us to have a disposal, we were hardly allowed to put anything in it.
ImColdandImTired@reddit
Or pasta
Better_Pea248@reddit
My mom learned that lesson with artichoke stems. It was the seventies and having grown up on the east coast, she’d never had an artichoke before.
No-Effect-4973@reddit
And artichoke leaves
jIfte8-fabnaw-hefxob@reddit
Bingo! I had a BF who forced about six potatoes worth of peelings down mine and I still remember the sound of the motor grinding to a stop. When I told the plumber about the potato peelings, he said, “All at once?”
RitaBonanza@reddit
Or shrimp shells, speaking from experience
IllaClodia@reddit
We were hosting Thanksgiving. My partner was peeling potatoes into the sink. I said, don't do that, almost any amount of peel will clog the pipes.
Guess who had to buy a drain snake on Black Friday, and do the dishes in the laundry sink.
GauntletVSLC@reddit
Or carrot peels. I had to pull apart the one at my college shared rental to avoid paying for a plumber call out. 😬
Shevyshev@reddit
I, too, did this… once.
Jub1982@reddit
There’s plenty of people that live in the US and have garbage disposals that have that misconception (like my mom even though my dad has been telling her for 40 years not to use it that way and she keeps breaking them).
Awesomest_Possumest@reddit
Ours broke a few years ago and Ive been too lazy to buy a new one (I also want a new sink so it's pointless to get one before that, and the sink I want means we need new countertops).
Husband was really upset, because he thinks most things can go in there. Like would dump all his coffee grounds in there.
No. We scrape the plates. We have a sink strainer. That's it. We live on a slab and I do not want to mess with plumbing when it gets clogged with whatever food scraps that should be in the trash.
nykiek@reddit
Out house came with one . We have septic. Not recommended, took it out when we replaced the sink. We compost.
peridotpicacho@reddit
Composting is the way.
peridotpicacho@reddit
My mom used to clog it up with eggshells and carrot peels when I was a kid, and I remember my dad always grumbling about it. They compost now, though.
amd2800barton@reddit
My dad still holds a grudge against his brother in law who saw a bunch of potato and carrot peels on the counter and said “you don’t need to throw those away, watch this!” And started shoving fistfuls down the garbage disposal, and then turned it on and burned up the motor. That uncle is a moron.
Mystery_meat101@reddit
My mom too! A boomer thing maybe? The worst part is she does it at my house!
Outrageous-Pin-4664@reddit
I still use a drain filter. I've had bad luck with clogs, so I try to reduce the amount of stuff going into it as much as possible.
SBR06@reddit
My MIL doesn't have one at her house. I saw her dump an big bowl of salad down our vacation rental one time and she was like, "What? Isn't that what they're there for?" No, Cheryl...just no.
Flimsy-Sector7736@reddit
I’ve had to post this info on our condo building’s email list. People put waaaaay too much stuff down there! I live in DC, and Blue Plains is considered one of the most advanced water treatment facilities in the world. They remove organic matter from the water and offer the resulting treated compost free to residents (no, it doesn’t smell!). So if you are putting all your dinner scraps down the disposal you are also paying tax dollars to have them removed again at the other end. Not to mention that when the disposals back up an entire stack of apartments get their kitchens flooded out with horrible dirty water! Annoyingly, municipal trash pickup includes organic waste/compost pickup, but large residential buildings are on COMMERCIAL trash pickup and aren’t required to include composting. So I pay for a local business to pick up my compost once a week. It hurts my heart to throw all the corn cobs, watermelon rinds, etc. in the trash.
rainy-brain@reddit
oops
RottenDrCommieRat@reddit
Yes they aren't meant to dispose of large amounts of food, but my mother still tries.
Impressive-Weird-908@reddit
My mom manages apartments and she has a big problem with Indian immigrants coming in to complain that their “bone crusher” is broken.
WorldTraveler35@reddit
Talking about misconception, I've stayed at extended stay hotels that has the in sink disposal. And the hotel would give examples of what not to put in it during check in. One of the examples given was kitty litter because apparently it happened before lmao
ThatGirl_Tasha@reddit
My mom was serious about her garbage disposal. She had a heavy duty commercial one installed and it was too powerful for the sink, so she installed a commercial sink. That thing chopped everything, bones and all. But, yeah, definitely not the norm, lol
PolaNimuS@reddit
Shit, even people in the US don't always know how to use them. I've been staying with my grandmother recently and seeing how she uses it is just mind boggling. Apples that you need to toss out? Cut them in half and shove them down the disposal. Bacon bits or other meat scraps? Straight down. I had to tell her that it's just supposed to replace having to use a filter/catcher and throwing those scraps out.
Big_Bowler8424@reddit
Even Americans don’t all understand this. My friend clogged his kitchen plumbing by dumping leftover holiday dinner scraps in his disposal. And somehow managed to flood his kitchen and ruined all the flooring and lower cabinets.
ctopherrun@reddit
What’s wild is that they were invented to literally dispose of anything you want and send it down the plumbing. Advertisements encouraged users to grind up rib bones and turkey carcasses in them.
SamizdatGuy@reddit
My mom still puts eveything up to chicken bones down the disposal at four different houses. Never had problems
FixergirlAK@reddit
I have bad news for you. Your mum has been cursed by four different families and their plumbers.
SamizdatGuy@reddit
They were in their last house for 35 years. But she's been cursed by a lot more families than four
ArabianNitesFBB@reddit
Not to mention the chickens!
FixergirlAK@reddit
What's a good curse without a chicken?
euph_22@reddit
Especially cooked bones, they are pretty splintery which a disposal should handle no issue.
FreeStateOfPortland@reddit
True story, I know a woman who poured an entire bag of flour down her drain, thinking somehow the disposal would take care of it. Instead, it caked up her pipes and she had to get a plumber.
nykiek@reddit
I had a friend that put dried rice down her. Her husband was not happy he had to open the pipes to dig it out.
cardinalmidnight@reddit
Huh what no
MrsPedecaris@reddit
Our first garbage disposal, the salesman told my mother that it could easily handle bones but not tin cans. That was about late 1950s, early 1960s. I'm judging the year by the fact I was young enough to be dumbfounded by that – thinking bones were the hardest things, much harder than tin cans.
angusbeefymcwhatnow@reddit
telling your customers to use it to grind bones is a great way to sell more garbage disposals to those people 6 months later lmao
QuercusSambucus@reddit
I assume like "flushable" wet wipes, this was actually paid for by the plumbers who will have to come and fix the problems
Diligent-Lettuce-455@reddit
For the most part is coffee grounds that go down mine.. plus random bits of scrap from the pan.
I don't really use it to grind down whole pieces of food. I did eggshells in the past, but it's just easier to throw them away so that's what I do today.
mr_humansoup@reddit
I remember as a kid, putting egg shells down the disposal all the time. Potato peels too. Never had a problem doing it but have since learned it's bad for the septic system.
I throw peels and egg shells in the trash now that I have my own house, though.
gamergal1@reddit
You really shouldn't put coffee grounds down the disposal. They're pretty bad for plumbing.
FreeStateOfPortland@reddit
Same here, even when I peel a hard boiled egg I put most of the shelves in the trash. But if there’s some pieces that fell off while I was peeling it, those will go down. Generally speaking, it’s just the small scrap pieces of food that go down the disposal.
ArchieBrooksIsntDead@reddit
My sister throws everything down hers. Apple cores, everything. Not sure how she gets away with it. I only do small scraps in mine.
CockroachVarious2761@reddit
Not sure I totally agree with this... we put larger amounts of stuff in ours all the time, it really depends what it is. As examples:
Any thing that's very fibrous (celery) I wouldn't put large amounts down the disposal at one time. Also potatoe peels - we throw the majority out, but if we miss a few pieces, they'll be fine. But if I'm making a salad, we'll put the cutoff ends of celery, lettuce hearts, onions, etc down the disposal and its fine.
Other things though - like leftover mashed potatoes - the disposal basically just mixes them with water so they'll go down the drain easily even in larger amounts.
Egg shells - if you make a bunch of eggs, the disposal will chew threw a dozen egg-shells without any problem.
I tend to use the disposal for as much as I can just because its less food that can make trash cans smell bad in the house, or attract critters outside the house.
q0vneob@reddit
Thats how I use mine, I try not to intentionally put extra food down there.
They're also way less common if you're on septic instead of sewer. Adding more solids means you'll be pumping more often and potentially clogging up the drain field with food waste thats not breaking down.
FreeStateOfPortland@reddit
I believe at one point New York City had banned them. It had to do with the sewer system and too much waste. I don’t think that’s the case anymore. I think they’re allowed but many homes don’t have them.
not_my_mother@reddit
Please explain this to my husband! LOL.
bluepanic21@reddit
I am curious why you think of them as dangerous ?
ThirteenOnline@reddit
It's very common about 1/2 of homes have them. Very reliable if you don't put rice or ground coffee and a few other things in there but there's an easy avoid list you can find. If you need to reach into the disposal you can disconnect it from the power to prevent it from going off on accident.
But in horror movies it is not uncommon for someone not to disconnect it and put their hand in and bad things happen hahah
CockroachVarious2761@reddit
Not that I put t alot of rice down it, but I put rice (cooked and uncooked) in ours and never had a problem. We also run use coffer grounds from a single-cup coffer maker in regularly (any day my wife doesn't have time to stop for Starbucks on her way to work) - again, never had a probem.
cgund@reddit
They're required where I live.
You don't "reach into" them.
Mundane-Charge-1900@reddit
They're required by code or law? That is wild
Where I live in Washington state, they are common in owner occupied homes like condos or single family homes. In apartments, it seems like it's 50/50 if they have one or not. If you live somewhere on a septic tank, they're uncommon.
gueraliz926@reddit
Why would they be required?
hockeyrocks5757@reddit
Big garbage disposal lobby
macoafi@reddit
Well, unless you drop something in there and need to fish it out.
jessper17@reddit
I don’t put my hands in there - if something needs to get taken out, I use big metal tweezers.
Cudi_buddy@reddit
Even then the are simple to unplug before hand
IcyGrapefruit5006@reddit
Unplug? Ours was just a light switch. You’d have to turn the breaker off.
PlanktonPlane5789@reddit
It was, in fact, not a light switch. It was a garbage disposal switch. Though I'm sure it looked just like a light switch 🤷♂️
IcyGrapefruit5006@reddit
You know what I meant.
Dr__Wrong@reddit
Mine is plugged into a socket controlled by a light switch.
I'd still unplug it if I was putting my hand in.
Ahwtfohok@reddit
A lot of them are plugged into an outlet under the sink and the light switch controls that outlet
emarkd@reddit
They definitely are not. Most peoples are wired in, like a dishwasher. They're simple to switch off, but they don't "unplug" without going to the breaker box.
bluecifer7@reddit
Ours is definitely just plugged into an outlet under the sink
GauntletVSLC@reddit
The new ones being installed to code are. They’re required to be cord and plug connected to a switched receptacle now by the NEC.
elderly_millenial@reddit
Mine originally was. One of the first things that was changed in the remodel was adding an outlet on its own circuit down there
pohart@reddit
Required? Like it's code that you have one?
cgund@reddit
Yes, I don't know why, but yes they're required by code.
peridotpicacho@reddit
They are not required.
cgund@reddit
They are required by code where I live.
profuselystrangeII@reddit
I mean, I’ve had to reach into them to grab stuff that fell in or declog. But they don’t hurt since it’s not like a blender with blades inside like I feared as a kid. :p
Playful_Letter_2632@reddit
Funny. They are not allowed where I live
accadacca80@reddit
Tell that to Junior Soprano!
AnUdderDay@reddit
It's a progrum, Corrado. A movie.
goblin_hipster@reddit
Not dangerous at all, because it doesn't turn on unless you flip the switch.
Every apartment I've lived in had one, but of course standards differ everywhere.
Spyderbeast@reddit
There's a scene in the book Firestarter by Stephen King that haunts me to this day
Still can't imagine not having a garbage disposal though
TherianRose@reddit
Mine is from an episode of Supernatural, 01.09 "Home". Gives me the heebie-jeebies just thinking about it 😬
GardenTop7253@reddit
As long as no one flips the switch while your hand is down there. Usually pretty easy to manage since the switch is very near the sink so anyone thinking about turning it on should have the awareness to know better
Lorienwanderer@reddit
I lost a shot glass down the disposal. Do not recommend. 😬
bearsnchairs@reddit
Absolutely horrible experience to clean glass out of a disposal. Also remember to fully lock it in before plugging it in and the power is off or you’ll be in for a fun surprise as it twists itself off the housing and falls onto you…
Icy-Ad-5570@reddit
The blades aren’t sharp, so if it’s off you won’t slice up your hands digging into it. They’ll malfunction if you frequently put non-food items, bones etc down there. However, they’re standardized enough that most people can fix them themselves & press the reset button. If you need to replace them, new ones are readily available at the big-box home improvement store. They’re easy to replace, unless there’s a dishwasher connected, which requires additional steps
FondleGanoosh438@reddit
Modern garbage disposals crush the food and don’t chop it
jmims98@reddit
The spinning "blades" that grind up the food are definitely exposed. It is safe to stick your hand in there but if the garbage disposal is turned on while you are touching the bottom, it will absolutely grind your hand.
14Rage@reddit
There hasn't been blades in a garbage disposal in decades. If your genuinely has blades its gotta be at least 30 years old if not older.
jmims98@reddit
Yeah I wasn't sure what to call them but have noticed they aren't sharp and seem to do more grinding action.
bearsnchairs@reddit
They’re more like spinning paddles that push the food towards the walls. The walls are sort of like a cheese grater and break down the food.
jmims98@reddit
That makes a lot of sense. I have always wondered why they did not feel sharp.
mrsxpando@reddit
It’s like the food is being pummeled to bits rather than cut.
telemajik@reddit
You can absolutely reach and touch the blades, which you might have to do if something falls all the way in, like a tiny spoon or even a ring.
You should ALWAYS unplug the garbage disposal, and confirm it won’t run, before doing this.
The “blades” aren’t very sharp, but they spin very fast and will absolutely eat your fingers if they are in the way.
TuSixOh@reddit
Definitely not out of reach at all. Unless you have gigantic hands, you can fit your hand in the drain, and the blades are only a few inches inside. They are absolutely not designed to be safe. If they were, you wouldn’t be able to fit your hand inside.
APC_ChemE@reddit
I had a friend a turn on the garbage disposal and a spoon in the sink fell into it and his immediate thought was to reach in and get it... not to turn it off first. I've never heard my husband scream so loud.
I've removed many spoons, knives, and forks from the garbage disposal but I would never do it while it was on.
goblin_hipster@reddit
YIKES 😬 Yeah lmao definitely turn it off first before you reach in!!!!!
tuckedfexas@reddit
The spinning heads are definitely reachable on the dozen or so that I’ve had, you can reach done and feel them. They’re generally dull and they’re not going to pull your hand in or anything, but they will absolutely destroy fingers if you stick them in there.
I’ve never heard of anyone hurting themselves on it, and there are tons of far more dangerous appliances in the home. If I had small kids I’d probably disable it for awhile, just for peace of mind
justjoosh@reddit
And they don't even cut, it's just spinning bars that break apart the food.
oldfarmjoy@reddit
When they were first marketed, it was the more responsible way to handle food waste. Rather than food waste going into gargage bags and then landfills with garbage, they would be ground up and washed away.
It's pretty standard now. Many people don't use them or rarely use them, even if they have it. But it is expected, and would be notable if a home didn't have one.
Are they dangerous? For those of us raised with them, we know how to use them safely. Same as sharp knives, power tools, whatever. For newbies, yes they could be dangerous.
myotheroneders@reddit
I think mostly new homes have those. I have never actually seen a home that had one.
PainInTheAssDean@reddit
It’s nearly universal. We’ve lived in our house for 25 years and we’re on our second one, so no they don’t break very often
clearliquidclearjar@reddit
I've lived in a couple dozen apartments in my life and I've never had one. None of the houses my family has owned had one, either. Only about half of US houses have them. I find them gross and offputting because I've never had to deal with one.
Aprils-Fool@reddit
How do you know they’re gross if you’ve never used one?
clearliquidclearjar@reddit
I don't - I said I find them gross. The idea of grinding up trash in your kitchen sink sounds gross to me.
Aprils-Fool@reddit
But you’ve never experienced it? So this isn’t based on anything?
clearliquidclearjar@reddit
I've known people who have them. They're loud, they break down, they get smelly if they aren't cleaned regularly. It's just not something that appeals to me.
GreyDusty2@reddit
I grew up in a house built in the early 60s. Seems like there's always been one in my kitchen. Lemon, lime and orange remnants (usually rinds after juicing) were put down the sink and InSinkerated. Always gave a good aroma. NEVER put peelings (potato, apple, etc.) down the sink. Never do rice or pasta either.
dmonsterative@reddit
They're the opposite of gross, help keep both the sink and the trash cleaner.
clearliquidclearjar@reddit
How do they keep your sink cleaner? I don't dump scraps in my sink, so it's not an issue.
dmonsterative@reddit
Everything gets rinsed down the drain immediately, you get less buildup.
And being able to dump scraps down the sink is what keeps the trash cleaner.
clearliquidclearjar@reddit
Why would your trash need to be cleaner? It's trash. Any meat scraps go in the trash bag and then out to the bin. Like I said, we throw veggie scraps in the compost bucket.
dmonsterative@reddit
Cool, enjoy your dingy sink and trash juice.
AlveolarFricatives@reddit
Do you have a little sink drain that you have to empty after you wash dishes? The thing that catches little bits of food (not big scraps)? A garbage disposal eliminates the need for that
clearliquidclearjar@reddit
Sure - it takes two seconds to empty out a little rice or a few leaves. It doesn't make a sound and it doesn't cost me any electricity. I know people like them, but I don't have any urge to get one. It seems unnecessary.
AlveolarFricatives@reddit
I agree it’s not a huge deal to dump it out but it’s also a little gross to deal with. That’s why I was confused by your comment that garbage disposals are gross. They make things less gross, that’s sort of the whole point of them.
likemy10thaccount@reddit
I didn't live with one until I moved last year... I can't imagine going back to not having one lol. They're so convenient.
clearliquidclearjar@reddit
Veggie scraps go in the compost. Meat scraps go in the trash. Niether involves a machine that I have to keep running. I don't really see the convinience.
CockroachVarious2761@reddit
Similar here - we're in our house 26 years and just replaced it for the 2nd time (1st one was original builder grade); but we probably use ours more than some people do.
Loves_octopus@reddit
According to your flair you’ve lived in a lot of places but universal is not true. I’ve lived in 2 houses and 5 apartments and only one apartment has had one.
One house was newer but it was on a well/septic tank which is why we composted as much as possible instead. The rest have all been pretty old so that may be why.
PainInTheAssDean@reddit
Internet says most common in south/west/midwest and less common in older houses and apartment buildings (northeast)
Loves_octopus@reddit
Yeah near universal in new builds/renovations that are on municipal water I think is fair to say.
Eric848448@reddit
Ugh, I had to replace one about 6 years after my house was built. Goddamn builders…
2_minutes_hate@reddit
Far from it.
PastNefariousness188@reddit
I used to have one but my landlord removed it. Now, my plumbing is constantly backing up despite trying to keep food from going down the drain. I miss my garbage disposal and found it extraordinarily useful.
Ok-Thing-2222@reddit
I didn't grow up with one, and don't have one. But my son and daughter do in their homes--and I find it terrifying. I don't use it--they can, if its needed!
Orienos@reddit
It’s not dangerous. There are no blades. It’s a plate that spins and uses centrifugal force to move pieces against a bumpy cone that breaks things further while running the water.
I wouldn’t stick my hands in there regardless, but there’s nothing sharp the way it’s shown in movies.
TheMuffler42069@reddit
What can I say ? We love machines. Type shit.
DrBlankslate@reddit
I’ve never lived in a home that doesn’t have one. Pretty standard equipment in most American homes. Not a luxury item.
It’s only dangerous if you’re stupid and you stick your hand down into the drain while the thing is running. Nobody does that.
It basically chops the stuff you scrape down into fine enough pieces that it can go down the drain with no problems.
7eregrine@reddit
Previous owner of my home was English like actual English immigrants from England. They removed the garbage disposal... thought it was the dumbest thing.
WinnerAwkward480@reddit
Well they were Brits , so there's that !
wind_moon_frog@reddit
I’ve never lived in a house with one or seen one at a friends, also in California. Wouldn’t necessarily say a luxury item but certainly not super common.
jrice138@reddit
Also California and I’ve never had one till almost a year ago.
Cudi_buddy@reddit
Where in California? Every home either from family or friends has had one. Including those living in apartments.
wind_moon_frog@reddit
Bay Area Sonoma county. You probably live in a pretty wealthy area? I thought I did but we mostly don’t have garbage disposals so maybe not…
Sea_Squirrel1987@reddit
I've never been in a house that doesn't have one.
2_minutes_hate@reddit
You inspect the plumbing of every home you enter?
postit58@reddit
This is my experience as well
peridotpicacho@reddit
An annoying thing about them is that they are kind of a pain to replace and hook back up when they break.
miparasito@reddit
Here’s a great article / podcast episode. https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/574-the-monster-under-the-sink/
RudeRooster00@reddit
I have never had one.
KNdoxie@reddit
It's not universal in the U.S. I've never lived in a house that had a garbage disposal. I don't personally know anyone that has a garbage disposal in their house.
peridotpicacho@reddit
When I was a kid, we had a spoon that had gotten caught in the garbage disposal while it was on and it had rough scratches all over the back of it.
My mom saw no reason not to use it, and I hated it whenever it got put at my place at the table. I usually tried to get a different one each time it happened. It was very rough and not pleasant to eat with.
travelinmatt76@reddit
Not EVERY home has them, but many do. The last 3 houses I've lived in did not have one.
CactusJane98@reddit
Is it standard? Yes.
Is it dangerous? Not really, Id be lying if I said I've heard of a garbage disposal accident.
You have to flip a switch to activate it, its incredibly loud, and most sinks have grating that prevents you from being able to put your hand down there.
You only use it in the kinda rare case of a clogged sink, youd know not to have your hand in there while flipping the switch. Some houses even have that switch a few feet away from the sink to make that even more unlikely.
No-Effect-4973@reddit
I built a house and live full time in Mexico. I put one in when I finished my kitchen. None of my neighbors have one, or have seen one. All my neighbors were knocking on my door, wanting to see it in action. They thought it was the best kitchen machine they’d ever seen.
IJustWorkHere000c@reddit
they aren't meat grinders or a replacement for the trash. It's meant to keep little bits of food that are missed from clogging the drain. Your flow starts to slow down a bit, just kick on the disposal and it will clear it out.
damangus@reddit
Fairly common? Yes. Standard in every home? No way.
I have lived in 8 (I think) different homes in the US over my lifetime. I have never lived in one that had a garbage disposal. No biggie; I don't really know what I'm missing out on lol.
Plus, like you mentioned, I absolutely do find them terrifying. Garbage disposals are typically operated by a switch that looks identical to your typical light switch. I can't tell you how many times I've been at a friend's or an Airbnb etc. and inadvertently turned on the garbage disposal while searching for a light switch. If my (or anyone else's) hand just so happened to be down there when I flipped the switch? Shudders
Tbf I definitely consider this an intrusive thought for the most part but the idea still scares the crap out of me. What a horrifying, painful, gruesome way to lose an appendage.
blueboxtravelagency@reddit
I’ve never had a disposable in any of the places I’ve lived, but we did have one it the industrial kitchen I worked in. I always found it kind of intimidating, but it could be brought to its knees with part of a ketchup packet.
AWTNM1112@reddit
We had septic, and now a small township level sewer. A garbage disposal is not an option. Prior to living here, we always had one. Yes, they can be dangerous. Now that we don’t, we’ve built a composting shed at the bottom of our rocky hill yard. Soon, we’ll be pumping out soil enhancer. I like that better, to be honest.
Yadilie@reddit
It's more standard now than before if you have a newer home/apartment/townhouse. They can break pretty easily if you let a utensil fall into them and turn them on. They're not hard to replace though as the motor hangs below the sink. Just an slightly expensive repair.
travelinmatt76@reddit
Dropping a utensil in shouldn't destroy it. If the motor jams there is a circuit breaker on the motor that trips. You can use a wood broom handle to free up the jam, then reset the breaker. If the paddles are damaged they are cheap to replace.
fried_clams@reddit
I've lived in 14 different houses/apartments in my life.
One of them had a garbage disposal (what they are called). This includes Massachusetts and New York State.
Apprehensive-Pop-201@reddit
Not every house has one. We had to add one to ours. I hate it. They aren't dangerous unless you put your hand in while it's on. Kind of like anything else.
MyAimSucc@reddit
Just like any piece of machinery…. Turn it off before sticking hands in places. It’s not dangerous at all if you have a brain and use it accordingly
DelphinusC@reddit
The only sizable food you should toss in there is maybe half a lemon. Mostly cause it makes it smell 100% better
m1dnightknight@reddit
My mom does the exact same thing. Put a lemon or lime that was already squeezed to grind to make it smell better. Orange peel sometimes.
Signal-Weight8300@reddit
Many houses have them, but not all. Ironically the homes of plumbers are much less likely to have them, because the plumbers know that the debris, no matter how well it's chopped up, will eventually cause drain problems. Kitchen pipes always build up layers of congeeled fats and grease over time, and things stick to that layer, building it up over time. Sooner or later the pipe will clog.
skaliton@reddit
it isn't in every house but it is common enough. they don't really break often and yeah you throw leftovers in them...within reason. like you aren't throwing a tbone steak bone in there.
DO NOT REACH INTO THEM....this cannot be stated enough. You are basically sticking your hand into a blender....don't do it. If you absolutely need to reach into it for some reason use a fork or something else
bearsnchairs@reddit
It’s not really like a blender, as the actual cutting/grinding action is done by the walls. They also can’t spontaneously turn themselves on, and you can unplug it if you still feel nervous about reaching in.
no_one_denies_this@reddit
Except when I lived in dry cabins, I've never lived in a house without one.
WinnerAwkward480@reddit
Ha , I remember getting a call from my Son one Sunday afternoon him and DIL were having a cookout . They were doing ribs & mashed potatoes & corn on the cob . She had put like 6 pounds of potato peels and the husk from 10 ears of corn down the garbage disposal. She commented I thought the sink was kinda draining slower , but I was busy with other things. She had left the sink faucet on about 1/4 open to keep flushing the sink , with garbage disposal on . While she just step out door real quick to give my Son a bottle of bbq sauce. Her friend was over helping to cook and had flushed the toilet. Of course the sewer pipe was already filled up at this point .
TomBombomb@reddit
I live in Brooklyn and I'd say in a lot of the older buildings here they are not super common at all. A lot of new building, I hear, will have them because it cuts down on plumbing costs.
TillikumWasFramed@reddit
It's not really dangerous (never heard of an injury unless some idiot stuck his hand in one while it was running). But I think they are gross, they chop up food that then goes into the sewer system. Just put it in the trash.
TheBimpo@reddit
I honestly don't understand why this comes up so frequently, especially with THE SAME questions.
Here's how they work.
Why would we have an "incredibly dangerous" appliance?
Why would we have appliances that "constantly break"?
Why would I reach my hand into something that's terrifying?
No, you can't just toss anything in there. Owner's manuals and user guides are pretty handy and tell you how to use things properly.
Avoid the following:
Stringy things, grease, very hard things, very starchy things.
We don't just ram every bit of uneaten food in.
jackwagoneer69@reddit
Oh, it definitely destroys plumbing. Yes, if used properly they shouldn't, but most homes have things called wives in them, wives who think these are magical machines for disappearing every rotten bit of leftovers discovered in the back of the fridge like containers full of pasta, or every cooking scrap like potato peels or fistfuls of chicken fat.
WhichWitch9402@reddit
It’s for smaller food bits. If you put too much in there you’re going to be using tongs to pull items out, large citrus fruit peels for one. You also do not put stringy things like celery or asparagus as the stingy bits will just wrap around the gears.
The switch is usually on back wall of sink so it’s kind of hard to accidentally hurt yourself.
clutzycook@reddit
It's a common thing, but nowhere near universal. I have one in my present house, but we didn't (and still don't) have one in the house I grew up in.
As far as safety, it's only dangerous if you stick your hand in there.
LiquidDreamtime@reddit
They are not expensive and are a great addition to a kitchen. They became ubiquitous in the USA in the late 90’s and nearly every home and apartment has them installed that’s been built the last 25 yrs
Famous-Pattern4364@reddit
I don’t, I have a septic system and you cannot have a garbage disposal.
wwhsd@reddit
Really? I grew up in a house on septic and we had a garbage disposal.
dildozer10@reddit
I’ve never lived in a home with a garbage disposal, and I don’t know anyone who has one.
AbeLincolns_Ghost@reddit
Seems like it must be pretty regional. I’ve never known someone who hasn’t had one on the west coast
dildozer10@reddit
I’ve always lived in trailers in rural areas, and most everyone I know lived the same way. My wife and I lived in a city for a few years but our house, along with everyone in the neighborhood, were built in the 1940’s. Housing developments are popping up everywhere here and I’m sure those homes have a garbage disposal.
twxf@reddit
Same, every "single family home" I've lived in here in CA has had one. Apartments/studios no, but houses yes.
DrBlankslate@reddit
I’ve never lived in an apartment here in SoCal that doesn’t have one.
Certain_Luck_8266@reddit
I've lived up and down the east coast and literally every place I've ever lived in 40+ years had one.
_nousernamesleft_@reddit
I've lived in CT, NH, and MA and never have one. I know plenty of people that have one but it's pretty 50-50.
2_minutes_hate@reddit
I've lived in 7 places on the West Coast, only one had a disposal unit installed.
Small-Tax-2829@reddit
Its about 50/50 where I am on the gulf coast. I dont have one. The house I grew up in did. They aren't dangerous unless you are actively trying to stick your hand in there while it's on, which is a really stupid thing to do
Kankunation@reddit
Same with me. In the south, never had one and I don't know any osy with one in their homes. I've seen them and have been to homes with them, but it's probably certainly far from universal.
I've actually had w different landlords even tell me they'll never install them in any property they own because of the added maintenance costs if they breaks.
pudding7@reddit
That's wild to me.
Far_Shop_3135@reddit
I had one in an apartment I ived in once, and I don't remember using it much. I've lived in many places since then without one. I don't have one now, and no desire to have one. I have no issues with a sink strainer, hell during my day I tend to chuck trash from cooking/cutting scraps into the sink and I just clean it up when I'm done or at the end of the day when I'm doing my post-dinner cooking cleanup waiting for things to finish simmering or whatnot. It is ridiculously easy to designate one bowl in the sink for scraps and then tap the strainer over the trash, throw it in the dishwasher once in a while.. and I've got all the space down below for cleaning storage.
jacowab@reddit
It's not dangerous, there is usually a light switch next to the sink that turns it on and if you somehow manage to flip the switch on while fist deep in your sink drain I don't know how you got to adulthood without dying of some serious accident.
Also it's not actually a garbage, that would clog your drain really fast, it's so that you don't have to go digging around in your pipes for every lost egg shell or penne that fell down the sink. And it's very shallow so spoons and forks stay standing up and are easy to see and grab from the drain, I guess it's possible if you have weirdly short utensils they could get stuck in there but Ive never had that happen and I've never heard of it happening.
peridotpicacho@reddit
I compost all our food scraps, so I barely use the garbage disposal. But it’s still nice to have because there’s always a little food left on things.
Prestigious-Row-1629@reddit
Every house and apartment I have lived in has had one. They are not very useful and, yes, they break.
SmoovCatto@reddit
illegal in NYC
many have them, especially in upper middle class suburban homes that Hollywood loves to use in film and tv
but they are not standard in rental homes and apartments
TranslatorBoring2419@reddit
I'm surprised by the comments because they are not common at all in Eastern Pennsylvania.
eagleblue44@reddit
It's more common than it used to be. I grew up in the late 90s, early 2000s. When I was a kid, no one had a garbage disposal in the sink. Now most people I know have one.
mtcwby@reddit
You learn pretty quickly that a full plate is a mistake and we've never used ours that way. They are handy for the inevitable small bits that get in when you have to hand wash some dishes but you don't want to overload them.
Ok-Flight-1504@reddit
It's not standard in all homes - my house doesn't have one.
m1dnightknight@reddit
Yes they are very common in single family homes. Apartments and other kinds of places it depends. They should only be really used for small bits and scraps of food that are stuck to the plates / cups when washing. Really should scrape out larger pieces and bones in the trash first.
Maiace124@reddit
They are pretty common. I'd say maybe half the places I have lived have had them. But you don't just scrape everything on the plate down there. Dump what you can in the trash, then the little stuff that would get caught in the screen guard normally goes down the disposal.
They can be dangerous if you're digging around in there with your hands. Which is why you shouldn't do that. Otherwise it's pretty safe.
ilovjedi@reddit
We live rurally and have a septic tank so we don’t have one. They over load a septic system easily. Growing up I was slightly terrified of ours. My dad would sometimes hold a plate over the sink before he turned the garbage disposal on. And I would get so nervous if I had to fish something out that went down the drain by accident.
Aware_Acanthaceae_78@reddit
It’s standard. It’s not dangerous.
kbell58@reddit
You would have to purposefully stick your fingers inside the disposal and touch the bottom while in operation to cause damage to fingers.
Disposals are controlled by a switch like a light switch which is near the sink but not where it would be accidentally turned on. Injuries are minimal.
ScarletDarkstar@reddit
They aren't standard but they are common. You don't want to just dump everything on a plate in there. Large quantities or things like bones can jam it up. It just makes it where you shouldn't accidentally cause a clog in the plumbing.
They aren't terribly unsafe. You don't want to stick your hand in there with it on, but as long as it is off you can reach in there to remove a piece of silverware that fell in or something. It is strong enough to mess something up. I have seen one bend an ikea spoon in half or chew up the edge of one if it is turned on without checking.
Almost every place I have lived has had one, and thry aren't a big deal either way. I don't turn it on very often. We have a tool that fits a notch on the bottom so you can unjam it if necessary. It doesn't break down often. We replaced 1 in 20 years.
Equivalent-Pin-4759@reddit
We have one, but we compost all of our vegetable waste. Only small pieces of plate scraps make it into ours.
Vincitus@reddit
I need to understand how often people in other countries shove their hands down their kitchen drains, because this seems like the universes easiest thing to avoid being injured by.
MetalEnthusiast83@reddit
They are also common in Canada. They are not in every home. I currently don’t have one.
Carinyosa99@reddit
We usually scrape food into a garbage can and the disposal in the sink is for the little pieces that remain. Some things never should go down the disposal like potato peels.
weaverlorelei@reddit
We live on a farm in Texas, so our sewage system is a simple septic tank, not even one of the fancy aerobic ones. It isn't a great idea to allow the stuff that people send into a garbage disposal to end up into a septic system. Beyond that, I put all vegetal scraps into my compost bins, to be used in my kitchen garden next season.
Glass_Witness1715@reddit
We scrape the majority of our food into the actual garbage. The garbage disposal helps with catching little bits you miss.
My MIL has very old plumbing and, even though she has a garbage disposal, she has a mesh screen that sits in her drain. We dump that out after we wash dishes. I’m spoiled and grew up with a disposal so that mesh thing grosses me out. But, probably better not to use the disposal. We only run ours at the end of washing dishes just to make sure everything goes down and the water flows nicely.
Schnelt0r@reddit
It seems like they used to be more common. However, it seems like landlords have been removing them. I guess the extra maintenance isn't worth it to them.
OldnFuninMN@reddit
That's a bingo!
IF they were used as intended, people wouldn't have problems. But too many people are idiots and think it's an alternative to a garbage can.
You just say bingo.
gxbcab@reddit
I’d say it’s about 50/50. You’re not supposed to have them on a septic system but some people do it anyways.
riarws@reddit
It is normal to have one, but it is also normal not to have one.
My web research indicates that plumbing codes in Kenya are written with the assumption that people will not have garbage disposals. If someone there wants one, they have to spend a long time to retrofit the pipes or else hire a plumber to retrofit the pipes. In most of the US, this retrofitting is not necessary, so it is much faster and cheaper to buy one and DIY install it.
WangoTangoFlamingo@reddit
I might be the minority here, but I'm American (32f), Have lived in NJ (6 different homes), PA, FL and VA and have never had a garbage disposal in my home.
pdperson@reddit
They’re grinders not blades, so if something gets stuck, as long as it’s off, reaching in isn’t a big deal.
Helpinmontana@reddit
I’ve only lived in one place without one.
And it’s dangerous like having a stove is dangerous, just don’t touch it while it’s on.
Longjumping_Can2057@reddit
They aren’t very expensive here so it’s not unusual and the more expensive ones have some extra safety features. Also, they have to manually turned on so it’s less likely that you would hurt yourself. Typically older houses don’t have the electricity outlets under the sink (they can certainly upgrade at any time then install it) to have the garbage disposals. I have an older house without a garbage disposal and I just scrape my leftover food into the trash or compost.
SquirrelNormal@reddit
The bigger problem with older houses is the drains aren't large enough to really handle a disposal. Adding an outlet is trivial, but replumbing from 1" line to 2" or greater is a PITA
Longjumping_Can2057@reddit
Oh and the more expensive ones are quieter.
Ok-Possibility-9826@reddit
I don’t think I’ve ever lived somewhere without one and I’ve lived everywhere from the hood, to the suburbs, to modernized cities.
nojugglingever@reddit
This is a nice change of pace to the people who assume Americans are constantly being electrocuted due to having power outlets in the bathroom.
Adorable_Dust3799@reddit
They're really not sharp inside, it's not actually blades.
jrice138@reddit
I did residential remodel work for about ten years and every kitchen adds them. They’re a lot more common these days. I never had one till almost a year ago. Same for a dishwasher. They’re fine but I don’t feel like they really add much to my day to day.
slpybeartx@reddit
I had one growing up. The first house my wife and I built had one. Used it for lots of things. It was always dirty and smelled bad, no matter what we tried to clean it with.
When we built our current house we decided against having one installed. Food scraps go in the trash or out to compost now. Wouldn’t go back to having one.
datagirl60@reddit
My friend is not renewing the room lease for a Russian med student who refuses to stop putting coffee grounds down the garbage dispos (along with not cleaning his bathroom and leaving the gas on the stove on). You aren’t supposed to use the garbage disposal for anything except the bits that get rinsed off the plate after scraping and never put grease, oil, onions, or fibrous material down it.
dilucofmondstat@reddit
they’re common but not universal. i’ve never lived in a place with one before
Independent-Dark-955@reddit
I think they’re only standard if you’re on a city sewer line, not if you’re in a rural area and on septic. I lived in the country for 8 years and got used to having one. I currently scrape the plates into the compost bin and only use the garbage disposal very quickly if a small amount of food is clogging the drain.
TypePuzzleheaded6228@reddit
they're illegal in New Jersey (or at least in my town).. i had one in Boston but never used it.
IcyGrapefruit5006@reddit
It’s common, but not that common. I have lived in various homes and only had one in one home. It can be dangerous if you don’t pay attention and have your hand in the drain. Can’t say I typically have my hand in the drain though.
BrilliantDifferent01@reddit
They are common but not universal. There is a big difference between the cheap ones and high end ones. My disposal will definitely handle whole plates of food and even chicken bones easily. It doesn’t chop so much as it grinds. They last for 20 years or more. But it definitely is not a necessity but rather a convenience.
bibliophile222@reddit
I guess I'm in the minority, but I've actually never lived anywhere that had one. I'm guessing they're much more common in newer builds, but I've only ever lived in cheap apartments in converted old New England houses, not an actual apartment complex or house.
adultdaycare81@reddit
Not dangerous at all. It’s far below it.
But it’s great. Our sewer systems are far more robust than most. Food waste can be ground up and pass right through
OldnFuninMN@reddit
The plumbers I know said to get rid of them. Most people put the wrong stuff down them and cause clogs in the pipes. I've seen people put all kinds of shit down them and then wonder why their pipes are clogged....smh.
Use your garbage for garbage.
Sink strainer is the way to go.
Physical-Incident553@reddit
I’m early GenX. We always had a disposal growing up and I have one in current place. Not dangerous if you’re not an idiot and don’t put your hand or a utensil down a running disposal. I only put soft stuff down mine (like remnants of soup, eggs, and the like). Never any grease as that will really clog it up.
MBTHVSK@reddit
New York City person here- I've never seen one of these in my life before.
Strong_District_5894@reddit
Pretty common. I’ve never had one break.
Hopeful_Ad_7719@reddit
>Is this actually a standard appliance in every American kitchen
No. They have mixed popularity at best.
>or just a luxury?
I'm not even sure I'd call it a 'luxury' item. It's more that it was once seen as a luxury, and not it's seen as a personal choice in kitchen accessories. Moreover, they're impractical for some septic systems or municipal waste treatment facilities.
>Do they constantly break, or are you genuinely able to just toss leftover food down the sink without completely destroying your plumbing?
They require occasional maintenance, can get clogged/break, and frequently have an odor. If used properly they're generally *fine*.
No_Fisherman2382@reddit
As someone who has replaced a couple, I can say that you don’t reach in there until it’s disconnected, perhaps try a composter which does the grinding and doesn’t put food into the sewer or your system but makes a substance that looks like ground coffee and can be put into your garden or lawn fertilizer plan and if you do break yours, find another way.
Pennyfeather46@reddit
My mother loved hers as a modern convenience. I would rather keep a strainer in my sink to catch the bits & pieces. I have a scrap bucket with a tight lid to keep my food scraps from stinking up my garbage.
Typical_Bumblebee194@reddit
I keep chickens. They are my garbage disposal.
Typical_Bumblebee194@reddit
I keep chickens. They are my garbage disposal.
rocky8u@reddit
It's not universal but it's very common. Garbage disposals are not very expensive so builders have included them in the standard appliances they install in new kitchens for a few decades at this point. In my experience kitchens that don't have them are usually old or one was removed and not replaced.
You do have to learn what you can and can't put in there. Basically anything soft can go in there. Hard stuff like bones should not. Also you should have the water running when you turn it on.
It is basically a blender under your sink so all it does is puree anything you put into it.
A common cause of them not working is metal stuff like utensils or bottle caps falling into the sink and jamming it. Usually that can be fixed by reaching in to remove the thing.
Obviously it can be a bit dangerous to put your hand down in there. It's not a sharp blade so if it's not spinning you won't likely get injured but you must make sure nobody else is going to turn it on when you reach in. I think the instructions usually say to unplug it before you reach into it so that can't happen. They are most often plugged into a normal wall outlet that is on the wall under the sink so it's easy to reach the plug. I'm not sure everyone actually does unplug it before reaching in but that's what you are supposed to do.
Weekly_Leg_2457@reddit
I've only ever lived in houses/apartments with them. However, my grandparents' homes which were built in the early 1900s didn't have them. They are pretty standard in most modern construction.
As for being dangerous, they are no more dangerous than having a gas stove in your home. You quickly learn that if you put your hand on an open flame, you will burn. So you don't do that. In the same way, you learn that if you stick your hand in the garbage disposal while it's running, you'll lose fingers. So you don't do it. It's also why the switch for the garbage disposal is often situated far enough away that you have to a little reaching to turn it on; it's enough to give you pause and think about what you're doing.
redjessa@reddit
Yeah, it's pretty standard. We don't really use ours though. It's not a high-quality disposal and we have old, small pipes. So, we have metal thing that catches debris when we rinse dishes and that debris goes in the bin.
k8freed@reddit
In my American city, a garbage disposal is the bare minimum appliance. I have a terrible stove/oven, a crappy refrigerator, and very little counter space, and no dishwasher, but I have a garbage disposal. It breaks about once a year after I accidentally get a bottle cap stuck in there, and my landlord replaces it for free after a lengthy lecture.
Hopeful_Nectarine_27@reddit
My house doesn't have one and I've never used one, thought I've seen them in other peoples' homes. I was told we couldn't have one because we have a septic system instead of a sewer, though I don't see why a septic system couldn't handle it.
I don't know why they're so common though, we just scrape the leftover food into the garbage and the sink strainer catches the rest, super easy.
cwcam86@reddit
I wish I had one, my house was built in the 30s and nobody ever bothered to get one installed.
JustAnotherDay1977@reddit
They are extremely common, but not universal. But they aren’t used to scrape “entire plates of leftover food” down the drain. The proper use is to dump large chunks into the garbage, and just let the disposal handle smaller remnants that come off when you rinse the dishes.
calicoskiies@reddit
I’ve never lived in a house with one.
mandybri@reddit
I’m 48 and have moved a fair amount. I have never in my life seen a home without a garbage disposal in the sink until I bought the home where I now live. I didn’t know it was possible to not have one; I was stunned and didn’t know how I would manage. Now I realize I don’t really need one.
blimkim@reddit
I'm an American in my late 40's and have never seen one in my life.
I grew up poor and have been in poverty my entire adult life though. I think it's a middle-class amenity in their housing.
smokiechick@reddit
I'm nearly fifty and I've never had one. I've lived at 15 different addresses in VT, CT, NJ, and Chicago and I've only been aware of one at a friend's house. I wouldn't say they are common
hookahsmokingladybug@reddit
Every plumber's dream-so many people use them incorrectly and cause serious clogs. Plus they can get really stinky. Was in the plumbing/sewer industry for a long time, and the only thing that should go down kitchen drains is water. Throw out food and especially grease.
Big-Net-2066@reddit
It seems like a luxury to me. At least where I am, more often than not people don’t have them
HegemonNYC@reddit
They are about $100
Unlikely-Alt-9383@reddit
It’s not about the price usually but about whether the local plumbing can handle it
rh681@reddit
I don't think it's the cost per se, but whether you live in an area that can handle it in the sewage.
2_minutes_hate@reddit
They could be $10 and still be a luxury.
HegemonNYC@reddit
If you mean they aren’t strictly needed to survive, sure. Which could also be said of socks, or a couch.
2_minutes_hate@reddit
I mean that they aren't even necessary for the system in which they're installed.
ericbythebay@reddit
Luxury is having help and not having to clean dishes at all.
kiznat73@reddit
They’re common in newer construction but I lived in a variety of houses and apartments built before the 80’s and only had one once.
jmims98@reddit
They are common but not everywhere. Older homes are less likely to have one.
We normally scrape the plate into the garbage or compost, and use the garbage disposal for small bits of food that we wash down off of plates and cooking tools that would have otherwise clogged the drain.
They are safe, unless you put your hand in there while it was on. Sometimes you have to reach in to get a spoon or something out of it, you can unplug it from the outlet under the sink if it makes you feel safer.
Strong-Spare-8164@reddit
I’ve lived in 16 places in Massachusetts in my lifetime and only 1 had a garbage disposal.
AdInfamous2916@reddit
My parents briefly had one when I was a child, but got rid of it. That’s maybe the only time I’ve ever encountered one. I don’t think I know a single person in my area (NYC immediate suburbs and NYC) who has one, and I know a lot of people.
atheologist@reddit
Very common but not universal, especially on certain areas. I grew up with one outside Boston, MA, but they are relatively uncommon in NYC. For a long time people believed that they were damaging to sewers, so they were banned in NYC for many years. Garbage disposals have been legal since 1997, but many landlords don’t want to add them retroactively and a lot of co-ops still won’t allow them due to concerns over damage to older pipes.
peabody_soul109@reddit
Not dangerous. Also not standard, existing in less than half of American homes.
Popular-Local8354@reddit
50%, and close to 85% in homes built post 1980.
peabody_soul109@reddit
Many of us in the US live in something other than a single family houses built since 1980. Most of us live in homes built before 1980, as well as condos, apartments, mobile homes, etc.
ChemicallyAlteredVet@reddit
No to both. Many have them many don’t. We are redoing our kitchen and decided against one as we live rural and like to compost as much as possible. It’s also just something else that needs maintenance and can break.
cukekitty@reddit
American here. We don't have one, but many people do.
mckenzie_keith@reddit
Most houses have a garbage disposal, but it is not a requirement or law or anything. I am not sure how dangerous they are. Certainly, if you reach your hand in there while it is running, it will destroy your hand. I have reached into them a few times to remove chipped pieces of metal or something and it always feels pretty scary.
Mailman354@reddit
I do not have one. Its not been common in my experience
JimDemintRecession@reddit
It's pretty standard. The switch is far from the sink so it won't be triggered accidentally while your hand is down the drain.
It's more for the final food scraps after the plate has been scraped into the trash. I don't have to scrape every grain of rice off the plate and out of the sink strainer into the trash can. I can let a few into the disposal. Things like bones can't go in the sink.
It's not the blades that are spinning, the outside is a grater and the inner part spins fast to force everything outward with centrifugal force.
Walksuphills@reddit
I am in my 40s and never lived anywhere that had one.
exitparadise@reddit
It's pretty common.
It's not that dangerous.
1) the hole is pretty small, you have to really try to get a hand in there. The device is deep enough down that just putting a finger in to your first or second knuckle won't reach it.
2) there are no sharp blades. the "blades" are dull. even if you put your hand in there with it off, you will not cut yourself.
In fact, I and many people have put our hands in there to pull clogs or dropped items in there all the time. It's not dangerous.
Ok_Organization_7350@reddit
The garbage disposal is standard in homes here, including in small homes and apartments. When my family went on vacation to the Caribbean and the hotel kitchen did not have a garbage disposal, it was a big inconvenience. We were not used to scooping food bits out of the sink, and it kept grossing us out.
Senior-Cantaloupe-69@reddit
Yes and yes
sleepyj910@reddit
It’s not any more dangerous than owning an oven. You learn not to put your hand in as a child.
2_minutes_hate@reddit
Eh, get your hand stick in a blender and you can unplug it.
I agree that the risk mechanisms are largely the same though.
stillestwaters@reddit
You’re supposed to still do that with food disposal; scrape the plate over the trash and let the machine only deal with smaller pieces and such - but it doesn’t surprise me that people will let it handle bigger pieces and messes too.
lol and it is dangerous, I’m a grown man and that thing terrified me. Sometimes you have to reach in to get something from inside of it. Obviously you’d leave it off, but it’s scary nonetheless.
rh681@reddit
It's common in many houses, but it's not meant for bones or anything like that. Our plumbing system in the USA is also top notch. There are some European countries that even frown on toilet paper.
Typical-Spinach-6452@reddit
I've lived in about a dozen places and only had 2.
LavenderPearlTea@reddit
To clean it, you just grind some ice in it occasionally.
Ziegelmarkt@reddit
You can't put just anything in to it. It doesn't handle large bones and potato skins and onion peals will kill it because they are so thin then manage to slap up against the wall and cover the ejection holes. Foods that have "strings" in them like celery are also bad for it.
It's controlled by a power switch so you basically just never stick your hand in there while it's running, and only to retrive things that might have fallen in to it like utensils or other things that shouldn't have gone in. Like a marble once in our house.
Mindless_Earth_2807@reddit
It's not standard where I'm from. (NYC) The only time I've ever seen one is at an airbnb out of state. It's terrifying.
_nousernamesleft_@reddit
They're common but it's also just as common not to have one. They're generally not really good to have if you have a septic tank so definitely more common for people who have sewer.
Altruistic_Rent_4048@reddit
All my houses have had one ..my apartments..no. and just be cause the CAN chew up an oldshoe and chicken bones.... Does not mean you SHOULF put them down the disposal.
hannahstohelit@reddit
I have lived my whole life in New York- suburb and NYC- and have literally never seen a garbage disposal. I believe people that they exist (and apparently here in NY as well) and I just haven’t had the luck of encountering one but lots of people don’t have or use them. Super weird to me.
Pernicious_Possum@reddit
They’re fairly common, I hate them, and you would have to act with intention to hurt yourself. I would much rather just use a screen in the drain
ericbythebay@reddit
Standard in every home no. But, common like a microwave, dishwasher, or refrigerator with an ice maker. It isn’t considered a luxury item, you can find good ones for under $200USD and cheap ones for under $100USD.
They are for small scraps, the stuff that would get stuck in the bottom of the sink strainer. Not large items like bones or corn cobs. Most people will scape large items into the garbage.
They are only dangerous if you are stupid. Unplug it from the wall before sticking your hand in it, as with any cutting and grinding tool.
AlwaysHopelesslyLost@reddit
They are super common, they are nearly all the exact same, they last ages because they are pretty simple, and they are not dangerous. This is what the inside of one looks like:
https://i.redd.it/54hwmaptnq4e1.jpeg
JellyfishFit3871@reddit
I don't have one, and flatly refuse - much to my husband's chagrin. But we're on a septic system, versus municipal sewerage, and food waste isn't ideal for the balance of bacteria in the tank and whatever.
My nephew the plumber told Himself in the Recliner the same, so now husband pouts after the annual argument. "Remember what John told us?"
I've had one, when we lived in town, but it honestly made me nervous and it's just as easy to scrape your plate.
LavenderPearlTea@reddit
It’s standard. I’ve never lived in a house without one. Just don’t stick a fork into it when you run the disposal. You just get a strainer that catches large items over the disposal.
Solid_Photo_683@reddit
In the northeast I've never seen one in a home that wasn't built in the past 20 years
Stepjam@reddit
It's pretty common and not that dangerous. You kinda gotta be actively trying to hurt yourself to do so given you gotta turn on a switch then reach down into the drain.
Maybe keep your toddler away from it, but they'd have to be trying pretty hard to hurt themself too.
By the way, you can't just scrape half a plate of food into it. It's only meant for small scraps. If you shove stuff that's too big down it, it'll get gunked up and start jamming.
Onyx_Lat@reddit
They're standard equipment here even in cheap crappy apartments. We've had a few go bad over the years, but they generally last for several years.
DonkeyHair@reddit
It’s dangerous if you’re an idiot.
blking@reddit
I don’t have one, but lots of people do. My house was built in 1911, so none of the standard modern conveniences were built in.
TBH, it seems like the headache of maintaining it isn’t worth the small convenience it provides.
Different_Bridge_983@reddit
Very standard.
Note that there aren’t whirling blades of death in there, it’s more of a centrifuge with a couple of agitators at the bottom to spin the contents to the sides, where they get ground in the gap between the base and the walls of the chamber.
msspider66@reddit
They were not popular where I grew up on Long Island, NY
I didn’t have one until I was staying in an extended stay hotel in my 30s.
Now I live in Michigan. They are everywhere I have lived here. I never use it. I hate having to think about not letting things fall in it.
I have friends who couldnt imagine living without it. I guess it all depends on what you are use to having
PeterNippelstein@reddit
Theyre common but unless youre sticking your hand in there its not dangerous
QuercusSambucus@reddit
Even if you do, and turn it on, you would probably have to actively try to get injured.
IIAVAII@reddit
Yeah I agree with that others have said, it's not ubiquitous and it's not dangerous. It is turned on and off with a switch. I do think it's important to not that we don't (or shouldn't) put the entire food scraps down the drain, it's mostly for small bits that are stuck to the plate/ whatever you're washing.
AStudyinViolet@reddit
Most places have them here. You are taught very early never to turn it on without checking and never to put anything in there you don't want ground up. Just a habit.
jeffgrantMEDIA@reddit
I have never had k e in any home or apartment I’ve lived in. Nor have I ever had a friend or family remember who has had one. I am 45 years old. This is a movie thing. Not a reality thing.
Initial_Fill_2655@reddit
Definitely not in every home
Minute-Of-Angle@reddit
If you are on a sewer system, garbage disposals are common. If you are in a septic system (think rural and low density suburban areas), you won’t have garbage disposal, and you would scrape the food into the bin like you are used to doing. This is because food is bad for septic systems and will cause major issues with them.
As to danger, not really, unless you try to shove your hand down the drain while they are running. If you can avoid that, they’re perfectly safe.
BreadfruitRegular631@reddit
I have never known of anyone having one (though it's not like it would come up in conversation) or ever heard of anyone sustaining an injury from one.
damutecebu@reddit
This is pretty funny because I have lived in the Midwest my entire life, and have lived in homes built in the 1920s to brand new, and I have only not had one once. Even the house built in the 20s was retrofitted with one.
Accomplished_Okra645@reddit
A good portion of newer/remodeled kitchens will have them installed. The motors are simple and reliable enough for the cost. I’m going to guess most of the people you see dumping their plates down them are connected to municipal water and sewer. The water pressure is consistently higher and as long as that mess makes it past your property it’s not your problem. Further away from the cities where we are on our own water and septic systems we are much more careful about what and how much we put in them. For me, I know that should a clog happen or worse I will be the one footing the bill for the repairs.
qu33nof5pad35@reddit
I find it fascinating, too and I hadn’t seen or used one until my late 20s when I went to Korea. I don’t have that in my apartment. My sister has one in her home… she’d kill me if she knew I put fish bones in there and almost broke it.
macoafi@reddit
They’re fairly common. I’d day most people still scrape most of the food into the trash can. The disposal just means we don’t feel like we have to be exceedingly thorough about it. A few grains of rice or a couple of noodles down the drain will be fine. It’s especially nice for figuring out what to do about very-wet foods, like soup. I don’t really want to pour that liquid in my trash can. If the bag gets a hole, it’ll be a big mess. So being able to put soup down the drain and not worry that a chunk of boiled potato will clog it is nice.
It’s a common misconception that disposals have blades. They don’t. They’re flat grinders. The walls are rough. The food chunks fly out to the edges with centrifugal force and rib against those rough walls to break down.
baddspellar@reddit
It is common in places with public sewer service. I live in a town in eastern Massachusetts in which few homes are connected to the town public sewer (it was build for the public schools. Some nearby homes are also connected). That requires me to have a septic system. If you have a garbage disposal, you need to have a higher capacity septic tanke. That is *far* too expensive to justify the minor convenience of a garbage disposal.
RatonhnhaketonK@reddit
Its in quite a lot of homes. Never had one break that wasn't easily fixed.
They can be dangerous if you put your hand inside and turn it on
Gloomy-Difference-51@reddit
It's in some homes and it's not dangerous. I love having one.
IKnowAllSeven@reddit
It’s super common and I hate it and it freaks me out!
You DO reach into them, not often, but sometimes a piece of silverware falls in and it have to get it out.
I hate it!!
eugenesbluegenes@reddit
Pretty standard in modern construction. Older apartments less so. My building is from 1910 and I have no garbage disposal. Scraps go into the compost bin.
Greenearthgirl87@reddit
I’ve had it in every house I’ve lived in. Not dangerous.
GeneralLoofah@reddit
You are not supposed to dump A LOT of food down the disposal. Just like little scraps, otherwise they can gunk up your plumbing.
Newer ones are pretty reliable, but cheaper ones and older ones clog pretty easily.
They aren’t crazy expensive. You can find them for as little as $50-100. But like anything you get what you pay for, and you can get nicer ones for $200.
BoomerSooner-SEC@reddit
Almost universal. You aren’t supposed to dump huge amounts of food down it but people do. It’s no more dangerous than a lawn mower I suppose. If you turn it on and pullout the rubber trap and stick your hand in it…yeah it will hurt you. Not many do that.
Capable_Suit_7335@reddit
Not dangerous and it can sometimes be common depending on the area.
I have one but I never use it since I compost everything.
Jcamp9000@reddit
I think it’s pretty standard unless it’s an old home
manicpixidreamgirl04@reddit
It's not common everywhere. In some regions it's unusual to have one.
FunImprovement166@reddit
I have a few vacation rentals near a beach. None of my places have them and I wouldn't buy a place to rent out that did have one. Easier to fix a clogged drain than it is to totally replace the disposal after some drunk vacationer fucks it up
Majestic-Citron7578@reddit
Yeah you don't scrape all of your stuff in there. That's how you break them.
It's good for rinsing off dishes before you put them in the dishwasher. Also they need to be cleaned occasionally but thats not that hard to do. Don't stick your fingers in them when its running if you like having fingers. I unplug mine before I do anything with it to be safe.
Turbulent-Artist961@reddit
You don’t just toss everything down the garbage disposal you wouldn’t say toss an uneaten half of a cheeseburger down the disposal, it just helps when you are washing dishes and little bits of food go down the sink that would otherwise be collected by a mesh trap. It’s relatively safe but there have been incidents where someone was trying to unclog the sink and somehow the switch, which looks like a normal light switch, got flipped and someone’s hand gets all shredded but most people know to be careful
Skatingraccoon@reddit
I've lived mostly on the West Coast (between Oregon and California) and they've been pretty common in the houses where I've lived.
I know that some cities ban them - New York City banned them until the late 90s, and some cities still do because apparently the food scraps can cause issues with the sewage systems.
bonanzapineapple@reddit
Varies a lot. My parents have one but don't use it much cause it's bad for their septic system. None of the apartments I've lived in have had one
ArcticRanger154@reddit
That’s interesting. Growing up in Canada, this was seen as a rich person item.
CommanderKrieger@reddit
In my neck of the woods, I’d say it’s a luxury rather than a standard unless you’re in the handful of modern new construction homes. Anything built pre-1980, which is an overwhelming majority due to it being an old farming town generally speaking won’t have those.
Educational-Yam-682@reddit
A lot of people don’t have them where my parents live, but it being in the country they only have septic tanks
jllauser@reddit
They’re not standard equipment in all houses, but they’re not that uncommon. My current house is the only one I’ve lived in that has one.
They are somewhat dangerous. Current safety regulations say that they have to be connected to an outlet under the sink rather than hard wired, so that they can be unplugged and remove any possibility of them turning on if you need to reach in for some reason.
Xyzzydude@reddit
bhoose19@reddit
They will break if you put things in there that shouldn't go in there. Things like lemons, oranges, bones will cause issues. And obviously don't reach in there when it is running.
DOMSdeluise@reddit
They are just for food scraps, big hunks of food go in the garbage. Dumping like half a chicken breast down your drain is indeed a great way to fuck up the garbage disposal and the plumbing. However. it is not dangerous - why would it be? They aren't sharp. And if you need to clean it or fish something out of there, there is an off switch.
Louisianimal09@reddit
You’ll see them more often than not. The house I grew up in didn’t have one but when we moved we had one
Sea_Curve8772@reddit
Very common and not dangerous. It's more of a grinder than a spinning blade death machine. And while it may sound a bit shocking, if you really try hard, you'll be surprised at how easy it is to refrain from shoving one hand down the drain and then reaching over to turn the disposal on with your other hand.
Diligent-Lettuce-455@reddit
Yeah, it's pretty standard today. They often double add your dishwasher waste.
Yes, I suppose there's a risk, but as long as you don't flip the switch with the hand in the drain, no problem.
Upbeat-Banana-5530@reddit
They're not on every kitchen sink, but they're also not uncommon enough that I'd call them a luxury. In every house I've lived in I've scraped my plate over the trash can before putting it in the sink whether I had a garbage disposal or not. They plug into an outlet near the sink, so you can unplug them if you ever need to reach into the drain for something.
Not-Banksy@reddit
As someone who just unclogged one this weekend because my wife treats it like a trash can, yes they are common and I’d say the norm.
But it’s meant for small food scraps that fall off when washing, not full on leftover meals or plates of food.
No-Conversation1940@reddit
We didn't have one in our home when I was a kid, but I was poor. I still haven't lived in a place that has a refrigerator where ice dispenses from the door.
I know someone who works at Insinkerator. The company is in southeast Wisconsin, sizable town called Racine.
Annethraxxx@reddit
I’ve had it in most of my houses but not all. They’re not dangerous, I’ve never heard of anyone being injured by one. I actually really love them, and only ever had to replace it once.
GateDeep3282@reddit
Just make sure a fork didn't ship down the drain before turning it on!
brizia@reddit
I know 1 person who has a garbage disposal.
tokin098@reddit
No, it isnt standard, but a lot of homes do have them. It can be dangerous. I dont have one and many people choose not to because they can be a hassle and cause plumbing issues.
dragon-queen@reddit
It’s fairly standard, but it’s not that unusual for people not to have them. It’s not dangerous unless you stick your hand in there and turn the disposal on.
yellowdaisybutter@reddit
Its only dangerous if you stick your hand down and then turn it on.
I've never lived in a house without one. Extremely convenient.
RelevantJackWhite@reddit
I have had one in every American home I've lived in, and yes, they're pretty scary/dangerous
Impulse2915@reddit
It's not in every home, but in a decent amount. It works pretty well.... Until all of those food particles build up in your sewer line and it becomes a decently expensive job to clear it out.
sneezhousing@reddit
It's not standard nothing will be seen in every home. I was in my 30's before I lived in a house with one
It's not dangerous