Has not your garbage disposal been working correctly, and do you think the reason is the blunt or dull blades in your garbage disposal? Surely this will ruin your kitchen experience. Am I right?
In that case, you’re probably looking for a solution. In this article, we will see the hype of ice used to sharpen dull blades in your garbage disposal.
Before moving to details, the direct answer is: No, ice does not actually sharpen your garbage disposal blades. However, depending on several factors answer can be ‘Yes” sometimes according to some benefits of using ice.
Keep reading to find out how ice can improve the functionality of your garbage disposal, and by the end of this article, you can decide whether you should use ice on your garbage disposal.
Does Ice Sharpen Garbage Disposal Blades?
If you’re wondering if ice can sharpen garbage disposal blades, the answer is not a straightforward “yes” or “no.”
No, using ice cubes in garbage disposal does not actually sharpen the blades. The idea that ice can sharpen garbage disposal blades is a common myth.
Yes, ice can improve the performance of the garbage disposal by cleaning the blades. Because ice helps to remove any buildup or clung debris on the blades and prevents them from becoming dull. It is the easiest and most inexpensive way to do it.
However, not all garbage disposals are fit for this technique. All qualities of garbage disposal aren’t strong enough to handle and shred ice. Also, some types of garbage disposals don’t have blades but impellers.
So, make sure you have a good idea about the ability of your garbage disposal before trying this out.
Does Ice Dull Garbage Disposal Blades?
Not really; most of the garbage disposals have good-quality blades. Ice cubes usually are not that hard to dull the blades.
Instead, the ice usually helps sharpen the garbage disposal blades by removing the thing that is stuck with the blades. However, make sure to check the type of garbage disposal.
Some garbage disposal might not even have blades in them. So, you must check what type of garbage disposal you’re using.
Some garbage disposals have impellers instead of blades that shred the food waste and turn them into an easily drainable consistency.
Hence, putting any hard solid down the garbage disposal is unsafe.
Because such garbage disposals are designed to shrink down only soft leftover food particles, they are not even safe for throwing bones, let alone ice.
What is the Best Way to Sharpen Garbage Disposal Blades?
If you feel your garbage disposal blades are not doing the job effectively, you can simply put ice into them. This is how it should be done. Have a look!
- Turn off the garbage disposal.
- Run cold water through the disposal and keep the water running.
- Put some ice cubes into the garbage disposal.
- Turn the garbage disposal on
- Keep the water running for a while, and then turn both the garbage disposal and the water tap off.
It is the easiest and most inexpensive way to sharpen the blades of your garbage disposal. However, make sure you ensure utmost precaution while doing it.
Because chopped ice is very sharp, once you turn on the garbage disposal, the ice might split and come back to the sink’s surface from the sinkhole.
This can cause accidents if you’re closer to the sink. Hence, it is better to cover the sinkhole with the sinkhole plug before turning the garbage disposal on.
Always remember, never put large chunks of rock-solid ice at once because this will put a lot of pressure on your garbage disposal.
Also, always try to avoid dropping ice on the garbage disposal while it is on, even when you are not doing it to sharpen the blades.
According to what I have researched, most people believe using eggshells also sharpens the garbage disposal blades apart from the ice method.
But I would like to say this is a total myth. I would not suggest you do this because the egg membrane can get stuck and tangled up to the blades, and also, dropping eggshells into the disposal can cause a foul smell.
Though the lousy odor might get solved if, after putting the eggshells, you immediately also put some chunks of lime or any other citrus into the garbage disposal.
Do Garbage Disposal Blades Need to be Sharpened?
You don’t need to sharpen the garbage disposal blades if no problems are seen.
But if you notice clogging, check if the blades get dull or if your garbage disposal has any other problem.
You should try sharpening your garbage disposal blades if the disposal gets clogged or garbage remains stuck too often, even after regular cleaning.
If your garbage disposal doesn’t have blades, then there’s no need for sharpening. So, first, check if your garbage disposal has blades or impellers.
Some weak garbage disposals may get damaged if too much ice is put onto them.
How to Clean InSinkErator with Ice?
If you are a user of InSinkErator, then you don’t need to hesitate to use ice at your disposal. Because InSinkErator is strong enough to effortlessly shred even the toughest chunks of ice.
However, Your InSinkErator or garbage disposal can often get dirty because of rough and long-time use.
And so, it is important to clean it every week to avoid your sink getting unhealthy and dirty and, most importantly, to prevent bad smells.
Just a fifty-fifty solution of vinegar and lemon extract with warm water followed by an ice flush should be an ideal solution to regularly cleaning the garbage disposal.
But the garbage disposal often becomes too dirty and greasy that the regular cleaning solutions and tricks don’t seem to help much.
There is a great and super effective solution to clean such stubborn InSinkErator garbage disposal. Here it goes. Just follow the steps given below.
- Sprinkle lots of kosher salt and baking soda into your garbage disposal.
- Put a little amount of vinegar, just enough to wet the salt and baking soda.
- Now, put some dishwashing soap over and around the garbage disposal.
- Now, put some ice in it.
- Run cold water, turning on the tap of the sink.
- Then, turn the garbage disposal on and flush it all out.
- Keep the water running for some time.
- Lastly, turn off the garbage disposal and the tap and wipe out the disposal area of the sink with a dry towel or cloth.
Performing the above method, your sink and disposal should look clean and shiny. And, the next time you use the garbage disposal, you should feel its change and efficiency.
Final Words
I hope now you have a clear idea about using ice to sharpen the garbage disposal blades.
If you ever feel your garbage disposal blades are blunt, check whether the blades are tangled with leafy vegetables first.
Because usually, this is the reason behind the blades not shedding properly. For that, you should try cleaning the disposal properly first.
Make your decisions wisely. All the best!
James is an organic fertilizer professional who owns a successful organic fertilizer company in new jersey. He is an expert in waste management in both houses and community cases. In his free time, he loves to write about his experiences in the field.