Potato Peels Stuck in Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals are convenient appliances for disposing of organic waste down the sink. Sometimes too much waste is put down the disposal at one time, resulting in jamming the blades. While peeling vegetables like potatoes, we sometimes forget just how much we place down the drain. When potato peels become stuck in the garbage disposal, it is necessary to unjam the disposal to prevent damage to the motor. Removing stuck potato peels requires moving the blades by hand from under the garbage disposal.

Tongs
Allen wrench

Instructions

- 1
  Turn off the power to the garbage disposal. Look under the sink for a cord plugging into an outlet. Unplug the cord from the outlet. Some disposals are wired directly into the house electrical system. Turn off the circuit breaker to the disposal inside your home electrical panel, if your disposal is hard-wired.
- 2
  Insert a pair of tongs into the sink drain and remove the loose potato peels. Place them in a garbage bag.
- 3
  Find the Allen-head screw on the bottom center of the garbage disposal. Insert an Allen wrench into the screw head and turn the screw left to right until it completes one revolution.
- 4
  Reach inside the drain again with the tongs and remove the potato peels.
- 5
  Reconnect the power to the garbage disposal and run the cold water in the sink. Turn on the disposal to get rid of any small potato peels.

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