Potato peels are one of the foods you should never put down your garbage disposal. Yet, it happens, usually by accident as one forgets or a helper in the kitchen is not familiar with foods that should not be disposed of in the garbage disposal. The high starch content of the peels creates a thick, glue-like paste when mixed with water. The paste causes the disposal to sieze up as the paste prevents the disposal blades from turning. The result is a disposal that stalls and a clog results. What does one do?
Sometimes it is possible to clear the pasty mess without calling a plummer. Below are some tips that may work. Before doing anything, besure that the garbage disposal is completely turned off by unplugging. Or, if the unit is hardwired and has no outlet, make sure the switch controlling the disposal is in the OFF position or turn off the disposal’s circuit breaker in the service panel/breaker box.
Baking Soda and Vinegar. Pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain. Add 1/2 cup white vinegar and cover the drain if possible. Let set for a few minutes, then pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain to flush it. The combination of baking soda and vinegar can break down a clog and wash it down the drain. DO NOT use this method after any commercial drain opener has been used or is still present in the standing water.
Salt and Baking Soda. Pour 1/2 cup salt and 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain. Follow with 6 cups boiling water. Let sit overnight and then flush with water. The hot water should help dissolve the clog and the baking soda and salt serve as an abrasive to break through the clog.
After the paste has been dissolved. Restore power to the disposal, run cold water and turn on the disposal. If the disposal will not start or only hum, turn the disposal off and use the disposal wrench to free the jam. Insert the wrench into the hex socket centered on the underside of the unit. Move the wrench back and forth to free the jam. If the unit has a reset button (red button on the lower unit), it may also need to be pushed to reset the unit. Repeat if necessary. If the motor does not come on, likely the disposal has burned out and a replacement is needed.
To keep kitchen drains running smoothly, pour boiling water down them on a weekly basis to melt fat that may be building up or put some vinegar and baking soda down the drain to break up fat and keep it smelling fresh.
Reviewed and updated 2/2025, mg.
