Glass in a garbage disposal?

Question

So i was cleaning some stuff up, getting ready for the game and i didnt notice i dropped a shot glass down my garbage disposal until i hit the switch on it and broke the shot glass into pieces.

i don't have the owner's manual or any paperwork and the internet hasn't been too helpful so far. can i run the disposal to clears it up? is there a way i can open it up to clear the glass?

help......

Thanks.

Answer 1

I'd say to use a shop-vac and suck it out that way. You may have to "toggle" the disposal a couple times between vacs to make sure you got it all out...

Answer 2

it's simple to remove a disposal and flip it over to knock all the glass out. Very small pieces probably would go through the disposal, if it did happen to jam there is an allen head (most likely they vary) screw on the bottom to manually turn the disposal to clear jams. The impellors are usually stainless steel. Throw glass at stainless steel what happens? and vice versa. Maybe try a pair of BBQ tongs to get out any big pieces you can see then put the stopper on so nothing can fly out, and run it.

Answer 3

It depends upon what the dispose is as to whether or not you can open it up to clean it out, which would be preferable. Running the disposer is not a good idea as the pieces of glass may jam the motor and burn it out. You will at least have to try to remove as much of the glass as possible through the opening using a vacuum cleaner, tweezers, needle nose pliers and whatever else you have on hand to reach down inside and grasp pieces of glass an remove them.

Good luck.

Answer 4

I would unplug the unit first, or shut off fuse to the garbage disposal then carefully stick my hand down there to pick up the bigger pieces. After removing those run the water a few seconds then try running the disposal. If all else fails, try cutting a big potato & pressing down into the disposal to pick up the chars of glass. Be careful & good luck!

Answer 5

Suck out what you can with a vacuum and let the rest go down the disposal. The glass wont hurt anything and any food you put down the disposal will help clean it out.

Answer 6

I can't believe folks use a whole paragraph to explain things!
just use a wet vac like the other guy said.

Answer 7

you've already broken it...so take the whole thing out and buy a new one...glass doesn't go through a disposer....

Answer 8

Call the Maytag man ...