Debate 2008
One of the features of our new apartment is a working garbage disposal. It's been a few years since we've had one, and Mr. Fob and I are suddenly discovering a new source of marital conflict. According to Mr. Fob, movies and television have taught him that you should never stick your hand in the garbage disposal, even if it is turned off. I prefer to rely on common sense and the fact that the off switch means "off" and stick my hand in to make sure no utensils are hiding before turning it on. Mr. Fob thinks I'm crazy. What do you think? Do you stick your hand in the garbage disposal or do you like to grind up your spoons and forks?
Comments
I'd just make sure no one turns it on while you have a hand in there because all disposals are made to be able to grind even chicken bones down.
And every time I stick my hand in I freak out a little, they scare the crap out of me.
If I were you or your husband--which I'm not--I would just leave the strainer on the drain so nothing goes down there in the first place.
I think your husband sounds like an intelligent and very sexy man.
I have the same irrational fear when all the lights are off and I have to go down a long hallway - I run. That probably stems from our long hallway growing up and the numerous times we would hide and jump out and scare each other.
I have a sink mat in the sink to protect the spoons and other small items from falling into the disposal. (In fact, that was the debate at our house - BlueEyes thinks the mat is unnecessary and gross because he never rinses it off after doing the dishes...) If I take it out for whatever reason, though, I do stick my hand down to check
Even more honestly, though, I think my aversion to it is probably enhanced by (if not totally caused by) my fear of putting my hand into a space I can't see - i.e.: whatever 'vegetable' or 'animal' might be lurking in there, though I'm okay with 'mineral' - as long as it doesn't have moving blades.
So when I say I stick my hand in, what I mean is I tentatively poke my finger in, find nothing, and ignore the problem until the disposal stops working. Then I make Bawb stick his hand in and fix it.
Unfortunately, the disposal was broken and my teacher wanted me to put my hand down the disposal to get the muffin. I refused because my Dad had thoroughly given me the "Don't ever put your hand down the disposal" talk. She got pretty mad, but I stood my ground. Then she wrote a note and sent me to the principal.
The principal looked at the note, and said: "Did she really think it was a good idea for you to stick your hand down the disposal?"
That was a very satisfying authority figure response for a 15-year-old girl.
But apparently I'm a flip flopper... As a mom and an old lady, I stick my hand down the disposal all the time to retrieve things and to clean and disinfect that area of grossness. Also, if my Freshman daughter stuck something down their I would expect her to get it.
The end.
I won't do it, but Celia's right---it's not dangerous, not even if it's on. (disclaimer implied; you can't sue me)
I wasn't going to mention it, but since it's now on the Slate homepage, there's also this.