Yes, it's safe. But first put your fingers on the rubber "fingers" and push down, now you should be able to see if there's something in there that shouldn't be.

Zipper who has a few spoons with that snazzy chewed up look. ;o)size>color>

Yes, make sure it is off then put your hand in to investigate. There will be no sharp edges to hurt you, unless the object that is making the noise is sharp. This is something you should do on a daily basis to keep the disposal clean and oder free. There are places in it for foods to sometime stick and get smelly. Using planty of water when it is in operation helps, but a little hand cleaning now and then is good.

If there is nothing like a spoon, etc in there I don't know what the problem is...needs a service call.

Sure, as long as no one comes along and flips it on! I root around in ours all the time when I hear something funny, I've found olive pits, the flip top of a can that someone had ripped off the can and dropped into the empty, I think when I rinsed the can the top came out and fell into the disposal. Even a small stone, once, I have no idea where that came from!

Zipper, we call those "homemade grapefruit spoons". lol

Even a very small item can make a lot of grinding noise. Search carefully along the outer edges.

I once tried to grind up my watch. It didn't fare well. LOL!

I on the other hand have something about garbage disposals. Just can't make myself put a hand in there. Husband or daughter are the ones doing that job. Ick! Yuck!

I want to take mine out. This would be the third house I am doing so.

All my garbage goes in the garbage, or compost, or vermicompost bin. No need for such a water sucker.

Moni

Just as I started to read this, the doorbell rang and it was the maintenance man here to unjam my garbage disposal.

He looked down into it using a flashlight, then took a long screwdriver and poked around until he loosened something. (Running it with water on a few times.) He saw something but couldn't tell what it was. Poked around some more and poof! it was cleared.

He told me to pour some soda in it and then flush it out.

Good luck with it!

Sue

I no longer have one since we are now rural and have a septic tank but when in the city.....I never put my hand in it until the disposal is unplugged.

My Kenmore dishwasher started making an awful grinding sound. I opened it, pulled out the drawer and the circle around the drain. There was a black olive pit inside. Removed it and the noise stopped. I am not much of a "handywoman" but I'll try anything as long as the power is switched off! Good luck!

I reach down in mine to clear it. It's a batch feeder, so that's relatively save. Would NEVER do that with a continuous feed disposal, though--just in case someone turned on or bumped the switch. Not even if I was the only one home would I stick my hand down a continuous feed one.

If you have a continuous feed or are nervous about the whole thing, try using your kitchen tongs--they extend your reach quite a bit and you'll be able to safely poke around and pick up anything you find there that shouldn't be there.

I also want to mention that if the disposal becomes completely immobile and makes a humming noise, there's a switch on the motor (under the sink) that I think you switch back and forth. If that doesn't do it, there is something you can do with a screwdriver, probably what your maintenance guy did. Another thing I learned (the hard way): if you have a double sink and get a stopped-up sink on the disposal side, run the water on the OTHER side while you plunge the disposal side. Glad you got it fixed.

I'm glad your disposer is working now but I must caution you; nNEVER put your hand into a garbage disposal, switched off on not!!! If it isn't making any noise at all, try the reset button - mentioned earlier- on the disposer bottom. Mins is a red push button. If the disposer hums like it's jammed, switch it off and try moving it back & forth with the end of a plunger handle. Still no go? Look down inside it with the help of a flashlight. Use a long set of tongs to remove whatever the problem is. Still having trouble? Save your fingers and call a repairman!!!

My two cents.

Oh for heaven's sake! Often a disposal jams for no obvious reason. Use a long handled screwdriver or just a wooden pole; wedge the end against one of the flanges at the bottom of the disposal chute and rotate the disposal counterclockwise. Remove tool, run water, turn on. This usually has worked in one or two tries for me. I only have a disposal in Maui. (More need in a tropical climate; you don't want waste hanging around long enough to attract bugs.)

I think disposals are over-sold. They accept so few things without clogging. I didn't put one in our new house. I just have a pull-out beside the sink that houses a garbage bin and a recycling bin. I sure don't miss having that goopy thing in my sink.

Thanks everyone. It is another poster who said hers is now working, not me (the OP). However, I've been at work all day and not had time to take the matter in hand. The last thing I need right now is a repair bill, so I will hope upon hope that there's just something in there. I think I won't put my hand down there (it is just me at home, but I have to watch out for my demon cat who might flip the switch :) but will try the flashlight and screwdriver route. I didn't know there was a reset button, so that's really helpful information, too. Thanks!!

You can look under the sink and unplug the disposal before putting your hand down it!
Kathy G in MI

If you cannot find the reset button, try what Chisue suggests. It works. I used to do that in any apartments we rented to fix the disposal with the broom handle.