If you love coffee, you would probably like to know how to dispose of coffee grounds so that they don’t cause a clog in your sink. Can you put coffee grounds down the sink? Can you put coffee grounds down the garbage disposal? What to do with coffee grounds once you’ve finished the drink? Read this article to find answers to all these questions.
Can You Put Coffee Grounds Down The Sink?
According to an outdated stereotype, coffee can help to clean the pipes from the inside. But this information has nothing in common with the truth! Over time, coffee will accumulate inside the pipes. Instead of breaking down, grounds will clump together in water, creating a clog.
Apart from coffee, the following items and substances can cause pipe issues:
- Grease, lard, oil and fats
- Margarine, butter and sauces
- Dairy products and eggshells
- Starchy foods like pasta, rice, potatoes or potato peels
- Banana peels, fish skins and celery
- Paper towels, cigarette butts, metal, wood, glass and sponges
If coffee grounds accidentally get inside your drain, you should rinse them with a lot of water.
Can Coffee Grounds Clog Disposal?
Can you put coffee grounds in a garbage disposal? No. After the grounds dry out, they will settle between the impellers or in the drain pipes. You won’t be able to remove the dried grounds that are stuck even if you run lots of water.
Here are the most common symptoms of a clogged drain or malfunctioning garbage disposal:
- A gurgling noise coming from the sink
- Food particles are visible in the sink after you run the dishwasher
- Odor of rotting food coming up from the kitchen drain
- Slow draining water in the sink
- Water backing up out of the sink drain
When you detect these signs, you should ask a professional plumber to service your drain.
What to Do With Used Coffee Grounds?
You should dispose of coffee grounds by throwing them away in the trash can. This is the safest and easiest way of getting rid of them.
After using a French press, you might want to stick to the following instruction:
- Remove the plunger
- Fill up the French press brewing chamber with water to the top
- Rinse the sides of the chamber, pushing all of the grounds into the liquid
- Swirl the water around with a circular motion to make sure that the grounds aren’t stuck to the bottom
- Swiftly turn the brewing chamber upside down on top of the strainer
- Throw the grounds away in the trash bin
If you live on a property with a septic system, you should avoid washing coffee grounds there. The grounds won’t break down in your septic tank. Instead, they will add up to the layer of non-decomposed solids. The more often you throw spent coffee grounds down the shower drain or toilet , the more frequently you’ll need to pump your septic tank.
Creative Uses for Used Coffee Grounds
Instead of putting coffee grounds down the drain, you might want to use them in the following ways:
- Put them in the back of your fridge in a small open container to absorb food odors
- Use as a dye to add a golden hue to white clothing or to turn plain paper into “antique” stationary
- Make your own candles by heating wax until it melts, mixing it with grounds and adding a candlewick
- Make homemade soap or skin scrub (there are a lot of recipes of how to do it on the Internet)
- Use as a fertilizer for your garden or potted plants — coffee will stimulate their growth as well as repel ants and slugs
Besides, after working in the kitchen, you might want to scrub away stubborn smells or fluids from your hands with coffee and wash it away with tap water. You should be able to dissolve coffee grounds in drain without causing clogs if there is just a tiny amount of them.
What to Do If You Put the Wrong Things Down the Sink
If your pipes are clogged and your sink is malfunctioning, feel free to call us! We plumb quickly, professionally and at an affordable price. You might want to use our services for the following reasons:
- We’re an established company with extensive expertise in our sphere
- All our plumbers have a license and a large experience
- You can call us 24/7
- We’ll be able to send a professional to your house almost immediately after you get in touch with us
- Before we start any work, we’ll provide you with a free estimate
- Once the work is finished, we’ll give you a warranty
- Most of our clients leave positive feedback about us and eagerly recommend us to their acquaintances
The best way to save money on repairs is to prevent any potential issues in advance. Hopefully, this article came in handy and now you know the answer to the question “What can I do with used coffee grounds”? Instead of putting coffee grounds in garbage disposal, you should throw them away in a trash can. Or, you can find creative ways of using them, such as making fertilizer or an exfoliant.
