Can You Put Coffee Grounds Down the Drain?

We are all guilty of it! We have all tried to wash down anything that could fit down the drain at some point. After all, the garbage disposal, also known as an in-sink macerator, garburator, or garbage grinder, has the sole purpose of grinding organic waste to shreds so it can be washed down the sink, right? That’s correct.

That’s why it’s there. But you cannot just throw anything in there and expect it not to compound and clog your drain. Coffee grounds are one of those waste items that you simply cannot wash down the drain.

Why can’t you put coffee grounds down the drain?

You might ask why you can’t put ground coffee down the drain. Well, coffee grounds were once hard beans. Technically, they are seeds. Just because they are ground doesn’t mean they have lost their material composition. Unlike other organic waste, coffee grounds absorb water and expand.

Given the right circumstances and ingredients, such as grease, the coffee grounds can clump together over time and form a thick sludge, which is the leading cause of clogged kitchen drains in Toronto. They can block the U segment of the kitchen drain and wreak havoc on your drainage system.

What can you do with your used coffee grounds?

You might wonder what you can do with all that used ground coffee. We have compiled the most comprehensive list of uses for your used coffee grounds. Below are 11 ways you can make use of your ground coffee waste.

1. Fertilizer

Did you know that ground coffee is an excellent fertilizer for your garden? Coffee grounds have nutrients that can help your plants’ growth.

2. Bug Repellant

Used ground coffee is a good bug-repellant for your garden. You can spread it around in your pots to repel harmful insects.

3. Worm Food

You can use coffee grounds in your soil or compost to attract worms. It helps with soil aeration and fertility.

4. Deodorizer

Coffee grounds are great as a deodorizer. You can put coffee grounds in a container and place it behind or inside your fridge to absorb unpleasant odours.

5. Sidewalk Ice Melt

When combined with sunlight, you can use it for melting ice on your sidewalks in the winter. They also provide traction because of their gritty texture.

6. Natural Exfoliant

Ground coffee is a natural, nutrient-rich exfoliant. You can use it to scrub away dead skin cells on your face or body.

7. Cleaning Agent for Pans

Due to its gritty texture, you can use coffee grounds to scrub the grime off pots and pans.

8. Hand Cleaner

They can act as an effective hand cleaner, absorbing grease and dirt from your hands. It also helps rid your hands of pungent onion or garlic odours.

9. Staining Agent

For all art lovers, you can use ground coffee to naturally and organically stain cloth, wood, paper, or canvas to give it a worn or antique look.

10. Fireplace Dust Control

You can sprinkle and spread used coffee grounds in your fireplace to keep dust from flying around while cleaning it.

11. Homemade Candles or Soap

Mix the ground coffee with melted wax to make coffee-scented candles or homemade soaps.

What is acceptable waste that can go down your drain or garbage disposal?

Here is a list of things acceptable to wash down your drain.

1. Soft Foods

If you can chew it, you can safely wash it down the drain. Ensure you avoid hard, starchy, sticky, or oily food waste.

2. Most Liquids

Liquids which are not greasy or oily, like water, broths, and non-creamy soups, can be poured down the drain without causing issues​​.

3. Vegetable Scraps

Most vegetable scraps, excluding fibrous or starchy scraps, can be safely ground up. That includes carrot tops, celery stalks, and onion skins​​​​.

4. Citrus Fruits

You can dispose of citrus peels cut into small pieces in the garbage disposal. They help freshen up the disposal unit and mask odours​​​​.

5. Cooked Meat Scraps

Leftover cooked meats, such as chicken or beef, can be ground up in the garbage disposal without problems​​.

As general guidelines:

• Avoid grease and oils: Fats, oil, and grease should not be poured down the garbage disposal or sink drain because they can harden and cause clogs.
• Chop large items:Large food items should be chopped into smaller pieces to avoid putting strain on the garbage disposal unit and ensure its smooth operation​​.
• Use cold water:Running cold water when using the garbage disposal, especially for greasy or oily substances, helps prevent clogs​​.
• Avoid hard, starchy or fibrous items:Hard items (like bones), starchy (like pasta and rice), or fibrous (like celery and corn husks) should not be put in the drain or garbage disposal as they can cause clogs or damage the unit​​​​.
• No non-food items: Avoid disposing of non-food items like paper towels, wrappers, and hard rinds in the garbage disposal​​.

What should you do if you clog your drain due to regular disposal of coffee grounds down the drain?

If you have clogged your drain with repeated disposal of used coffee grounds, you must seek professional plumbing services in Toronto to help unclog your drains. However, you can use a plunger to loosen the clog. That may assist in creating small pathways in the clog to let some water seep through.

Ensure you avoid harsh chemical drain cleaners in the kitchen sink, as they are harmful and can contaminate your dishes and food preparation areas. The best remedy for clogged drains due to ground coffee disposal is to call a professional plumbing service.

Regardless of how you have clogged your drain, we can help! We have been specializing in drain cleaning and replacement in Toronto for 50 years. Call Brothers Plumbing at 800-741-8471 or contact us here.