Can You Pour Coffee Grounds Down the Drain? | Winters® Home Services

Can Coffee Grounds Go Down the Sink?

You may be thinking, “But I pour them down the sink drain every day and I’ve never had a clogged drain!” You see, coffee grounds come from coffee beans, which are virtually rock hard by the time they’re ground and brewed. You certainly wouldn’t want to grind up the pit from a peach, apricot, or nectarine that is about just as hard because they wouldn’t break down like other foods, and it’s the same with coffee beans!

If you usually grind coffee beans in the garbage disposal because it seems the cleanest and convenient, we don’t fault you for that. And anyone who has ever had to clean up the trash with spilled coffee grounds after a dog got into it would understand the rationale. Unfortunately, coffee grounds do not break down in water, so instead of grinding up and washing away as normal foods do in a garbage disposal, they clump together and as time goes by, the grounds can form a clump and pack the drain until it develops a clog. 

What to Do With Coffee Grounds

So, what do you do with coffee grounds if you can’t put them down the drain? You could of course just throw them in the garbage, but we encourage you to give these practical uses for them a try!

• Since coffee grounds contain key minerals for plant growth, you can use them to fertilize your garden.
• Coffee grounds not only fertilize gardens because they are mineral-rich, but they are also great at absorbing contaminants in the soil, particularly heavy metals.
• Coffee grounds are said to attract worms, which help gardens flourish.
• You can use coffee grounds as fertilizer by sprinkling them around your plants.
• You can compost your coffee grounds and use them at a later time.
• Coffee grounds are great insect repellents when you place them in bowls or sprinkle them around the areas you want to repel insects.
• To remove fleas from your dog or cat, simply shampoo your pet then rub coffee grounds throughout their fur. Rinse them off and dry as usual.
• Like baking soda, used coffee grounds can eliminate odors. You can place them in a bowl in the fridge and let them do the work!
• Mix coffee grounds with coconut oil for a wonderful face or body scrub, or to reduce the appearance of cellulite.

We hope you found this post helpful. If you’re looking for a plumber in Cambridge or the surrounding areas, call 617-221-5899 or contact Winters® Home Services!