Can You Flush Coffee Grounds Down Toilet? (Find Out Now!)
Starting the day with a hot cup of coffee is a staple for many people. If this is true for you, too, the unavoidable truth to that is you are then left with a pile of used coffee grounds with every pot you make. As you’re going about your daily routine, it’s easy to get lazy when cleaning everything up.
That’s why so many people end up dumping the grounds down the sink drain. Some go even a step further and flush them down the toilet, so they are out of sight and out of mind.
However, you definitely should not flush coffee grounds down the toilet because they can build up in your pipes, restrict water flow, and cause huge blockages over time. They can also destroy septic systems, which will potentially lead to sewage backups and expensive repairs down the road.
For being such small materials, coffee grounds can cause a huge number of problems for your plumbing system. We’ll go through those issues here as well as better solutions for disposing of your used grounds.
Why You Should Keep Coffee Grounds Out of Your Toilet
While used coffee grounds are very fine, they excrete oils that cause them to clump together and repel water. This combination allows them to stick to everything without breaking apart. I’m sure you can already see where this is going, but in case you don’t, it will lead to trouble with your toilet.
Toilet Clogs
Coffee grounds will clump together and settle in the pipes once wet, which will cause your toilet to flush slowly and eventually clog the drain completely. Once clogged, you should avoid flushing until the blockage is removed. Otherwise, you risk overflowing the toilet and leaving yourself with a lot of water and sewage to clean up.
Septic System Issues
If you have a septic system, coffee grounds will be especially harmful. For starters, coffee grounds won’t break down over time, so they will take up space in your septic tank much like facial wipes, feminine products, condoms, paper towels, and Kleenex do.
Coffee grounds can also throw off the pH balance of your tank. Once the tank is too acidic, the bacteria that breaks things down will die off and it will stop working completely.
Better Alternatives for Coffee Grounds
It’s true that you can simply throw your coffee grounds into the trash can, and most people do. However, it isn’t the most environmentally friendly option. Plus, coffee grounds can quickly make your trash smell. Luckily, there are many other things you can do with your coffee grounds without upsetting the planet.
It’s important to note that if you are planning on storing your used coffee grounds, you should dry them out. Wet grounds can lead to mold very quickly. Spread them out, so they’re in a thin layer. You can either let them dry out in the sun or in the oven.
Compost Them
When composting, you need two types of materials: green materials and brown materials. While coffee grounds are indeed brown, they actually fall under the former category. This means they are nitrogen rich. Coffee grounds also have traces of calcium, potassium, and magnesium. If you use coffee filters, you can compost those, too!
Fertilize Your Plants
Coffee grounds offer a good food source for your soil, which promotes better plant growth. You can mix them into the top couple inches of the soil or just sprinkle them right on top. Used coffee grounds are almost neutral in pH, so you won’t have to worry about acid weathers.
However, it is important to be wary of how many grounds you use. Too much in one place can cause them to clump together, which can block water from your plants. Also, coffee grounds are very acidic, which can be harmful to plants in large doses.
To avoid this problem all together, you can use the grounds as a liquid fertilizer by mixing about two cups of them with five gallons of water. Let the mixture steep overnight and pour or spray on your plants.
Keep Insects at Bay
You may be surprised to find out that coffee grounds are a great tool for repelling insects. This is because most bugs have a keen sense of smell and burnt coffee smells very strong that bothers them.
You can sprinkle your used coffee grounds around the yard or in your garden since they are good for your plants. However, you can also just leave open containers of them around the yard and even decorate them, so they add to your yard’s aesthetic.
Clean Your Pots and Pans
If you’re dealing with a stubborn stain on your pots and pans, you can use coffee grounds to scrub away any residue. Be sure to use a drain basket when rinsing the pan out to make sure the coffee grounds don’t go down the drain.
Exfoliate Your Skin
Looking for a cheaper moisturizer? Put your used coffee grounds to good use. The process is actually quite easy. All you have to do is mix a tablespoon of olive oil with your used coffee grounds. Massage the mixture on your face and rinse with warm water. If you already have oily skin, leave out the olive oil and just use the coffee grounds.
Make Brown Dye
Coffee grounds can create a sepia-colored dye that you can use on paper, fabric, clothes, your hair, or even furniture. All you’ll have to do is secure a coffee filter filled with the grounds, close it off, and soak it in some water for about 10 minutes. The longer you leave it, the darker the dye. Then, mix in a teaspoon of vinegar to set the dye, and you’re ready to go!
Dispose of Old or Unwanted Medicine
If you have medication that is either expired or no longer needed, a safe way to dispose of them is to mix them with coffee grounds before throwing them in the trash. Not only will this better conceal them, but it will also make them less appealing to kids or pets that accidentally find them or anyone purposefully looking for them in the trash.
Please note that the very best way to get rid of unneeded medicines is through a local drug take-back program. However, if that’s out of the question, this is a pretty good alternative.
How to Clear Coffee Grounds Out of Your Drains
It can be rather difficult to clear coffee grounds out of your drains. Since they are very small and oily, they clump together to cause blockages that stick to surfaces. The grounds themselves are very difficult to break down on their own, but it gets even harder when paired with coffee oils. First, you can try plunging your toilet, but odds are the grounds will just collect further down the drain.
Water alone won’t be able to soak the grounds themselves to dislodge them since the oil protecting them is hydrophobic. That’s why you’ll need something extra to break down those oils and finally dissolve the coffee grounds. These include:
- Enzymatic cleaners that are used for dissolving organic materials.
- Baking soda, vinegar, or other alkaline cleaners to neutralize the acids in coffee.
- Caustic cleaners, but only as a last resort as they are more dangerous to work with and not as eco-friendly as other options.
If none of this works, get in touch with a local plumber to fix the issue for you.
Related Questions
Can you reuse coffee grounds?
Technically, yes. You will not get sick from reusing coffee grounds twice or even three times. However, it will not taste the same. The first time around, the hot water is going to extract all the flavors and aromas from the grounds. The second time around, your coffee will taste staler and not have as much caffeine either.
Conclusion
Do not flush coffee grounds. In fact, don’t put them down any drain. Much like spoiled milk, strands of hair, leftover food, cigarettes, and chewed gum, coffee grounds can clump up inside your pipes and cause a blockage or collect in your septic system and cause extensive damages.
Fortunately, tossing your used grounds in the trash is not the only solution. There are plenty of things you can do with your use grounds that not only won’t harm the environment, but can actually be better on it.
I am a copywriter and editor based in the Las Vegas area with nearly a decade of experience under my belt writing landing pages, cost guides, blog posts, newsletters, case studies, and social media content. I have a degree in Strategic Communication and experience working in both the account and creative spheres. My goal is to always be discovering new interests and bettering myself as a writer and editor along the way.
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