Coffee is a drink that will never go out of style, even if you do. However, with that popularity comes a good amount of attention.
You can easily find yourself ruining your kitchen sink by spilling a cup of coffee, and if you do not clean it up right away you can find it clogging your drains.
Does coffee clog drains? The short answer is yes. But, how much is the question. According to a study done by the University of Minnesota , if you drink 1-2 cups of coffee each day, you may clog your drains.
But, if you like your coffee hot, you may actually not be feeding your pipes enough to warrant the clogging.
The study also suggests that if you drink more than two cups of coffee a day, you may be clogging your drains.
Why coffee clogs drains?
Do you often suffer from a faulty drain that clogs up more easily than usual? If you do, then you are not alone. A faulty drain can be one of the leading causes of minor plumbing problems in the United States.
Coffee grounds can quickly clog up pipes if they get caught up in the system. Even the most industrious coffee drinker knows to clean their machine after each brewing.
It is not because the coffee maker or coffee pot is unable to handle the amount of grounds, but because the coffee grounds are too large to be flushed down the drain.
But what about all the other heavy substances that build up in coffee machines? The filter, the paper and the grounds that cling to the sides of the brewing device all have a tendency to collect dirt and bacteria over time.
Better ways to dispose of coffee grounds
There is nothing worse than a clogged drain. You can’t use the sink, you can’t rinse your dishes, and you can’t even flush your toilet. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to prevent a clogged sink.
Coffee grounds are an unwanted byproduct of a brewed cup of coffee. Sure, you could compost them, but that’s just one more step in the already lengthy process of getting rid of them.
What’s the best way to dispose of them? You’ve probably heard of coffee grounds being used as an eco-friendly way to dispose of coffee waste.
Here are some ideas that you may want to try:
- Use coffee grounds to make fertilizer
Coffee grounds are an unwanted byproduct of a brewed cup of coffee. Probably the best is to use them as a fertilizer.
You heard me right! You can use coffee grounds as a fertilizer . Yes, it’s true! Coffee grounds are a rich source of nitrogen that can provide your plants with a boost of nitrogen.
As coffee beans grow, they retain nitrogen, which is an essential nutrient. You might think that this is a great way to add nitrogen to the soil without adding any extra nitrogen in your diet, but you would be wrong.
- Use coffee grounds to make compost
The best way to use coffee grounds is by mixing them with soil or compost and adding them to your garden. This will give your plants nutrients that they need to grow.
Coffee grounds can be a valuable resource in your compost bin, and there are a few ways to use them. Collecting the grounds from the coffee pot is a no-brainer, but if you don’t have a coffee pot.
You can always buy a french press and use the grounds from the bottom of the pot as the composting medium.
How to unclog a sink clogged with coffee grounds?
Ever notice how anytime you have a coffee pot in the sink it starts clogging up? The culprit is coffee grounds that have been washed down the drain and deposited in your pipes.
Coffee grounds are hard enough to keep in the filter of your coffee maker, but they are also incredibly porous and will absorb the water in your pipes.
Over time, water in your pipes will break down these grounds and it will no longer be a problem, but if you are experiencing frequent clogs, it is time to clean that clog.
There are many reasons why coffee grounds block your drains and cause a clog. It is important to know how to unclog a sink with coffee grounds, a common problem in coffee shops.
If you want to prevent this from happening again, there are some things you can do to help prevent clogs.
Best way to unclogged your clogged sink:
- Use plunger
For us, the drain-clearing process is the calm before the storm of the day. Maybe the coffee is bitter, or maybe the sink is getting clogged with brown gunk that won’t budge.
But you’re not going to let a little thing like that ruin your day. So, you pull out the plunger and you start spraying every liquid you can think of: hot water, bleach, vinegar, white vinegar—you name it.
And after a few minutes of flushing, you feel like you’ve gotten the job done.
- Use hot water with specialized liquid drain cleaner.
Your sink is clogged, but what should you do? Why not try some coffee-powered DIY drain cleaner to unclog your sink? You’ll be amazed at just how well this great idea works.
First, put some liquid drain cleaner into a bowl or container that will hold a little bit of water. Next, pour some boiling water into your sink. Now add the liquid drain cleaner and stir as lightly as possible.
- Call a plumber
If your home’s plumbing system is damaged or malfunctioning, call a plumber. The quick fix is to call a plumber to unclog a sink clogged.