All You Need to Know about Coffee Grounds in Garbage Disposal

The electric garbage disposer has made it easier to dispose of kitchen remains.

Sadly, plumbing pipes and garbage disposals aren’t designed to deal with some discards, like coffee grounds, that people often dumb down the system. The fine nature of these grounds makes it possible for them to attach to any dirt already in the system.

Therefore, coffee grounds in garbage disposal may result in an obstruction or even compound an existing problem.

Removing Coffee Grounds from Disposal

There are 8 steps that you should follow to effectively remove coffee grounds from your disposal system.

Using a Plunger

Here, you will need to follow the following three steps:

Step 1 – Fill your sink with enough water – ensure that you submerge the plunger’s rubber cup (completely cover it).
Step 2 – Seal the other side of the drain with a rubber drain stop. You may also use a small towel to cover the opening.
Step 3 – Hold the grip of the plunger with your hands and place the cup straight on the top of the opening. Push down as well as and pull up as many times as possible (10 to 15 times) until the clog starts to clear.

Clearing the P-trap

If the above process doesn’t dislodge your system, then use the steps below. These five steps involve the use of P-trap to clear the coffee clog.

Step 4 – Look under your sink and locate the U-shaped pipe. This pipe is usually known as a P-trap. Place a bucket under the P-trap to collect any water that might surge from the pipe.
Step 5 – Unscrew the connections on both sides of the P-trap. If it’s a metal pipe, use your pipe wrench to turn and twist the connecting nuts until they begin to loosen. On the other hand, if it is a plastic one, use your hand to loosen the connection through turning it in a counter-clockwise direction.
Step 6 – Pull the P-trap away from joining pipe to remove it. Ensure that you place your bucket in the right place so as to collect all the content from the pipes (it might be smelly and is quite dirty).
Step 7 – Remove the coffee obstruction in the trap using a pointed tool like a screwdriver or a gloved hand. Wash the trap with water to remove all the dirt. In addition, look into the other parts of the pipe (from the wall and to the sink) to ensure that there is no other material blocking the pipe.
Step 8 – Reconnect the P-trap. Turn the connections clockwise to tighten them. Once the connection is in place, switch on the garbage disposal to ensure that the jam has been cleared completely.

Coffee Grounds in the Disposer

Some plumbers argue that it is OK to dispose of coffee grounds down the garbage disposal if you run adequate water to flush them thoroughly out of the sewer system. This will take many gallons of water to rinse them completely.

Therefore, if you intend to put these remains down your disposal unit, ensure that you set aside a few bucks of water to wash away the coffee grounds and also set aside some money for paying the plumber when he comes to clear the system when the system clog.

Disposing of Coffee Grounds

If it isn’t right to dispose of coffee grounds using your garbage disposal, how will you then get rid of them? It is very easy – use a coffee filter.

Put a coffee filter in your sink above the drain, dispose of your coffee grounds in, and then pull the sides of the sift together and finally remove it from the sink.

The other ways to dispose of coffee grounds include:

Garden – Plants benefit from coffee grounds. If you do not have a full compost, this material will work by themselves. In addition, spread the remains around your garden to repel of insects such as slugs and ants, and help to hasten plant growth.
Indoor House Plants – The same applies for indoor plants. You do not need to have a big garden to use coffee remains.
Absorb Food Odor – Coffee ground may also help to absorb stinky smell from a refrigerator.
Exfoliate Skin – You may use these remains to scrub away dead cells from your skin when you mix it with coconut oil.
Cleanser Hair – Message the grounds through your head and rinse out. This will clean built-up remains from styling products.

In Conclusion

Plain and simple – don’t put coffee grounds in garbage disposal. They are one of the biggest drain jamming offenders, along with grease, oil, and fats.

Unlike other foods material, coffee grounds don’t mix with water; actually, they usually cluster together. In the long run, they build up and may get packed together in your drainage system.