Do not pour coffee grounds in the kitchen sink, but some people do it on purpose.

Coffee grounds can completely clog drain pipes over time and if that happens, you have a problem. But surprisingly, we have noticed a trend where people pour coffee grounds down the sink on purpose. What are they trying to do?

Some videos circulating around claim that coffee grounds have the ability to clean waste. Could there be some truth to this, or would you be slowly destroying drain pipes?

Can coffee grounds clean drains?

These methods use coffee grounds mixed with soap and this mixture is then used to clean the drain. You shall pour it into the drain and then pour boiling water in. There is some logic behind this procedure, because coffee grounds contain coarse particles, which can help. But the most effective component of this method is the hot water with soap, which should act as degreaser. Most likely, coffee grounds do not play any role in this.

Photo: Pixabay

Coffee grounds do not belong to the drain

If you pour coffee grounds down the drain, you are actually doing more harm than good. Drains are coated on the inside with a greasy layer that traps coffee grounds and any other small particles. So, if you pour coffee grounds down the drain often and do not flush the pipes with hot water afterwards, they may create a plug as hard as concrete.

What about different type of coffee?

There is an opinion that coffee grounds are not good for drain cleaning, but instant coffee and hot water is… Well, the same is true. The hot liquid plays a role and coffee does not. Coffee has some degreasing properties but in this case the effect is negligible. Anyway, the idea that you make an instant coffee and then pour it down the drain sound anecdotal and crazy. Would you not agree?

How to clean pipes efficiently

A simple and effective remedy is to use an 8% solution of acetic acid, such as a kitchen vinegar. It has strong degreasing properties and dissolves lime scale, which builds in pipes over time. It also eliminates the putrid smell originating from settled dirt. This is what you do. In the evening, pour one or two of vinegar into the drain, close it with the stopper and rinse with a large amount of boiling water in the morning.

Source: https://www.poradte.cz/domacnost-a-bydleni/35288-logr-cisti-nebo-ucpava-potrubi.html, https://www.ireceptar.cz/domov-a-bydleni/kava-vyuziti-cisteni-30000920.html, https://www.chatar-chalupar.cz/co-vsechno-nepatri-do-odpadu/

Preview photo: Pixabay