Can You Put Coffee Grounds Down the Garbage Disposal?

At Five Star Plumbing, one of the best plumbing companies in Baltimore, MD, we often encounter homeowners who are unsure of what does and doesn’t go in their garbage disposal. So, we are here to help. If you have been wondering “can you put coffee grounds down the garbage disposal?”, we have the answer along with a guide for garbage disposal do’s and don’ts.

Can You Put Coffee Grounds Down the Garbage Disposal?

A garbage disposal is a fantastic appliance to have in your home, one that will make your household duties much easier. However, it is very important that your garbage disposal is properly operated and properly maintained. If not, your disposal will break down, clog the drains, and result in you paying a lot of money for repairs. To avoid this, it is essential that you know what you can and cannot put in your disposal. 

When it comes to coffee grounds, we advise you to not put them in your garbage disposal. Coffee grounds will not harm the disposal itself, and in some cases could actually help eliminate odors. However, the coffee grounds could build up in your drains, causing nasty clogs.

What Can’t I Put Down My Garbage Disposal?

• Oil
• Grease
• Glass
• Metal
• Plastic
• Paper
• Onion skins
• Bones
• Coffee grounds
• Bleach
• Drain cleaner
• Anything that isn’t biodegradable

How Can I Maintain My Garbage Disposal?

One of the best methods for homeowners to clean and improve the state of their garbage disposal is by utilizing ice. By throwing a few ice cubes down the disposal and running it, the blades will sharpen as they chop the ice cubes into smaller pieces. These ice chips will venture over to the hard to reach areas of the disposal before melting down the drain. By doing this once or twice a month, your disposal will remain clean and powerful. 

When your garbage disposal starts to smell, you may be looking for a solution that won’t harm your disposal or drains. As previously stated, using harsh chemicals like bleach or drain cleaners are a very bad idea if you have a garbage disposal. Instead, we recommend that you use Borax. Borax is a sink cleaner that will combat any mold or mildew building up in your disposal that may be causing the odor. Another great method for eliminating the odor in your disposal is by throwing a lemon or orange down the disposal. The juices from the fruit will clean the walls of your disposal and leave a long-lasting and pleasant scent. 

About Five Star Plumbing

If you need your drain cleaned or repaired, Five Star Plumbing will take care of it! As local plumbers, our service area includes Baltimore County and Harford County, including but not limited to Bel Air, Abingdon, Fallston, Towson, Baltimore, Parkville, Lutherville, and Timonium. We offer 2 hour appointment windows so you don’t have to wait all day – no matter where in the area that you are located. We offer many different services, including well pump services, water treatment, plumbing repair and installation, outdoor plumbing services, drain cleaning, and water heater services.