When cleaning my home, I like to use mostly natural resources and things I have at home. Especially baking soda or vinegar. Lemon is also a good ally for me for a clean home. Recently, recommendations for coffee grounds that can be used to clean the toilet have started popping up on the internet. Before I tried it, I checked to see if it was a good idea.

Simple and effective

Cleaning needs to be quick and efficient. That’s my rule. So if I find a hack that is too tedious, I don’t care. In this case, however, it’s a completely simple process. One flush of coffee grounds down the toilet will neutralize odors and still clean the pipes. Sounds simple and I’m keen to try it. In addition to having a clean toilet, I’ll get rid of waste that I would otherwise throw away. Really great at first glance. I just don’t think things like coffee grounds or sand belong in the toilet. What’s the deal?

The coffee grounds boom

The coffee grounds trick went viral on social media. People liked the cleaning method mainly because it’s natural, cheap and effective. Just one teaspoon of coffee grounds and the stains are gone from the toilet. Plus, the smell disappears too. And as a bonus, you don’t have to buy any expensive synthetic toilet cleaner. If this is the only way to look at it, then this is a really great tip.

━━ ( Source: Mike Kenneally /  Unsplash+ )

How to do it

The procedure is quite simple. After brewing the coffee, take the wet coffee grounds and dispose of them in the toilet bowl. Then scrub briefly and flush. It is clear that this method of cleaning the toilet is especially sympathetic to people who want to live organically and in harmony with nature. It’s also a great tip for zero waste enthusiasts. However, I recommend you think a little more deeply before using the sediment. Is it really ideal to put coffee grounds in the toilet? Can something happen?

Not everyone agrees with the procedure

There are voices saying that coffee does not belong in the toilet. If you use it a few times, nothing is likely to happen. Regular cleaning with coffee grounds could reportedly cause not cleaning but clogging of the pipes. It all depends on how often you put the grounds in the toilet, how much you use them, and the condition of the pipes. However, a plumber wouldn’t recommend this trick. Coffee grounds are said to take months to decompose in a septic tank. “Absolutely not. You’ll clog your drain,” was the strict plumber Jan Novák, who fixed my bathroom.

Just like plumbers, hygiene experts or civil engineers are afraid of using coffee grounds. Especially in cities where the water infrastructure is outdated. In some cases, coffee grounds could do more harm than good. So think carefully about whether the test is worth the extra hassle, which may not just be for your home.

Practical experience

That the trend of coffee grounds in the toilet can be a problem has been confirmed. Earlier this year, people started talking on community forums about how some people were indeed getting sediment clogging their drains or their toilets were now flushing slowly. So it’s clear that what seems like a great idea at first glance may have impacts that are not at all visible.

While coffee grounds are abrasive and can also be effective for odour reduction without the use of bleach or ammonia, the risks come later. Moist coffee grounds do not dissolve in water. Instead, it clumps and tends to settle when wet. Particularly, of course, in the bends and joints of pipes. Regular use can lead to a gradual build-up and a reduction in flow rate. In addition, of course, soap or toilet paper residues can also settle in areas where sediment settles.