People Are Using Coffee To Clean Toilets But Is It A Good Idea?

Can't get enough coffee? Should you give your toilet a cup too? A freshly brewed cup of java can be the perfect morning boost or help with an afternoon slump. People on social media have been getting creative, and are using their coffee for things other than making a cup of joe. This particular hack would have you cleaning your toilets with coffee grounds, but is this a good idea? The answer is probably not.

Coffee grounds have many unexpected uses around your home, but acting as an ideal toilet cleaner isn't one of them. On social media, people have been adding a few tablespoons of coffee grounds mixed with baking soda and vinegar to their toilet bowl (incidentally, combining baking soda and vinegar for cleaning has a big downside, as they neutralize each other), letting the mix sit for a few minutes before using their toilet brush to clean the bowl, and then flushing. Some substances in coffee, such as chlorogenic acid, are known for having antibacterial properties, which makes it seem like coffee might be a good idea for cleaning. The grounds are mildly abrasive, perfect for scrubbing, and the nitrogen in caffeine may also help neutralize odors. All of this would make putting coffee grounds in your toilet seem like a genius idea, but this hack has a major drawback — potentially playing havoc with your plumbing.

While it can be handy for certain household jobs, there are many things you should never do with coffee around your home and garden, and unfortunately, putting coffee in your toilet could be one of them. Habitually cleaning your toilet with coffee might cause the grounds to build up inside the pipes. This may eventually lead to a clog. The likelihood that clogs will develop may depend on how frequently you place coffee grounds in the toilet, how much you use, and the condition of your pipes. But plumbers seem to agree that coffee grounds can contribute to clogged drains. In a septic tank, coffee grounds will take months to break down. Too many solids can make it challenging for the bacteria to decompose other substances in your septic tank, which can result in sewage backups. 

Have you already tried this hack and are feeling stressed? A tablespoon or two used once-off isn't likely to cause an issue, but you probably don't want to make coffee the cornerstone of your toilet cleaning routine. As long as the water in the bowl is rising and it's flushing properly, your toilet is probably fine, but don't make flushing solids down the potty habitual. If you still want your bathroom smelling like coffee, consider reusing coffee grounds to make a DIY candle. Alternatively, save the coffee grounds for your gardening pots, and instead keep your toilet sparkling with these common kitchen ingredients that are safer and cheaper.