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Garbage disposals are incredibly useful, albeit fussy, machines. Contrary to popular belief, your garbage disposal is not<\/em> a garbage can. There are certain things you should never try to force down your disposal\u2014including this everyday staple that seems safer than it is.\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Coffee made with a filter or pod makes cleanup easy, since you can simply remove and discard the entire used filter or pod. But if you use an espresso machine or French press, you\u2019re probably tempted to run those coffee grounds down your sink.\n<\/p>\n We\u2019re here with a PSA: It\u2019s time to stop pouring coffee grounds down the garbage disposal.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n You\u2019ve probably noticed that ground coffee tends to expand when it comes into contact with water. That’s because it contains a lot of carbon dioxide, and hot water speeds up the release of that gas. On top of that, no matter how fine the grind, coffee grounds tend to clump together\u2014making them a gritty, water-absorbing mass that’s the last thing you want in your pipes.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \u201cOnce wet, it doesn\u2019t become dry very easily so it\u2019s quick to grow new life while it swells and smells, making it a true kitchen pipe nightmare,\u201d says Dale Donchey, founder and owner of Atlanta-based coffee shop Spiller Park Coffee<\/a>. \u201c[Ground coffee is] more likely to muck up the swirling parts of the garbage disposal than become even smaller.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Why You Shouldn\u2019t Put Coffee Grounds Down Your Garbage Disposal <\/span> <\/h2>\n