How to reuse coffee grounds for a non-toxic cleaning trick that leaves this 1 cooking essential shining like new

Once your coffee has brewed, it makes sense to throw the grounds into the trash, but did you know you can clean pans with coffee grounds?

It might not be the most well-known solution for removing burnt food, but coffee grounds are one of the best non-toxic, food-safe abrasives for cleaning cookware, though there is one type of pan to avoid using it on.

Here, professional cleaners explain how to use coffee grounds to clean pans, adding to the long (and somewhat bizarre) list of ways you can clean a kitchen with coffee grounds.

How to clean pans with coffee grounds

Cleaning pans with coffee grounds works the same way as cleaning with baking soda.

When the coffee grounds are damp and form a spreadable paste, you can use a cloth, such as a Swedish dish cloth from Walmart, to buff away at stuck-on food or burnt spots on your pans, but steer clear of enameled or non-stick pans.

Scott Schrader, professional cleaner at CottageCare, explains, ‘Coffee grounds work the best for cleaning cast iron and cleaning stainless-steel pans; the coarse texture of the grounds works to lift off stuck-on food and residue with minimal chemicals.

'Simply grab a small handful of used, cooled coffee grounds and gently scrub with a damp sponge or towel. Rinse well to avoid residual grounds.

‘Do not use coffee grinds on non-stick pans or enameled cookware,’ Scott warns. ‘This is where the coffee grounds will be too abrasive and can scratch the surface or leave behind tiny pieces of the grounds that can affect the integrity of the pan over time.’

Generally, we advise investing in the best non-toxic cookware rather than non-stick, to help create a non-toxic home.

Coffee grounds have the added benefit of being one of the best natural deodorizers for use at home, Scott adds. ‘They are a good option to remove odor from things like garlic or fish without having to use a synthetic cleaner, not to mention, a clever alternative to repurpose something that you would likely toss.’

What to avoid

This is not to say that you should use coffee grounds to clean pans all of the time, however.

Jade Piper, operations manager at BetterCleans, adds, ‘I get the appeal because it sounds clever and eco-friendly. Coffee grounds can be a handy natural scrubber; however, they will clog the drain. They don’t dissolve and instead will clump together like damp sand. And if there’s grease, the grounds will latch onto it. It’s like building a little cement wall inside.’

It is one of the many reasons why unfiltered coffee is one of the many liquids you should never pour down your sink.

Luckily, there is one way around it, Jade adds. ‘If you’re curious and still want to try it, just don’t rinse the grounds down the sink. Scrape them into the trash or compost. But honestly, I’d rather use Dawn dish soap, available from Walmart, and a sponge to clean my pans. Way less risky and no problem rinsing down the drain!’

If you do end up with a clogged sink that won't drain, our dedicated guide will help you fix it.

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FAQs

Can bacteria grow in coffee grounds?

Wet coffee grounds can grow bacteria and go moldy, so if you are planning to use them for cleaning, ensure you do so as soon as they are cooled enough to touch after brewing coffee. Do not allow damp coffee grounds to sit out overnight.

Meet the experts

Scott Schrader

Scott is a cleaning expert at CottageCare, which is a leading home cleaning company with over 41 locations nationwide. He's a big believer in using eco-friendly cleaning solutions like baking soda.

Coffee grounds are not the only foods you can clean your home with, if you are looking for some non-toxic, zero-waste alternatives to commercial products.