Cleaning expert warns letting one scrap down the drain ends in 'serious damage'

It's not uncommon for bits of food to find their way down the kitchen drain as we're cleaning up, but this can cause some serious damage to plumbing systems. While it can be tempting to simply chuck food waste down the drain, it can lead to long-term problems, including blocked pipes and unpleasant odours.

If you've noticed unpleasant odours coming from your kitchen sink or water taking a long time to drain down the plug after you're done cleaning dishes, your pipes might be at risk of becoming blocked. While it can be hard to stop every bit of food going down the plughole, a cleaning expert has warned there's one item you should never throw down your drain.

In an article for The Spruce, cleaning expert Joy Ramos revealed you should never throw coffee grounds into your kitchen sink and down the drain, as they can cause serious damage.

While it might seem harmless, and something you do daily to dispose of coffee grounds, especially if you make fresh coffee each morning, coffee grounds don't dissolve in water.

Instead, they stick together and when met with greasy and soapy residue, can result in a nasty clog in pipes that might require calling in a professional plumber to help unblock your drains.

It's not just your kitchen sink that suffers either. Kitchen sink drains are often connected to a network of pipes in the home, and Joy explained that buildup from coffee grounds can "spread through your whole drainage system".

If you've been chucking coffee grounds down your sink, don't panic. If you haven't noticed any nasty odours or water draining slowly, give it a rinse to prevent any potential clogs.

Joy said: "Start by flushing the drain with a solution of hot water and dish soap to help dissolve any clogs." For a stronger solution, you can pour baking soda and vinegar, and let it sit for 15 minutes before rising with boiling water.

Once you've cleaned your pipes, make sure to start disposing of coffee grounds properly by throwing them into your compost bin, or even using them in the garden as a natural fertiliser.