You may not think that there are many uses for used coffee grounds, but there really are. Those grounds can eliminate the need to use a lot of chemicals that aren’t so environmentally friendly. In this guide, you’ll learn some of the most common uses for leftover coffee grounds.
-You can use them to freshen your freezer or refrigerator, or rub them on your hands after handling aromatic foods. If you cut the foot out of a pair of old pantyhose, you can fill it with used coffee grounds, making a deodorizing sachet for your closet.
-Used coffee grounds are a great plant food. Azaleas, carrots, some evergreens, and radishes all can benefit from the grounds. Mix coffee grounds with radish and carrot seeds before planting, and you can also add them to the soil for indoor plants. Used coffee grounds are also a welcome addition to a compost heap. Sprinkle them in your garden to keep cats from using it as a litter box.
-Sprinkle used coffee grounds around the outside of your home, nearest to the foundation. Ants, slugs and snails don’t like the taste of coffee.
-Use the coffee grounds as a dye. You can steep them in hot water, and from there you can tint almost anything. You can also use the solution to cover up scratches on wooden furniture.
-The abrasive nature of coffee grounds makes them a good scouring powder that can remove grease and dirt from pots and pans, grills, and even ovens.
-Rub used coffee grounds into your dog’s coat and skin after a bath, then rinse. Not only will they soften your dog’s coat, they will prevent flea infestation.
-They’ll work on your hair, too. Rub them through after you wash it. For you brunettes and redheads, coffee grounds will add subtle highlights. You can further the spa experience by using the grounds as a gentle exfoliant.
-Used coffee grounds can also be used as a cellulite reducer. All you need is some warm grounds and a tablespoon of either olive or baby oil. Stand on an old towel, and apply the mixture to any problem areas. Wrap the area in plastic wrap, and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Remove the wrap and rinse with lukewarm water.
There are a lot of recycled uses for the humble coffee ground that we didn’t cover here. Next time you’re done enjoying your morning coffee, don’t throw the grounds out- put them to good use!