Coffee lovers this one is for you! Instead of throwing away your coffee grounds tomorrow morning, consider setting them aside and using them later. Surprisingly, there are plenty of different options with what you can do to reuse those grounds.
- Compost
Composting is nature’s process of recycling decomposed organic material into a rich soil. Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen; therefore, they add a ton of healthy bacteria that help break down the items being composted. Beneficial worms may also be lead to your garden because of the old coffee.
- Mulch/Boost Carrot and Radish Harvest
Using coffee grounds as mulch for your garden will help control unwanted weeds and keep your vegetables more hydrated throughout the warm summer months. Coffee grounds have also been proven to help carrots and radishes grow twice the amount in the same time just by adding coffee grounds to their seeds when planting!
- Houseplants
Add coffee grounds to the soil of your houseplants! This is like the same concept as composting but instead of it being outdoors, this is indoors. The grounds will help your plants grow bigger and look wonderful. Add the grounds about once a week, you don’t want to overuse this option!
- Keep Pests Away
Another great benefit of composting old coffee grounds is that it helps keep the pests away. Putting a layer of coffee grounds around your favorite outdoor plants will keep the snails and slugs away.
- Dumpster Odor Relief
The odor the dumpster can release is sometimes unbearable. Instead of holding your breath next time you open the lid, try taking your old coffee grounds and putting them into an old sock or pantyhose and hang that from the inside of the lid.
- Absorbing Unpleasant Food Odors
Do you ever have that old stale stench just lingering around in your refrigerator or freezer? Your coffee grounds can help! Much like baking soda, you can take old coffee grounds and place them in a container then leave them there for a couple of weeks! You’ll notice the smell go away and once you’re ready to remove those grounds you can use them as compost! That is like a triple win!
- Keep your Drawers, Cabinets and Chests Odor Free
Dry the coffee grounds out by putting them in the oven at 200 degrees or by putting them near a sunny window for a day or two. Then mix the coffee grounds with equal amounts of baking soda and wrap in some fabric or an old sock. Then set it wherever you want it, whether it be in the mud room, toy chest, dresser drawers, or an old closet.
- Hair Scrub
Remove the natural residue that resides in your hair. Before you shampoo, get a handful of coffee grounds and message them into your hair. The texture is coarse enough to break apart unwanted residue but it is also gentle enough that it won’t damage your locks.
- Reducing Cellulite
One of the most unwelcome side affect of a poor diet, sitting too long, smoking, or even genetic predisposition is cellulite. There are actually a multitude of coffee ground scrubs that address cellulite reduction, but just using the grounds mixed with warm water twice a week will do the trick. It is said that results should start appearing within four weeks of steady treatment.
- Exfoliating Facial
Instead of paying $500 on a trip to the spa, you can reuse your $10 bag of coffee grounds as a body scrub! They’re known for removing dead skin cells leaving your skin looking radiant after it’s been exfoliated. Adding the grounds to a little bit of warm water or some coconut oil will do the trick! While leaving more money in your wallet, but allowing you to feel like you went to the spa.
Use 4 Tablespoons of olive oil or coconut oil
Add 6 tablespoons of finely ground coffee
Add a few drops of your preferred essential oil scent (optional)
Store this mixture in the refrigerator or at room temperature, and then it is ready when you are!
Next time you make coffee consider putting the grains aside and use them for one of the purposes above. Why not get double the use out of one purchase? Coffee grounds have many uses around the house and personally as well. Don’t miss out on something so easy and so affordable!
Sources: recycleworks.org/compost/, naturallivingideas.com/14-genius-ways-recycle-used-coffee-grounds
onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/diy-beauty-projects-you-can-mix-up-with-used-coffee-grounds/
Image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/oberazzi/3367777051
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