Nothing compares to freshly brewed coffee made from real coffee grounds.
If you are someone who brews coffee at home every day, you may have an idea of how much coffee grounds you’ve used. But if you believe that used coffee grounds have no other use any longer and are destined for the garbage bin, think again. You can repurpose them in a multitude of creative ways you’ve never imagined.
Before you throw away your spent coffee grounds, consider putting them into good use in several ways included below:
1. Fertilize your garden
Garden soils need to be fertilized to have the nourishment they need for optimal plant growth. Coffee grounds contain several essential nutrients for plant growth, including nitrogen, potassium, calcium, phosphorous, iron, chromium, and magnesium. They may also help absorb heavy metals that can contaminate the soil.
Earthworms are your friend because they help fertilize your garden soil. They are attracted to coffee grounds, too, so adding them to your garden beds will help bring on these useful creatures.
2. Enhance your compost pile
Used coffee grounds are loaded with nutrients (which you have read earlier). They’re a bit acidic, and as they decay, they release the much-needed nitrogen your compost.
3. Keep odors out of your fridge and freezer
Instead of baking soda or a piece of charcoal, place a box of used coffee grounds to absorb unpleasant odors in your fridge.
4. Use it as a natural exfoliating scrub
Coffee grounds have an abrasive feel to them, thus making them an excellent exfoliating scrub. Aside from caffeine, coffee grounds also contain tannins, and these compounds can help promote tighter, healthier skin.
To make your own natural scrub, add coconut oil, vitamin E oil, or jojoba oil to coffee grounds and gently scrub it over your skin while in the shower. You can use coffee grounds to scrub your face.
5. Make a coffee candle
Spent coffee grounds still retain that characteristic caffeine smell! For sure, you don’t want the nice coffee aroma to go to waste, so why not utilize it one more time by making coffee candles? All you need to have is a coffee cup with grounds, some leftover wax from used candles, and new candle wicks.
6. Repel insects and other pests
Some compounds found in coffee, such as caffeine and diterpenes, can be highly toxic to insects. Thus, they are effective in deterring bugs, ants, mosquitoes, house flies, and beetles, as well as snails and slugs.
Scatter your used coffee grounds onto the grounds of your flower beds and around outdoor seating areas to keep these nasty pests away.
7. Make an air freshener
Not only do used coffee grounds help in banishing unpleasant odors, but they also bring out that nice coffee aroma that will make your room or car smell more inviting.
All you need to have: a stocking, a piece of string or paracord, a funnel or plastic cup, and some used coffee grounds (choose the ones that smell best for you). Pour the used coffee grounds into the stocking until the stocking is filled enough to form into a ball, tie the filled stocking off with a string (make a knot if you want to hang it), and you’re done! Enjoy the pleasant coffee smell all day long in your house or car.
8. Make an anti-flea bath for your pets
Like many pests, fleas are no fans of coffee, either, so you may want to include used coffee grounds to create a natural anti-flea bath and scrub.
Add some used coffee grounds to your pet shampoo or rub them throughout your pet’s fur after shampooing. Then rinse them off thoroughly and allow your pet to dry itself, like the usual.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Coffee can be toxic to pet dogs and cats, so use the coffee grounds only externally. Also, make sure that your pet won’t accidentally ingest some coffee grounds as you scrub along.
9. Fight cellulite
You may be surprised to know that coffee is the main ingredient in many expensive cellulite creams! Why don’t you make a way cheaper cellulite treatment instead at home using your used coffee grounds? When the coffee’s caffeine content is applied topically, it may help break down the fat deposits – which are responsible for cellulite – and help increase blood flow, therefore minimizing the appearance of cellulite.
Mix coffee grounds with water, olive oil or coconut oil and scrub the areas in your body, such as thighs and buttocks, that are usually affected by cellulite.
10. Create a natural dye
Used coffee grounds make an excellent natural food dye and are especially perfect for dyeing easter eggs. Used coffee and water (or what you’ll call it “second-hand coffee”) together make an excellent non-toxic paint for paper and fabrics.