If you don’t think coffee grounds serve a purpose after your coffee’s done brewing, think again. While people typically throw them away, used coffee grounds actually have some practical functions that have nothing to do with coffee. There are several different ways to use coffee grounds around the house, and some may even surprise you!
Why toss your used coffee grounds in the trash when they can be used for gardening, cleaning, deodorizing, beautifying your skin, and even more? If you hate being wasteful and are always looking for how to repurpose what others view as junk, then follow these seven creative ways you can use coffee grounds around the house.
Fertilize your garden
Used coffee grounds are warm, moist, and more than capable of acting as natural soil for your plants. Coffee grounds contain nitrogen and other important minerals that will nourish and fertilize your plants and crops, helping them grow even taller and stronger. Either mix them in with dirt or lay some on top. They work great in both small plants, indoors or outdoors, and in larger gardens.
Get rid of smelly odors
If you have a spot in one of your cabinets or a corner of a closet or basement that gets particularly smelly, coffee grounds are your friends. Put some in a sachet or sock and place it in the area you want to deodorize. The coffee grounds will neutralize the foul stench in no time. They’re even great for refrigerator smells, too.
Clean rough areas
We all have those tough-to-clean items and areas in our homes. Coffee grounds come in very handy in those situations. Whether you’re scrubbing down pots and pans or cleaning out a smoky fireplace or oven, the abrasiveness of the coffee grounds can make it easier to wash away residue. Just place some on a sponge with a bit of water and scrub, scrub, scrub away.
Keep pesky bugs away
In addition to fertilizing your plants, coffee grounds will keep ants, flies, and other pests away from the plants they’d usually flock to. You can place the coffee grounds anywhere that normally attracts bugs, whether in an indoor or outdoor area of your home, to repel them. This can be in your front yard or in any garden area, for example.
Shine and grow your hair
For those with brown or black hair, using coffee grounds can bring out a shine in your hair and make it softer. The acids and nutrients in them have a cleansing effect on hair, which is especially useful if your shampoo or other hair product usually leaves residue. Just spread some coffee grounds on your scalp, then continue with your typical shampoo regimen, and rinse.
Freshen up your skin
Big beauty routine game-changer here: Coffee grounds can be used on your skin, as well. Use them as a face scrub and they will exfoliate just as well as that expensive, bottled face wash in your bathroom. Coffee grounds are also said to be helpful for minimizing the appearance of under-eye circles and cellulite. Simply rub it on, then rinse it off. Trust us, you will feel great and look great, too.
Cover furniture scratches
Furniture can scratch pretty easily sometimes. Luckily, coffee grounds don’t only mask blemishes on our skin but on furniture, too! For this, you’ll have to add more water to your coffee grounds to create a thick paste. Then, use either a brush or a cotton swab, depending on the size of the problem area, to wipe it on the surfaces that are scratched or scuffed. Let it sit for about 10 minutes, then wipe it off. Repeat until it buffs out.
Coffee grounds are surprisingly versatile and have many uses around the house and for your own personal beauty. If you’ve been trashing them after making your cup of coffee, you might want to consider the many ways they could help you in your daily life instead.
Using coffee grounds around the home is simple, takes little time, and in many cases could spare you a trip to the store and put a little extra money in your pocket. With their moisture and nutrient-richness, grounds work just as well as products you might buy in the store.
Whether you need to eliminate an odor in your home, scrub down grime on a countertop, or repel bugs, coffee grounds have your back. So the next time you make coffee, have a plan for those grounds so they don’t go to waste!
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