Every time we make coffee then we throw away the now exhausted ground coffee.
Did you know, however, that there are at least 16 different ways to recycle them and take full advantage of the benefits your coffee can bestow?
Here are some ideas from which you can take inspiration for reusing coffee grounds before throwing them in the trash, from beauty treatments for the body to fertilizing the garden, as well as cleaning the house.
1. Clean washable surfaces of the house
Coffee is great for removing stubborn dirt from various surfaces in the home, such as coffee pots, pots, dishes, oven and fireplace.
Simply moisten the spent coffee and rub it on the surface in question with the help of a sponge. For a more intense result, add a little neutral soap as well.
For the fireplace, sprinkle all surfaces well with wet primers and scrub vigorously. It will be very helpful in removing all ash residue, as well as odors.
2. Polishing steel surfaces
Coffee is perfect for polishing.
For example, do you have a steel sink and would like to see it clean or shiny?
Gently scrub damp coffee grounds with the help of a sponge and it will be as good as new again.
3. Odor capture
Simply fill a coffee bowl with the grounds left to dry and let it sit for a couple of days. Coffee is very porous and absorbs everything in its environment: you will have thus obtained a 100% natural deodorant.
You can use it in the refrigerator, in the shoe rack, in the basement, or even in the car if you insert coffee into the tip of old pantyhose to make a small bag.
4. Treating old, damaged wooden furniture
Scratches found on dark wood furniture can be touched up using coffee grounds mixed with warm water until they become a creamy paste.
After that, with a small brush or toothbrush, gently sweep the mixture over the surface to be treated.
5. Rustproof pincushion
Let the coffee grounds dry thoroughly, and then use them as stuffing for a DIY pincushion, which also prevents rust.
6. Dyeing fabrics
Coffee color on fabrics can also be achieved naturally. Simply bring water with coffee grounds to a boil and soak the fabrics.
You can also use the same dye to paint on canvas or paper.
7. Fertilizing flowers and the garden
Coffee grounds are perfect for fertilizing the flowers you love and acidic soils, such as roses, azaleas, rhododendron, evergreens, and camellias.
This will make the soil even more acidic and the flowers or plants will be able to draw more nourishment.
8. Sowing carrots
Do you have a green thumb and would like to create a small vegetable garden in your home garden or in your balcony planters?
Coffee grounds combined with carrot seeds will make it easier to distribute over the soil during planting. In addition, the coffee will give more nutrition to the carrots, promoting their growth.
9. Enriching compost
Coffee grounds are rich in potassium, phosphorus, copper, and magnesium. They also release nitrogen into the soil and make it slightly acidic.
As a result, they enrich your outdoor composting bin.
10. Growing mushrooms
Coffee grounds are a very useful fertilizer for home mushroom cultivation.
This can also be facilitated by purchasing starter kits, purchasable at this link >>
11. Warding off ants and slugs.
If ants have reached your home, do not resort to drastic and toxic remedies. Use coffee grounds! Simply place them in the affected areas to ward them off.
In addition, coffee grounds left to dry can also be used to sprinkle around the edges of your vegetable garden to ward off slugs, without resorting to chemicals.
12. Anti-cellulite treatment
We women know how annoying cellulite can sometimes be.
Mixing leftover ground coffee with some brown sugar and a little coconut oil can make a natural anti-cellulite treatment.
Then massage the mixture with circular motions and pressure from the bottom to the top on the affected areas.
13. Body and face scrub
To have clean, well-nourished skin, it is recommended to have a scrub about once a week. This removes dead skin residue or waste that makes it unclean.
If you combine coffee grounds with olive oil, two ingredients we all have at home, and mix them until you get a smooth mixture, you can then massage it into your skin and immediately see the benefits.
For a more targeted action suitable for delicate facial skin, my favorite DIY mask recipe is:
- 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds
- 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons of milk or yogurt
- 1 tablespoon of honey
Simply mix all the ingredients together in a bowl, apply the mixture to damp skin, massaging in circular motions from bottom to top, and then leave on for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing off.
You will immediately see the skin on your face radiant as never before.
14. Anti-odor hand soap
Coffee is perfect for removing strong, unpleasant odors from your hands, such as the smell of fish, garlic or onion. Just take some spent mince and rub it on your hands. It can also be combined with soap, preferably Marseille soap.
15. Hair reflexifier
Coffee-colored hair dye has now become a must for hair.
For those who already have brown hair, it is possible to get a natural, do-it-yourself highlights using coffee grounds. Just take a small amount of the mince and add it to neutral-colored henna, also a natural product.
If, on the other hand, you simply want to brighten your color or make your hair shinier, simply dilute some leftover iced coffee in plenty of water and then rinse in the shower.
16. Footbath
An energizing foot bath is perfect for curbing sweating and keeping odor formation at bay. Simply dilute spent coffee in warm water and let the feet soak. After that, take more coffee grounds and massage the feet to soften the rougher areas, thus operating a scrub.
Have you ever tried any of these uses for coffee grounds?
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