Most of us can agree that coffee is a crucial step in our morning wakeup routine. The only things to debate are the options of how we brew the coffee and what type container to drink it from. But what about all the options for what to do with the coffee grounds when we’re done? Click below the link to find out how to extend your relationship with coffee beyond the cup and throughout your house.
Plant Fertilizer: Plants that prefer acidic soils will respond well to coffee grounds. Use grounds to on the top layer of soil, or mix it with potting soil before planting.
Compost: Grounds can add nutrients to your compost bin. Add to compost piles to increase nitrogen balance. Coffee filters and tea bags will also break down rapidly during composting.
Deodorizer: Dry coffee grounds on a cookie sheet and then put them in an open container in your refrigerator or freezer. Or, fill a sachet with the dried grounds and hang in closets to absorb odors.
Insect Repellant: Sprinkle grounds around places you don’t want ants, or around ant hills. Encircle the base of a plant to repel pests.
Natural Dye: By steeping grounds in hot water, you can make a natural brown dye for fabrics and paper.
Cleaning Solution: Use grounds as a scouring agent any greasy or stain resistant surface. Also works to remove strong odors such as garlic and onion from pans and your hands.
Furniture Repair: Steep grounds and apply mixture to wood furniture scratches with a Q-tip.
We want to know, have you tried any of these methods? Got any suggestions to add to the list?
Image via Wikimedia Commons
Thanks for your blog. Silly me I have been throwing out all my coffee grounds. I am sure going to try all your ideas out.
view lovethatgreen's profile
Used coffee grounds also make a great body scrub. I've been using my used espresso ground beans for both a face & body scrub, for over a year. It's the best exfoliant I've used, and I'm hooked! I mix the grounds with a little olive oil or coconut oil, scrub well, then rinse. I only recommend doing this in the shower so you can rinse well. I worked in the beauty industry for a while, and I swear I've never come across a commercial scrub with that made my skin so soft. Perhaps the caffeine is a bonus, as well.
view antoi's profile
- vegas roach trap.
- I keep a small amount of fresh (no more than 3 days old) grounds in a sealed dish by my sink to scrub my hands with post garlic or onion handling
view Shilo's profile
Antoi - love the scrub idea. Do you find that the fine grind of the espresso beans is best, or have you experimented at all with that? I'll have to try out the grounds from my french press and test it out!
view Sharon H's profile