I’m not a coffee drinker, but I’ve had plenty of practice making it at various jobs in the past. So when I ran across an article talking about the many uses of used coffee grounds, I was intrigued! Who knew that brown gunk was actually good for something?! :-)
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The average American consumes about 3 cups of coffee a day, which means there are a lot of used coffee grounds out there that are most likely getting dumped right in the trash! Before you throw them out, consider some of the following very useful and resourceful options for putting those grounds to good use!
20 Uses For Coffee Grounds
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Eliminate Odors
#1 – Dry the grounds out on a cookie sheet and then put them in a bowl in your refrigerator or freezer to neutralize odors. (This also works well to get rid of Mothball smells from closets or campers!) Another useful odor-eating way to utilize coffee grounds is to make them into frozen tablets to drop into your garbage disposal to keep it smelling fresh. (You can get all the details about that by following the link below!)
Related: How To Clean Your Garbage Disposal With Coffee Grounds
#2 – Keep some grounds in a small can under the sink, then the next time you chop an onion or fresh garlic, scoop out a small amount, rub them over your hands and rinse. Odor gone!
Gardener’s Helper
#3 – Coffee grounds are highly acidic, so spread them generously over the flower beds of acid loving plants, such as azaleas, rhododendrons, and Hydrangeas, for amazing blooms!
#4 – Coffee grounds are loaded with phosphorous, potassium, magnesium and copper. They’re a tad acidic and as they degrade they release nitrogen which makes for especially rich compost.
#5 – Give seedlings a nitrogen boost by stirring grounds into soil or a watering can.
#6 – When planting carrot and radish seeds, mix them liberally with coffee grounds before you plant. You will double your harvest!
#7 – Make your own gardeners soap by melting a bar of glycerin soap and adding 1/3 cup coffee grounds, reshape bar in a mold and use. Great scrubbing and exfoliating action at the same time!
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Repair Scratched Furniture
#8 – Mix 1 tablespoon coffee grounds with 1 teaspoon olive oil. Apply with a cotton swab or cotton ball, wipe dry. Test in an inconspicuous area first.
Fisherman’s Friend
#9 – If you like fishing and have a wormbed at home, add coffee grounds! The BEST worm bed mix is aged horse manure and coffee grounds. You’ll grow some nice fat ones for fishing!
Insect Deterrent
#10 – Fill a can or jar with an inch or two of moistened coffee grounds, then line the container’s neck with extra-sticky double-sided tape. The scent will draw cockroaches into the trap.
#11 – Sprinkle old grounds around places you don’t want ants, or on the ant hills themselves. Used grounds also repel snails and slugs.
Dogs And Cats
#12 – After bathing your dog, rub 1 to 2 cups of coffee grounds into his fur and rinse well. Not only does this kill fleas, but will make his fur silky smooth.
#13 – Mix used grounds with chopped orange peels and sprinkle liberally around your garden and flowerbeds to keep your cat from using your garden as a restroom.
Flavor Enhancer
#14 – Adding instant coffee grounds or brewed coffee enhances the flavor of chocolate cakes and chili. Substitute strong coffee for some of a recipe’s water for a richer, bolder flavor.
#15 – Adding a tablespoon of fresh coffee grounds to meat marinades will tenderize the meat and give it a mild smokiness.
Clear Up Acne
#16 – Coffee has natural astringent and antioxidant properties which make it a great cleanser and toner for your face. Just mix your coffee grounds with enough milk to make a paste. Rub it on for about a minute, then relax and let it sit for about 20 minutes. Rinse clean.
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Fight Cellulite
#17 – Not sure if I “buy” this one….but…coffee IS the main ingredient in many of those high-priced cellulite creams. Simply mix 1/4 cup warm coffee grounds with 1 tablespoon olive oil and apply liberally to problem areas, wrap with plastic wrap. Let set for 10 minutes, unwrap and shower normally. Couldn’t hurt!
Highlight Hair Naturally
#18 – Brunettes and darker redheads can turn up the shine in their hair by rinsing dry, clean hair with strong, cooled coffee. Steep used coffee grounds in 2 cups hot water for 15 minutes or so and then rinse through hair for a darker, more vibrant shine. You can also pour 1-2 tablespoons straight into your conditioner. Not recommended for blonde or silver hair.
Exfoliating Scrub
#19 – The caffeine in coffee helps stimulate skin cells and promotes healthier, tighter skin. Simply add coconut oil, vitamin E oil or jojoba oil to coffee grounds and massage it on in the shower.
Freshen Your Clothes
#20 – Add a pot of freshly brewed coffee and the grounds to a load of wash, toss in any brown clothing and walk away. The coffee stains the material and keeps dark colors looking great.
Bonus Tip – You can usually get your hands on used coffee grounds pretty easily, even if you’re not an avid coffee-drinker. Ask around at your local coffee shops! Many shops, including many Starbucks locations, will happily give bags of used grounds away to people who want to use them for their home and gardens.
Those little brown granules sure can do a lot more that just perk up your morning! I hope some of these were as helpful to you as they were to me. What uses for coffee grounds would you add to this list?
Very useful info, thanks
Thanks for this article – however I always learned that it can ruin your septic system to put coffee grounds down the sink drain!
So I’m definitely not using that tip, but I have been considering taking your advice on using them for composting.
The grounds also stick to any grease or gunk in the drain lines and over time can act like a clogged artery with all the build up. As for putting them in the refrigerator, not only do they absorb other odors, but then softer foods like cheese will start smelling like coffee.
Recently I contacted you about removing clear corn syrup from a love seat. You suggested your furniture and carpet stain remover. I got everything ready to clean. When I applied the warm water to soften the syrup it started to wipe right off. YOU are my hero. You saved me a bundle by not having to call professional cleaners. It is brand new again! (So excited I did the Happy Dance.) Your tips have saved me time and again. Thanks for all your great ideas. You are the Queen of Clean! Bless you. B Karr.
I’m so glad!! Thanks Barbara!
No they don’t need to be dry . Just sprinkle them around everywhere ,the worms love them and will aerate your soil especially if you have hard clay like soil .grind up your eggshells and mix them with the coffee grounds for even more help for your soil ,have fun gardening!!!
Back in the days my grandma taught me about coffee grounds, she always put her coffee grounds in her fushia bby yt b by byaskets,and always around her roses. They grew beautiful plus she never had any bad bugs.Well I still do that after she passed and my flowers are gorgeous and no bugs. Everyone always ask what I am doing they can’t believe it until they try it. It WORKS!!!!
Recently, I had an old prescription of a painkiller that was no longer needed that I needed too dispose of. The police dept used to have a drug turn it thing, but no longer did. I called everywhere & couldn’t find any place to go turn it in. So I called my brother- in- law, a pharmacist, and asked his advice. He told me to mix the pills into a can of old wet coffee grounds & throw it away. The acid in them would take care of it and make it safe for disposal! Easy Peasy!
Interesting! Thanks for the tip Marilyn :-)
Hey, Jillee, not sure when I started getting your newsletter but it was sometime in the last year. It is great; I love your tips! I often think it must be great to have a wife like you.
No, my wife won’t get jealous because I don’t have one … lol.
I LOVE using them as a shower scrubb!!!! So sad that i moved to a house in the country and learned coffee grounds are VERY bad for septic systems. :( Now I just do it every time I travel! (thank you hotel in-room coffee maker!)
In warm weather-combine tips!! Scrub up outdoors and rinse off in the yard or garden. Your septic system is safe!
I love this website and all the cool tips you provide to us. I wish you were able to give us a link to print the page. I would like to keep the list of things to do with the various items you discuss, but it takes a bit to copy and past to a page I can print. Hope you’ll consider this idea.
There’s a green print button towards the bottom of every post! :-)
About #18, will it help cover silver or gray hair on a brunette? I might just TOTALLY try this either way!