I am a huge coffee addict, but it’s good for a lot more than my morning jolt! The average American actually drinks 2 cups of coffee a day, which can add up pretty quick… that’s a lot of old coffee grounds, right?
Here at Old Fashioned Families we prefer not to waste things, which makes me love coffee even more! Rather than throwing away your old coffee grounds, you can use them in your garden, your home, and even your hair!
Here are 8 different ways that you can re-use old coffee grounds:
1) Treat Your Plants
Believe it or not, some plants love a good ole cup of Joe! 😉 When sprinkled on the soil coffee grounds increase acidity, making it a great treat for plants such as roses and hydrangeas.
2) Compost
The acidity of coffee grounds is easily neutralized by adding plenty of grass and leaves, so why not throw used ones in your compost rather than the trash? Using coffee grounds in your compost will add lots of nitrogen, potassium, and magnesium— which every plant needs!
3) Clean Your Dishes
The grit of coffee grounds make them a great option for scrubbing. Just add some old coffee grounds (and maybe a little dish soap) to your washcloth and you’ll be able to tackle dirty pots and pans, the grill, and even counter top stains!
4) Repel Insects / Pests
Sprinkle your used coffee grounds around plants in your garden that need protected! Snails, slugs, and ants will definitely avoid them. You might even be able to keep cats away by adding some orange peel!
5) Exfoliate Your Skin
Coffee grounds can help to stimulate blood flow, which in turn makes it a great scrub. Add the grounds to a carrier oil, such as coconut oil or vitamin E oil, and scrub away! It’ll help get rid of dead skin and promote overall healthy skin! You can check out a great body scrub recipe here.
6) Clean Your Hair
If you’re someone who tends to use a lot of product in your hair, coffee grounds could be a really great all-natural solution for you! You can massage grounds directly into your hair to get rid of product residue before washing your hair. Not only will it leave your locks looking shiny, it can add a little color boost for brunettes!
7) Make a Candle
If you’re looking for a natural way to keep your house smelling great, maybe it’s time to get to work on some coffee ground candles! It’s the perfect way to add a great scent to your candles while reusing old grounds. Check out this super easy step-by-step breakdown!
8) Deodorize the Fridge
Coffee grounds, like baking soda, are really great for absorbing odors. After you brew your morning pot of coffee, instead of throwing the old grounds away, keep them in an open container in your fridge. Your fridge will stay smelling great all the while, and once they lose their potency you can just toss them in your compost!
I definitely don’t recommend using the same grounds that are trapping odors in your hair or for your candles, so you’d want to plan that out a little in advance. You can always store some grounds in a Tupperware container, so that the odors don’t get in, if you were needing to save up!
Are there any other ways that you reuse your coffee grounds? Share with me in the comments below!
Leave a Reply