8 Creative Ways To Use Old Coffee Grounds
Ever wondered what you can do with your old coffee grounds? You might be surprised to hear that they have many practical uses in the home, garden and even your beauty routine! So why not avoid throwing them in the trash and next time re-purpose them with one of these creative options instead!
- Fertilise the garden
Every good gardener knows the importance of fertilising the soil regularly to produce healthy and vibrant plants. Fertiliser can be expensive and full of chemicals, so why not ditch the store-bought stuff and opt for a natural alternative instead! Coffee grounds are a great natural fertiliser as they are rich in minerals such as calcium, nitrogen, potassium, iron, phosphorus and magnesium. Sprinkle them around the soil where your plants are growing to provide a slow-release fertiliser for when the soil gets depleted or add them to indoor houseplants for an extra nutrient boost. Coffee grounds can be highly acidic so they are well suited for flowering plants to help them produce beautiful blooms!
- Compost
Coffee grounds are also an excellent addition to your compost heap and help to create compost that is rich and nutrient-dense. Due to their acidity, they release nitrogen as they degrade which is a key component to a healthy compost. Just be careful to keep the balance right in your compost heap by adding other kitchen scraps too.
- Bug Repellent
Coffee grounds can be effective as a bug repellent, especially around plants that are attracting snails, slugs and other garden pests. Sprinkle some in the dirt around the plants and in your garden beds and keep an eye out to see if the bugs continue to return or not!
- Neutralize Odours
Coffee grounds are a cheap and natural way to help absorb and eliminate odours within the home. Say no to toxic household sprays and instead place small bowls or calico bags filled with coffee grounds in areas where you would usually use air freshener. They are perfect in the fridge to eliminate odours or at the bottom of the bin to soak up those nasty smells. Try hanging a small bag of them in your wardrobe for a refresh or even in your shoe cupboard! Change the coffee grounds out regularly and you will notice that your house smells fresh and odour free. You can even use them to rub over your hands after cutting onions or garlic and they will absorb the lingering smell.
- Exfoliate your skin
Use your leftover coffee grounds to create an exfoliating scrub that will leave your skin silky, smooth and hydrated. Mix the coffee grounds with coconut oil until you have a scrub like consistency and add a few drops of your favourite essential oil – we recommend lavender or vanilla! Scrub your body with the mix, leave for a few minutes and then wash off in the shower. The caffeine in the coffee grounds has excellent antioxidant properties for your skin and can help to increase blood flow and reduce the appearance of cellulite. You can also create a lip scrub by adding honey to your mix and exfoliating your lips until they are smooth and fresh. Your skin will thank you for it, so give it a go and see the benefits for yourself!
- Natural Dye
Remember using coffee grounds back in primary school to create an old-fashioned looking diary or piece of parchment? Well, that’s because coffee grounds are an excellent non-toxic dye for both paper and fabric. They help to give the chosen material an old world, weathered look and are perfect to use for kid’s projects where dye is needed, as they are safe and non-toxic.
- Pets
Leftover coffee grounds can even be used for your pets! Next time you are bathing your dog, add a cup or two of coffee grounds onto their fur, give it a good scrub and then rinse it off. This process will help to kill and deter fleas and will also leave your dog’s fur silky and smooth. It’s well known that cats don’t like coffee, so if you ever have an issue with a stray cat frequenting your property, place some coffee grounds in their usual spot and it will act as a deterrent.
- Children’s Activities
Coffee grounds are a safe, non-toxic material for children to use in sensory play as they have an interesting texture, colour and smell. Why not fill a tub with coffee grounds and toy trucks and your child can have their very own construction site? Or maybe they are a perfect addition to a fairy garden your child is creating?
So, what ways do you re-purpose your old coffee grounds? Have you tried any of the above options? Let us know in the comments below! We hope these ideas have inspired you to explore some new and creative ways of getting the most out of your old coffee grounds!