Are you throwing out some of the best reasons to drink coffee?
Coffee has a slew of reported benefits, beyond simply getting us through our day. It’s known to increase energy, improve focus, increase athletic performance, and provide antioxidants and nutrients. Coffee is also associated with potentially lower risks of several diseases, including dementia and type 2 diabetes.
But the benefits don’t have to stop with the last sip. You might be throwing out some of the best reasons to drink coffee: the grounds.
Used coffee grounds can be repurposed in a slew of useful ways for your home, your garden, and even your skin! Read on for a few ideas:
Beauty Scrub
Coffee grounds make a wonderful exfoliant, and the caffeine may help stimulate circulation and could even temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite.
How to make it: Combine equal parts coffee grounds, granulated sugar, and the face/body oil of your choice (jojoba or melted coconut oil work great!). If desired, add a teaspoon of vanilla extract or a couple drops of your favorite essential oil. Your skin will thank us.
Natural Deodorizer
Garlic in cooking? Awesome. Garlic smell on your hands for hours afterward? Not so awesome.
Coffee grounds act as a natural deodorizer. Simply scrub your hands with them after cooking to remove any unwanted smells like garlic and onions.
You can also use coffee grounds to absorb odors in your fridge. Allow some used grounds to dry out. Once they’re dry, place them in a container and stick the container in the back of your fridge. They’ll help make sure your leftovers don’t overpower everything else!
Finally, you can make a sachet of dried used grounds (use pantyhose or a thin sock, tied at the top) and use them to deodorize smelly shoes or freshen up a closet.
Scrub Grills and Dishes
Coffee grounds can be used to loosen dirt and grime from grills and can get stuck-on gunk off of pots and dishes. For easy access, keep a jar of used grounds right above your sink. Just make sure not to use them on porous materials, since coffee can stain!
Garden Fertilizer and Compost
Naturally rich in nitrogen, coffee grounds make an amazing addition to your garden. If you have a compost pile, add your coffee grounds right in. You can also use the grounds as fertilizer by sprinkling them lightly over your soil. Coffee grounds are best used for plants that love acid, including blueberries, carrots, radishes, and flowers like hydrangeas, lilies of the valley, azaleas, and rhododendrons.
Coffee Candle
If you love the smell of coffee as much as we do, you’ll love this idea. Did you know you can make your own coffee candle? You’ll need a few supplies, but this DIY project is a jolt of fun.
We think it’s extra fun to make a coffee candle in an old coffee mug. Follow instructions for making a standard DIY candle, but stir some coffee grounds into the wax as it melts. The granules will add a cool look and smell divine when you burn your candle! Give this as a gift, and you’ll be the favorite relative this holiday season.