The 10 Best Ways to Recycle Coffee Grounds
So you’re in the habit of making coffee every morning. Have you ever stopped to wonder — What can I do with my old coffee grounds? There are so many fantastic ways to go about coffee grounds disposal that even some of the best ones fly under the radar. Having a great beverage that perks you up is just one side of coffee. Don’t miss out on all the additional benefits! Before you dump those used grounds; consider these options for reusing coffee grounds for everything from gardening to hair care.
HOW TO RECYCLE USED COFFEE GROUNDS
1. Keep Your Kitchen Clean
Cleaning pots and pans with coffee grounds
Coffee grounds are extremely useful in the kitchen. You can recycle coffee grounds to scrub your pots, pans, and other dishes. The coarseness of the grounds can be used to scrape off cooked-on messes from your dishes. It can also be used in the kitchen to deodorize unpleasant scents. Recycle coffee grounds by first drying them after use, then putting them into a bowl in your refrigerator or anywhere in the kitchen to neutralize smells.
2. A Garden’s Best Friend
Use coffee grounds as a natural fertilizer for your garden
Coffee grounds contain acid that most plants love! Recycle your used coffee grounds as fertilizer for your plants. If you’re growing flowers, recycled coffee grounds can be used to enhance the growth of certain plants such as azaleas and hydrangeas. And if you’re growing veggies, used coffee grounds can be mixed with carrots or radish seeds for a harvest that’s twice as big! You can also use it as a natural bug repellent. Protect your plants from aphids and slugs by sprinkling used grounds around the edges of your garden. Be careful though – plants like tomatoes, cloves, and alfalfa are not huge fans of coffee so be sure to do your research to see what plants do not like coffee grounds.
3. USE COFFEE GROUNDS FOR FACIAL SCRUB
Using coffee grounds as a facial scrub
Coffee might perk you up in the morning but did you know that it could also help you look your freshest? Coffee grounds contain antioxidants and caffeine that can help to prevent the appearance of ageing. Coffee grounds’ anti-inflammatory properties also help to stimulate blood circulation around the eyes to prevent puffy, dark circles. Coffee grounds also contain natural astringent and antioxidant properties that can be used as a facial cleanser and toner.
RELATED: The 7 Coffee Benefits for Your Face and Skin You Need to Know About!
Take advantage of these properties by stepping up your beauty routine. To make a nourishing masque, simply use recycled grounds with milk to create a paste to rub onto your face. Leave it on for about 20 minutes and then rinse clean with water. You can also use recycled coffee grounds as an exfoliating scrub that stimulates and tightens the skin. Make a crumbly paste with your favorite carrier oil (we like coconut oil!) and brown sugar to slough off dead skin and brighten your complexion.
4. Scrub Clean
Using coffee grounds to scrub kitchen counters
The sandy texture of coffee grounds makes it a perfect scrub to clean your counters and other surfaces that may have buildup on them. Coffee grounds also have antibacterial and antiviral properties that may even work to sanitize.
5. Glowing Skin
Using coffee grounds as a skin scrub
Step up your beauty routine with recycled coffee grounds which contain natural astringent and antioxidant properties that can be used as a facial cleanser and toner. To make a nourishing masque, simply use recycled grounds with milk to create a paste to rub onto your face. Leave it on for about 20 minutes and then rinse clean with water. You can also use recycled coffee grounds as an exfoliating scrub that stimulates and tightens the skin.
6. COFFEE GROUNDS FOR HAIR CARE
Using coffee grounds for hair care
Recycle your coffee grounds by treating your scalp to an exfoliating scrub that could help to remove buildup, while the caffeine stimulates hair growth. Before washing with shampoo, massage your scalp with coffee grounds and rinse.
7. Get Rid of Bad Smells
Using coffee grounds to get rid of bad smells
In addition to getting rid of awful stenches in the refrigerator, used coffee grounds can also be used to get rid of bad smells in closets, cars, and even from your body! The next time your hands retain the smell of the onions or fish that you were chopping, simply rub some used coffee grounds on your hands to get rid of the smell!
8. Get Rid of Bugs
Using coffee grounds to get rid of bugs
Pesky bugs can cause a lot of headaches. Well, now you can get rid of them with the help of used coffee grounds! Coffee contains caffeine and diterpenes that are deadly to insects. What bugs do coffee grounds repel? They can repel mosquitos, fruit flies, weevils, and other pests as well. To keep bugs away using coffee grounds, simply place bowls of grounds in the area or sprinkle them around.
9. Natural Dye
Using coffee grounds as a natural fabric dye
If you’ve ever spilled coffee on your clothes, then you know that it is very capable of coloring fabric. Get creative with the earthy tones of used coffee grounds for your next project! Its tint could also be used as a wood stain to touch up the color of used furniture or to fix scratches.
10. Pet Care
Using coffee grounds for pet care
Take care of your furry best friend with the help of recycled coffee grounds. As we have mentioned before, coffee grounds are excellent for repelling bugs — and they also can help your pet stay free of fleas. After washing your pet, scrub them down with coffee grounds and then rinse it off as usual.
With so many ways to recycle coffee grounds, you’ll love your coffee even more for its vast uses and benefits!
