Coffee grounds are a great way to keep your home smelling fresh and clean. They’re also useful for cleaning drains, toilets, and sinks. And they’re even good at removing odors from clothes.
Now, how can this be when the last time I checked it made a mess on my kitchen table? And, yes, I drink a lot of coffee. So let’s dig in!
In this blog post we will look at the following:
1. Deodorizing Your Home – coffee grounds remove odors
Where there are grinding of coffee there will also be used coffee grounds. Freshly grinded and made coffee smells fantastic! But can you keep the sent? No not really. But you can still use coffee grounds as an air freshener.
If you’re looking for a natural way to eliminate odors in your home, coffee grounds can be an effective solution. Coffee has a strong scent that can overpower bad smells, and it is safe for you and the environment. Here are two methods to try:
How to use coffee grounds as air freshener
- Coffee Air Freshener: Mix ground coffee with water and let it sit overnight. Strain out the grounds and add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and use it as a homemade air freshener.
- Coffee-Scented Laundry: Add a tablespoon of coffee grounds to your laundry detergent. The coffee will absorb the lingering odors from your clothes, leaving them smelling fresh and clean.
We have put together the history of where the coffee bean comes from. Read it here while you wait and the coffee grounds remove odors from your home. It works. I do this if we bought some used stuff that comes with an odor, or the car got a bit wet inside.
2. Cleaning Your Carpet
Coffee grounds can also be used to clean your carpet, especially if you have pets or small children. Here’s a simple 4-step DIY carpet cleaner that you can make with coffee grounds and dish soap:
- Mix two tablespoons of coffee grounds with a few drops of dish soap.
- Add the mixture to a bucket of warm water and stir.
- Dip a sponge or cloth into the mixture and apply it to the stained area of the carpet.
- Let it sit for 15-30 minutes before rinsing with clean water and vacuuming the area. Great time to have a coffee and read maybe this post about coffee from Caribbean.
Coffee grounds can remove stubborn stains and absorb bad odors, leaving your carpet looking and smelling fresh.
Use coffee grounds to remove odors from carpet?
Oh yeah! Follow the 4 steps!!
3. Gardening with Coffee Grounds
If you’re a gardening enthusiast, coffee grounds can help improve the quality of your soil and plants. Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are essential nutrients for plant growth.
Who doesn’t want our plants to thrive? Consider following this easy and cheap trick.
Here are three ways to use coffee grounds in your garden:
- Fertilizer: Mix one part coffee grounds with three parts water and apply the mixture directly to the soil. This will provide your plants with the necessary nutrients to grow strong and healthy.
- Compost: Coffee grounds are a great addition to your compost bin. They are rich in organic matter, which helps to decompose other materials and create nutrient-rich soil.
- Pest Control: Sprinkle coffee grounds around your plants to repel pests. The strong scent of coffee is a natural deterrent to insects, slugs, and snails. Plus, coffee grounds can also attract earthworms, which are beneficial to your soil.
4. Skin and Hair Care
Believe it or not, coffee grounds can also be used for personal care. This is not something I really need to think about. I rather drink my specialty coffee while the others can do the spa thing. Anyways, here are two ways to use coffee grounds for healthy skin and hair:
- Exfoliating Scrub: Mix one tablespoon of coffee grounds with a tablespoon of coconut oil or honey. Apply the mixture to your skin in a circular motion to exfoliate and remove dead skin cells. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.
- Hair Treatment: Massage coffee grounds into your scalp to stimulate hair growth and improve circulation. Let the coffee sit for 15-20 minutes before rinsing with warm water and shampooing as usual.
Coffee grounds are a natural and cost-effective way to pamper yourself at home.
Does coffee grounds keep mosquitoes away? Well you find out more in the link. Let us stick to other uses in this article.
5. Cooking and Baking
Did you know that coffee grounds can also be used in cooking and baking? Here are some ways to add a coffee flavor to your recipes:
- Coffee Rub for meat: Mix coffee grounds with your favorite spices and rub the mixture onto meat before cooking. The coffee adds a rich and smoky flavor to your dish. Works for steak, pork, and chicken.
- Coffee Cookies: Add a tablespoon of coffee grounds to your cookie batter for a subtle coffee flavor. The grounds are specially good in a chocolate cookies. Don’t over due it though. You can try with about a tablespoon of the grounds to the batter for every two cups of flour
- Coffee-infused butter: Add a spoonful of coffee grounds to melted butter and let it steep for a few minutes to infuse the coffee flavor. Use this butter to spread on toast or pancakes for a rich and delicious breakfast.
- Chocolate and coffee desserts: Use coffee grounds in recipes that call for chocolate to enhance the flavor. Try adding a tablespoon of coffee grounds to brownie batter or chocolate cake mix for an extra boost of flavor.
- Coffee salt: Mix finely ground coffee with sea salt to create a unique seasoning that can be used to enhance the flavor of meats, vegetables, and even chocolate desserts.
Whether you’re a coffee aficionado or simply looking for creative ways to use up your coffee grounds, there are plenty of options to choose from. Try experimenting with different methods to find the ones that work best for you and enjoy the many benefits that coffee grounds have to offer.
Speaking about baking, did you try this recipe for coffee cake?
6. Composting
Coffee grounds are an excellent addition to a compost pile. They’re rich in nitrogen, which helps to break down the other organic materials in the compost. Plus, coffee grounds have a neutral pH, which means they won’t affect the acidity or alkalinity of your compost. To use coffee grounds in your compost, simply sprinkle them over the other organic materials, making sure to mix them in well. You can also add them to a vermicomposting bin if you have one.
7. Exfoliating Scrub
Coffee grounds can also be used as a natural exfoliating scrub for your skin. They’re abrasive enough to remove dead skin cells, but gentle enough not to damage your skin. To make a perfect coffee grounds scrub, mix equal parts coffee grounds and coconut oil or olive oil.
Apply the mixture to your skin and rub in a circular motion for a few minutes. Then rinse off with warm water and pat your skin dry. Your skin will feel smooth and rejuvenated.
Bonus Tip! DIY Coffee Candles
If you love the smell of coffee, why not make your own coffee candles? To make a coffee candle, you’ll need some soy wax flakes, a wick, and of course, some coffee grounds.
Melt the soy wax flakes in a double boiler, and then add the coffee grounds.
Pour the mixture into a container, and then add the wick. Let the candle cool and set, and then trim the wick.
When you light the candle, it will release the delicious aroma of fresh coffee.
Feel free to pin the image to find it later when you wonder how to use coffee grounds...
Conclusion
In conclusion, coffee grounds are not just for brewing a delicious cup of coffee. They are a versatile and affordable resource that can be used for many different purposes. From deodorizing your home, to fertilizing your garden, the uses for coffee grounds are nearly endless. Just try to follow the simple steps included in the section “How to use coffee grounds as air freshener” and you might be surprised.
Next time you finish brewing your coffee, don’t throw away those grounds! Consider using them in one of the many ways we’ve outlined here. You might be surprised at how useful they can be.
I hope this article has given you some new ideas for using coffee grounds around your home. By incorporating these tips into your routine, you can reduce waste and give your home and garden a natural boost.
FAQ
Q: Can I reuse coffee grounds for making coffee?
A: No, it is not recommended to reuse coffee grounds for making coffee. The first time you brew coffee, the hot water extracts the flavor and caffeine from the coffee grounds. Reusing the grounds will result in weaker, less flavorful coffee.
Q: Are coffee grounds safe for pets?
A: While coffee grounds are not toxic to pets, they can be harmful if ingested in large quantities. Small amounts of coffee grounds can be used in the garden as a natural fertilizer or pest repellent, but make sure your pets cannot access the treated areas.
Q: How often should I add coffee grounds to my compost pile?
A: You can add coffee grounds to your compost pile as often as you like. However, keep in mind that coffee grounds are high in nitrogen, so you’ll want to balance them out with other materials that are high in carbon, such as leaves or shredded paper. Aim for a ratio of roughly 2 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen in your compost pile.
Q: Will coffee scrub clog drain
A: Coffee grounds can contribute to drain clogs if they are not properly disposed of. To avoid this, make sure you dispose of coffee grounds in the trash or compost bin, rather than flushing them down the drain.
Q: Can coffee grounds remove dark circles under the eyes?
A: There is some evidence to suggest that the caffeine in coffee grounds can help reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eyes. To use coffee grounds for this purpose, mix them with a small amount of water to form a paste, and then apply the paste to the under-eye area. Leave on for a few minutes, and then rinse off with warm water. However, be cautious as coffee grounds can also be abrasive and harsh on the skin.