10 Smart and Unusual Uses For Coffee Grounds
More reasons to love your morning brew! Before you discard those used coffee grounds or send them straight to the compost, consider these clever household uses for them. Some are very eye-opening!
Before you discard those used coffee grounds or send them straight to the compost, consider these clever household uses for them:
10 Smart and Unusual Uses For Used Coffee Grounds
1. As an Exfoliant
The rough texture of the coffee grounds can be used on your skin as a scrub. Coffee scrubs are all the rage. Just mix 1/2 cup coffee grounds and 1/2 cup sugar (any kind) with 1/4 cup coconut oil in a small jar with a lid. Work into wet skin, and rinse. Many commercial scrubs use coffee to reportedly combat cellulite.
2. Soil Aeration and Nitrogen Boost for Houseplants
Adding coffee grounds to your houseplants helps the pH balance (toward acidity) as well as increasing nitrogen and aerating the soil. Tomatoes also love acidic soil! Sprinkle a thin layer on top.
3. Neutralize Refrigerator Odors
Placing them in a shallow dish in the refrigerator to act as a natural deodorizer. The only thing you need to watch for is mold if you use damp grounds. Replace immediately with fresher grounds if it turns into a science experiment.
4. Natural De-Icer
Sprinkle used grounds on your freshly shoveled walk or driveway to help melt the ice—it’s a natural and environmentally friendly way to add more traction underfoot. Just wipe your feet well before coming indoors!
5. Dye Easter Eggs or Paper Crafts
Soaking in a solution with water and used coffee grounds can be used to give an “antique” sepia appearance to watercolor paper or Easter eggs.
6. Water Your Roses
Coffee grounds can help lower the pH in your soil which your roses love. Mix 1 cup of grounds in 1 gallon of water, and water the roses. This method helps distribute the grounds evenly and get the nutrients to the roots. (Never add grounds right next to the plant which can cause burn).
7. Scour Pots and Pans
No scrubbie pads on hand? The gentle abrasiveness of coffee grounds can help in the kitchen to remove stubborn caked-on food from your pots and pans. Just scrub first, then wash and rinse.
8. Snail, Slug, and Cat Repellent
In the garden, use coffee grounds as a barrier around the garden. It will help keep these pests at bay.
9. Steroids for Your Carrot Crop
Carrots love coffee grounds! They will grow larger and sweeter and the plants will have a greater yield. Just trowel grounds in when planting. Radishes love it, too!
10. Fishing Secret
Mix a cup of used coffee grounds in with your bait worms to keep them alive and wiggling longer. Plus, fish—especially trout and bass—are attracted to coffee-scented worms.
Do you have a special way you use those used coffee grounds? Tell us in the comments below!
Edward Higgins
Edward Higgins is a freelance writer, artist, home chef, and avid fly fisherman who lives outside of Portland, Maine. He studied at Skidmore College and Harvard University. His article 10 Best Edible Insects appears in the 2020 Farmers' Almanac.
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- Edward Higgins#molongui-disabled-link
- Edward Higgins#molongui-disabled-link
- Edward Higgins#molongui-disabled-link
I mix 50/50 (dried coffee grounds) with baking soda and sprinkle on any fabric or upholstery that needs deodorizing or freshening. Vacuum off after a few hours. Odors gone, smells fresh.
I use it to keep ants under control. Here in sentral Alabama it is a big problem. Especially last summer. My yard was the only one with just couple of hills. When neighbor’s yards had about 10 times more. I just mix used grains with good bit of water and dump it on the center of ant hill. Often just one application is enough. And in winter I keep throwing the grains all over the yard.
Do you use used or fresh ground? How much per mound?
Add old meds to used coffee grounds in a zip lock bag, let set for awhile, this dissolves the drugs and makes them useless, place the bag in your trash can. Do not pour down your drain.
When my mom died, the nurse told me to do this and I have used this over and over.
I have done this for years on recommendation of my pharmacy. Then wrap in foil before you toss in trash.
R
Coffee grounds are sludge, best thrown in the garbage. People claiming use for them must be telling the truth, but my research, and experience, indicates a waste product with no uses.
I throw the coffin grounds in my flower bed and when ground are dry I till them into the soil
dry used coffee grounds and burn them keeps mosquitoes away
Hi Pillyester, we hadn’t heard that one, but we’ll have to give it a try!
That is FANTASTIC!!! I will definitely try this one!!! Thank you. Have a blessed week.
If you have places that have stagnant water pour coffee grounds or fresh coffee (of the cheap kind that you would never drink) into the water to deter mosquitoes
Occasionally I put my coffee grounds in a blender with my energy drink mix, I know it sounds gross, but try it.
It gives that energy drink a kick in the ass
Gross both in safety, and in language for the Farmers’ Almanac.
I use my used coffee grounds for fire ants beds.. I skim the top of fire ant hills then I put my grounds on the top of them and they take them to there queen and the bed is empty and moved away from my home. I used just one filter that I made a 10 cup pot of coffee. I save a lot of grounds to spread all around my mobile home and it seems to help keep ants and other crawling bugs from entering my home. I do have to put extra on my ledge of my windows because they come from tree limbs that hang over my home.
I will try this on my windowsills this spring. I have a terrible problem with ants in the house.
I make a wood stain using used coffee grounds. Put 1/4 to 1/2 cup used coffee grounds in a 1 qt. mason jar, add 1 steel wool pad, and then fill the jar with white vinegar. Shake well and let stand overnight. The next day stir the contents and using plastic gloves so as not to stain your fingers and hands take out the steel wool pad and use it to apply the stain to your project. You can also keep the pad in the jar and use a brush to apply the stain. I then let it dry and if I want a darker color I apply a 2nd coat of stain. When that is dry I wipe the project with a dry cloth and then finally with a damp cloth. The wiping takes away the chance of the stain from rubbing off on clothing. If I am going to use the project outside I have then applied a coating of a clear water sealing product. I have made several large tables using this formula and actually make my stain in gallon glass containers.
I just did that a few weeks ago Al and yes it works great and looks good. You can also use ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce etc. Wipe it off after dry and reapply till it gets to the shade that you want. It smells great and no bad fumes from stain.