Coffee grounds, the familiar byproduct of your daily brew, are, in fact, a treasure trove of alternative uses that extend far beyond your morning cup of coffee.
Rich in nutrients, coffee grounds make an excellent addition to your compost pile, enriching the soil and promoting healthy plant growth. Their gritty texture also lends itself to versatile cleaning applications; they can scrub away stubborn stains on dishes and surfaces while neutralizing odors in your fridge or freezer.
For the green-thumbed gardeners, they serve as a natural pest repellent and can even deter certain insects when spread around your plants.
Here’s a roundup of our favorite alternative uses for coffee grounds.
Use as Deodorizer
Dry coffee grounds on a cookie sheet and place them in a bowl in your refrigerator or freezer to cut down on odors. Also, rub them on your hands to get rid of food prep smells.
Plant Food
Plants that prefer acidic soils (like rosebushes, azaleas, rhododendrons) will appreciate a weekly dusting of coffee grounds.
Insect Repellant
Sprinkle used grounds around places you don’t want ants, or on the ant piles themselves. The little buggers will move on or stay away.
Dye
By steeping grounds in hot water, you can make brown dye for fabric, paper, and even Easter eggs.
Furniture scratch cover-up
Steep grounds and apply a bit of the liquid to furniture scratches with a cotton swab.
Scrubbing
As they’re slightly abrasive, grounds can be used as a scouring agent for greasy and grimy stain-resistant objects.
Cat repellent
To keep kitty from using the garden as her personal powder room, sprinkle grounds mixed with orange peels around your plants.
Flea Dip
Follow up Fido’s shampoo with a coffee ground rub down, working them down to his skin. Not only are the fleas supposed to vamoose, but puppy’s hair will feel soft too.
Dust Inhibitor
Before you clean out the fireplace, toss wet coffee grounds over the ashes to keep the ash dust under control.
