The brewing of coffee produces a big amount of residual product in the form of coffee grounds. The large amount of coffee grounds normally ends up in the garbage can.
The coffee grounds contain many nutrients, therefore, don’t throw your coffee grounds in the garbage can, it is useful for a lot of purposes. Here are our best suggestions for how you can recycle your coffee grounds.
Fertilizer:
Coffee grounds are a really effective fertilizer in the garden . The coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and other minerals. You can mix coffee grounds into the soil to enrich it, especially for acid-loving plants like roses, hydrangeas, azaleas, and rhododendrons. For example, if you want your hydrangeas to change color, you can use coffee grounds around them. When the soil becomes more acidic, then the hydrangeas will turn blue rather than pink.
When you spread the coffee grounds in your garden, and around your flowers, be careful not to spread too thick a layer. If the layer becomes too thick, it can become so hard that it is not possible for water to penetrate. In addition, seeds and young plants do not respond well to being fertilized with coffee grounds.
Pest deterrent:
Certain pests, like slugs, snails and ants, dislike the texture and scent of coffee grounds. Sprinkling coffee grounds around plants or creating a barrier can help keep these pests away. However, it’s not a foolproof method and might require additional pest control measures. Be careful not to spread the layer too thick, as the garden’s grass and plants can also be damaged by too much coffee grounds.
Compost:
Coffee grounds are excellent additions to a compost pile. They help balance the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and add organic matter to the mix. Ensure you mix them with other compost materials to maintain a healthy composting process. When developing compost, you are talking about two types of materials which are called brown and green. Materials that contain nitrogen are considered green.
Compost must be balanced with brown compost material, such as dry leaves or other gardening materials. The mix between the brown compost material and the green compost material is 4-to-1. If there is too much green material, the compost bin will start to smell. In addition to that, if you don’t have enough green material, the compost pile won’t heat up.
Scare unwanted cats away with coffee grounds
It is not only slugs and snails who do not like the strong smell of coffee grounds, the same goes for cats, which provide a kind, chemical-free way of getting them to stop from spraying on specific locations. It is a good idea to keep sprinkling the coffee grounds for a few weeks after the cat has stopped coming.
Coffee grounds as a skin care product:
Using coffee grounds as a scrub is a popular DIY beauty treatment. The coffee grounds are believed to have a natural exfoliating agent to help remove dirt and dead cells from the skin. It is important to note that scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness is limited, and individual results may vary.
Mix coffee grounds with a small amount of oil (coconut oil) or water, and use the mixture to gently scrub your face or body, providing a rejuvenating effect. Furthermore, the caffeine in coffee grounds has potent antioxidant properties that can help protect the skin from sun damage.
It doesn’t take long to make your own coffee body scrub, if you’re interested in trying a scrub with coffee grounds, here’s a simple recipe you can try:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup coffee grounds (used or fresh)
2 tablespoons coconut oil or olive oil (adjust quantity as needed)
Optional: additional ingredients such as honey, sugar, or essential oils for added benefits and fragrance
Remember, everyone’s skin is different, so it’s essential to patch test the scrub on a small area of skin before applying it all over your body to check for any adverse reactions. Additionally, if you have any specific skin conditions or concerns, it’s best to consult with a dermatologist before trying homemade scrubs or treatments.
Odor neutralizer:
Coffee grounds can absorb unpleasant odors. Example, place a bowl of dry coffee grounds in the fridge, pantry, or other areas with unwanted smells to help neutralize them.
The same goes for bad smell in your shoes. Put dried coffee grounds in an old sock and place the sock in your shoes overnight. The next morning, the bad smell should be neutralized and disappeared.
Cleaning agent:
Add a bit of dried coffee grounds when you wash the dishes. It can be used as an abrasive cleaner for surfaces that require gentle scrubbings, such as greasy cookware or stained dishes. Coffee grounds can help remove grime and stuck-on food on a lot of different tableware and also on the grill grate.
NOTE: If you have a teflon pan, do not use coffee grounds, because it might be damaging the coating.
Protects against wasps and mosquitoes
Take some coffee grounds, fresh or used, it doesn’t matter. Burn it and you will get a natural insect repellent, which keeps mosquitoes, wasps, and bees away. Many insects have a powerful sense of smell, and when you burn the coffee ground it develops an incredibly strong smell that keeps them away
