8 Epic Uses For Left Over Coffee Grounds

 

Coffee has a magical effect on most of us because of its caffeine. With many, doing without at least one cup to start the day is not an option.

The leftover grounds, however, have many more uses than just providing a pick-me-up.

1. Compost. If you have a compost pile, coffee grounds are an easy way to add nitrogen to it. You can toss your grounds and filter right into the pile. The grounds absorb and hold moisture and plan an important role in a compost pile.

2. Fertilizer. Coffee grounds can be a real helper for your garden. First of all, the grounds attract earthworms, which help aerate the soil. In addition, coffee grounds increase the soil’s acidity level, which makes them a great addition to your flower garden. Roses, hydrangeas, zinnias, rhododendrons, azaleas, pachysandra, iris and other acid-loving plants need acid in the soil to stay healthy and colorful. Simply stir the grounds into the soil or combine them with water in a watering can to pour on the base of the plants.

3. Keep Away Cats. I love cats, but I hate it when my cats or my neighbors’ cats use my garden as their litter box. Spread coffee grounds around the base of your garden to safely deter them from digging. If you toss in some orange peels, it is an added bonus. They hate the smell.

4. Repel Pests. Similarly, snails and slugs dislike coffee grounds, so you if you mound your grounds around your garden, it will ward them off. Ants hate coffee grounds, too! Sprinkle dried coffee grounds on anthills and around any areas ants may be entering your home. Note: Don’t try this with decaffeinated coffee. A Harvard study determined that caffeine disrupts the behavior and reproduction cycles of insects. The same study found that mixing caffeine with certain pesticides greatly increased the pesticide’s potency.

5. Deodorizer. Place a bowl of dry grounds in your refrigerator or freezer to neutralize odors left by stale or spoiled food. The grounds will also help with the odor from cigarette smoking. Just place a small bowl of grounds near an ashtray. Another idea is to place used grounds at the bottom of your kitchen trash bag to mask unpleasant odors.

6. Clean Tools and Dishware. Place a few teaspoons of grounds on a thin cleaning rag and use to scour away grease and grime. Finish with a thorough rinsing.

7. Contain Ashes. Sprinkle damp grounds on fireplace ashes to cut down on airborne dust as you sweep them up.

8. Furniture Fixer. Dip a cotton swab into steeped grounds and dab on scratches in dark wood furniture to minimize them. Just test in an inconspicuous area first.

The utility of coffee grounds is not done as soon as the last cup is brewed. In fact, used coffee grounds have more practical uses than just about any other household “refuse.”

The items listed above were our top choices! For the complete list and additional information, please visit Survival Kit.


2 Comments

    • diehardsurvivor said:

      There could be some crossover, Sharon. But everything we found in this post related to coffee grounds specifically. Might be worth looking into though!

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