Last Updated on October 9, 2024
If you’re a coffee lover like me, then you probably have a lot of coffee grounds lying around right after brewing. However, instead of discarding them into the trashcan, you might be surprised to find out that you can actually use your coffee grounds in a few creative ways.
That’s exactly what we’re going to talk about here. Without further ado, here are 10 creative uses for unused coffee grounds that you probably never heard of before:
Table of Contents
8 Creative Uses for Coffee Grounds
Garden Fertilizer
If you own a garden, then you’ll be glad to know that coffee grounds can actually be used to provide your plants with most of the nourishment they need to grow. In particular, coffee grounds contain a number of essential minerals including calcium, iron, nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, chromium, and phosphorus.
Apart from that, coffee grounds are also capable of attracting worms while decreasing the presence of heavy metals in the soil. To use them, you simply have to sprinkle them onto the surrounding soil.
Exfoliator
Coffee grounds are naturally abrasive. However, by gently rubbing them on y our body, you can surely benefit from its exfoliating effect. Since it can help remove dead skin cells, you’ll be able to enjoy a vibrant and refreshed skin.
You can also use it as a facial scrub by adding a few tablespoons of coffee grounds with water to create a paste.
Odor Neutralizer
Due to the presence of nitrogen, coffee grounds are capable of eliminating the bad odor from the air. This simply means that coffee grounds are capable of absorbing and even getting rid of odors.
To do so, simply dry the grounds, place them in a bowl, then put them inside your fridge. This way, you can neutralize any foul odors coming from spoiled or even fragrant foods.
Alternatively, you can use them in place of Mothballs inside your closets to keep your clothes smelling nice and clean. Meanwhile, you can also use them for scrubbing your hands right after chopping spices like onion or garlic as they can help remove their stinky smell.
Cellulite Reduction
The appearance of cellulite in the body is completely natural. However, a lot of us prefer getting rid of it for aesthetic purposes. According to statistics, around 80-90% of adult women are affected by this condition.
However, by applying coffee grounds on the surface where cellulite is present, it might help break down fat deposits that are responsible for the appearance. Aside from that, it can also increase the flow of blood to the area.
To do so, simply combine coffee grounds with coconut oil or water then apply it to the affected areas. Coffee’s ability to get rid of cellulite explains why several cellulite-reducing products on the market have caffeine in them.
Meat Tenderizer
Did you know that coffee grounds can actually be used to make your meat a lot more tender? Most of the time, we only use salt for tenderizing meat. However, coffee grounds actually contain natural acids and enzymes which are both effective when it comes to tenderizing meat.
Due to coffee’s acidic nature, it can even enhance your meat’s flavor. To achieve this, simply combine coffee grounds with your favorite dry-rub recipe. After that, rub it on your meat at least two hours before you start cooking. It will also give your meat that mild smokiness which will make your meal a lot more flavorful.
Repair Furniture Scratches
This might sound completely ridiculous, but coffee grounds can actually help you repair any visible scratches that might be present on your furniture. Apart from that, it can also help enhance its overall appearance as well.
While there are lots of products that can help reduce, if not remove, the appearance of scratches on your furniture, you want to turn to coffee grounds first if you have them sitting around in the corner.
To start, simply make a thick paste using coffee grounds and water. After that, apply the paste onto the scratches with the use of a cotton swab. Let it sit for around 5 to 10 minutes before wiping it off with a cotton rag.
You can keep on applying the mixture into the scratch until you achieve the desired color. Allow at least a few hours interval between applications.
Natural Wood Stain
If you’re annoyed by how terrible wood stain smells, then you take a more natural and odor-free approach by making your own. This can be achieved with the use of coffee grounds, and you don’t even need to use any chemicals at all!
There are a number of DIY procedures out there to do this, but this one from Whole Green Love can surely help you. Do keep in mind that the darkness of your DIY wood stain will get darker the longer you let it sit.
Therefore, in order to get the desired color, you want to try it out on wood samples first.
Mushroom Grower
If you want to grow mushrooms but have been struggling lately since you failed doing so, then don’t lose hope yet. After all, growing mushrooms can be fairly tough as they only thrive in very specific conditions. To add to that, they’re notoriously difficult to grow as well.
If you’re starting out, then you will need a substrate just to start growing. Fortunately, coffee grounds make for an excellent substrate due to their high nutrient content that mushrooms need to grow.
Conclusion
Most coffee drinkers normally discard their coffee grounds right after brewing. If you’re most coffee drinkers, then it’s time to reconsider throwing your coffee grounds. The simple fact that they come with a lot of amazing benefits like reducing cellulite, tenderizing meat, and others make them really useful in a lot of ways.
Aside from that, they also come with a lot of essential nutrients for plant growth and have the ability to deter pests that might be lying in your garden. Also, their natural abrasiveness makes for an excellent cleaning scrub all throughout your house.
There are several other benefits of coffee grounds that we haven’t mentioned here. So the next time you brew a cup of coffee, save and repurpose those grounds and consider these creative ideas above.
Thanks for reading!
Lacey is an environmental enthusiast and passionate advocate for living green and sustainable. She believes that everyone can make a difference, no matter how small. Lacey is dedicated to reducing her own carbon footprint and educating others on the importance of living greener. She is an advocate for green energy and sustainable practices. She is an active member of her local community, volunteering with local conservation efforts, and taking part in sustainability initiatives. Lacey is a firm believer that the only way to ensure a sustainable future is to work together and make small, but important changes.