6 Things to do With Your Used Coffee Grounds

So if you can’t throw them down the sink or reuse them for another brew, what are you supposed to do with your used coffee grounds?!

 

It seems like such a shame to throw such high-grade coffee in the bin after just one use.

 

And whilst there are lots of crazy ideas out there for uses, it’s hard to believe they all work or are worth the effort.

 

This is where this blog comes into play.

 

Each of the following uses have been tried and tested by yours truly. Not one is a dud, I can promise you this.

 

If you’re intrigued to find successful ways to upcycle your used coffee grounds, keep reading…

Coffee Face and Body Scrub Using Coffee Grounds

Believe it or not, coffee is excellent for your skin.

 

The texture of the grounds makes for a great exfoliant for homemade DIY scrubs, working to gently remove dead skin cells, rejuvenate and boost circulation.  It’s an excellent way to plump and tighten the skin, reducing the appearance of cellulite.

 

Sounds like the dream formula, hey?

Cheap and super easy to make. Sorry L’Oreal.

How to Make a Coffee Face and Body Scrub at Home

Here's a recipe using coffee grounds that you're not going to want to miss.

Ingredients

• ½ cup dry, used coffee grounds (finely ground works best)
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup melted coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method

• Mix the used coffee grounds and brown sugar in a large bowl
• Add the coconut oil and vanilla extract into the coffee mix
• Mix until well combined

Use the scrub sparingly over your clean body and face, gently rubbing in a circular motion. Be careful to avoid the eye area. Leave the scrub on for several minutes, allowing the product to soak into the skin. Rinse off thoroughly using a warm cloth.

 

No time for DIY?

 

If you’re short for time, aren’t a huge coffee drinker, or frankly have no coffee beans to spare, the Frank Body Coffee Scrub uses the same organic ingredients and makes for a great pre-made alternative.

Used Coffee Grounds as Bug Repellent

Coffee as a bug repellent I hear you say?!

 

Yep.

 

The strong, potent smell of coffee beans (you know, the one all us coffee-lovers crave) especially after the extraction process, is the perfect (and most low-cost!) repellent to get rid of those unwanted creepy crawlies. Due to a bug’s strong sense of smell, the odour of coffee is enough to deter them.

 

Top Tip: To be even more effective, burning your used coffee grounds can make them more potent. A simple way to do this is by placing the coffee grounds into a bowl outside and burning them as if they were incense.

 

Simply spread the grounds evenly over the area bugs are not wanted and you’re all good to go. Say goodbye to the four-legged and eight-legged pests.

Coffee Candles using Used Coffee Grounds

You only need four items when it comes to making your very own coffee candle; used coffee grounds, wax, a candle wick, and a glass container. So simple!

 

And as you know, the smell of coffee is hard to be beaten. The aromatic, spiced, warm smell of coffee brewing is the perfect way to fuel your day – just be careful it doesn’t encourage you to drink any more caffeine.

 

A homemade coffee candle also makes for the perfect gift for family and friends. Whilst being well within budget and using up your old coffee grounds, the gift will be even more special as it a personal DIY project - a win, win situation here.

Enrich Your Garden with Coffee Grounds

How’s your garden looking? In need of a revamp? A bit of TLC?

 

We got you.

 

And you guessed it, it involves your used coffee grounds.

 

There’s actually a couple of ways to spice up your garden with coffee, as well as the aforementioned bug repellent.

Read on to find out how.

Composting Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds are classified as a green material (clearly no relevance to their colour), meaning they are super rich in nitrogen, approximately 1.45% to be precise. This makes them the perfect addition to any compost heap, working well alongside the brown material to break down the waste.

 

Such an excellent resource for both your bank and the environment – you’ll never have to waste your coffee beans again!

Coffee Grounds as Fertiliser

Unknown to most people, used coffee grounds can make for a great fertiliser in the garden. Simply add the grounds directly into the soil and work them into the area around your plants.

 

It’s worth noting that rinsing your used coffee grounds before adding to the soil, will neutralise the PH of the grounds, meaning the acidity of the soil won’t be affected. This is worthwhile doing for those sensitive plants.

 

There are many benefits to using your used coffee grounds as a fertiliser as it adds a lot of organic material to the soil, improving drainage, water retention and aeration in the soil. The new soil will also help attract microorganisms that are beneficial to plant growth.

Cleaning Dishes with Used Coffee Grounds

You had best believe that your coffee grounds can loosen the dirt and grime from your oven grill, as well as remove the stained gunk that lingers on those saucepans and dishes.

 

If you add a few grounds to the washing up process or leave the pan to soak for a short amount of time in warm water and coffee, then you’ll find the scrubbing job a whole lot easier.

Thank me later!

Using Coffee Grounds as a Natural Deodorizer

For me, this is the most game changing of them all.

Coffee grounds can diminish unwanted smells such as onions on hands or smelly shoes in a closet. All you have to do is scrub the area or pop them into a container or sachet and let the grounds do their work!

 

You’ll have a fresh space in no time, and without them overpowering the entire area.