Coffee Ground Hacks We All Wish We Knew Sooner
If you're a coffee lover and prefer home brewing, you probably produce a lot of coffee grounds on a weekly basis. Instead of throwing out those grounds, there are several things you can do with them that will make your life just a little bit easier.
Coffee grounds can be used in a variety of applications, from boosting the taste of your favorite foods to enhancing your hair color. Read on for some incredibly useful things you can do with the coffee byproduct.
Stamp Out Refrigerator Odors
We've all been there. Someone puts something in the refrigerator that smells very strong or inadvertently leaves something in there that ends up stinking up the whole appliance. While it's best to remove the offending food item, that still may not do the trick. Instead, try coffee grounds.
They contain nitrogen, which when combined with carbon can remove foul smells. The grounds actually absorb and eliminate odors. Simply put a bowl of grounds in the refrigerator, and they will do all the work.
Make Compost & Produce Beautiful Blooms
Turn coffee grounds into compost, which makes a great fertilizer for your garden's plants. Studies have shown that compost that contains coffee grounds has more nutrients than compost without it. And the more compounds you use, the better quality it will be. Plus, it produces less greenhouse gas emissions.
If you want to make a nutrient-heavy compost, add the following items to the coffee grounds: grass clippings, leaves, eggshells, fruit and veggie trimmings, stale bread, and shredded newspaper.
Kill Fleas
Fleas are a nuisance because they are irritating to both you and your pet. While you can purchase several different types of flea-removal products from your local Walmart, they are made up of chemicals that you may want to keep away from your furry friend. Coffee grounds are a much better, natural alternative.
Shampoo your pet's fur, and then rub the coffee grounds all over his or her body. Then rinse the mixture off, and let the animal dry as normal. Just be sure your pet doesn't eat the coffee grounds because they can be toxic.
Prevent Cats From Using Your Garden As A Bathroom
Even if you're a cat lover, furry felines can do things that are very upsetting. It is particularly aggravating when they choose to use certain areas of your home and garden as a litter box.
If your cat is notorious for urinating or pooping in your garden, there's a simple solution. Mix used coffee grounds with orange peels, and sprinkle the mix in areas that you want cat-free. This will prevent the cat from using your lovely landscaping as his or her own personal potty.
Make Meat More Tender
Everyone likes a tender piece of meat now and then (except for vegetarians, of course). However, sometimes you may end up with a steak with muscle fibers that make it a bit tough. If you want a softer texture, you'll need to tenderize it. You can do this with salt or coffee grounds.
The grounds have acids and enzymes that are perfect for getting the job done. You can also add used coffee grounds to a dry-rub recipe or rebrew grounds to make coffee and use it as a marinade.
Combat Acne
Teenagers aren't the only ones who struggle with acne. It can be a problem for people of all ages. If you've tried all sorts of prescription medication, why not opt for a more natural alternative?
Coffee is chock full of antioxidants and contains natural astringents. This means it's perfect to use as a facial cleanser and toner. Mix the grounds with milk to make a paste. Rub it on your face, and let it sit for about 20 minutes before rinsing it off.
Get Rid Of The Dark Circles Under Your Eyes
Dark circles under your eyes don't just look unappealing, they also make you look older. The skin is very delicate in this area, and it doesn't have much fatty tissue. To get rid of the puffiness and dark circles, consider using some coffee grounds, which are known to be high in antioxidants and full of caffeine.
Both of these ingredients have anti-aging benefits, which can combat under-eye circles. Specifically, caffeine has anti-inflammatory properties that promote blood circulation. And the antioxidants combat free radicals, which can cause aging. Add water or coconut water to coffee grounds to make a paste, and let it sit under your eyes for 10 minutes. Rinse if any irritation occurs.
Highlight Your Beautiful Brown Hair
Coffee is a natural dye, which you probably already know, particularly if you've spilled some coffee on a tablecloth or on your shirt. If you're a brunette and need a little touch-up, why not use coffee grounds instead of commercial hair dye?
Hair dyes are full of chemicals, which may be linked to cancer. If you'd rather not take the risk, opt for a natural alternative. Coffee grounds are a great option. You will not only look good, you'll also feel good.
Vermicomposting, The Indoor Composting Routine
Instead of using coffee grounds for regular outdoor composting, think about utilizing the spent grounds for vermicomposting. Unlike traditional composting, vermicomposting is done indoors in a contained environment, such as an old can. The resulting organic material can then be used to fatten up worms or other insects.
This process is also much quicker than traditional composting, so it's a good idea for those who don't utilize an extensive amount of whole foods in their day to day life!
Give Houseplants An Extra Boost
Humans aren't the only ones who can benefit from the delicious nature of coffee. Houseplants can also utilize their properties. If you don't have an in-home composting system, adding spent coffee grounds directly to the soil of houseplants is a great way to give them a bit of extra life.
Since coffee grounds are nutritionally balanced and pH neutral, they're great slow-release fertilizer for indoor plants. Just top-off your fertilizer with the old grounds once every few weeks and watch as your plants begin to have an extra glow.
Space Out Tiny Seeds In Your Garden
Placing seeds in a garden is no easy task, especially if the seeds are very tiny. The last thing you want is to have sprouts growing every which way in your garden because you couldn't see where you were placing the seeds!
Instead, grab some old coffee grounds, place a seed inside the grounds, and use it as a placeholder. Not only will you be able to see where you are placing the seeds, but you'll be enriching the soil with the old coffee grounds. This is what the young people call a "win win!"
Coffee Grounds Are The New Salt For Icy Sidewalks
Bear with us with this coffee grounds hack. While old grounds won't necessarily melt ice like salt, it does make for good traction on the slippery surface. Instead of going out and buying expensive salt, just use those old coffee grounds, you were most likely going to throw away.
Just sprinkle the old grounds right on top of your driveway, sidewalk, or even your front and back patios for some good old-fashioned traction. Be the talk of the block with this hack!
Deodorize Your Garbage Disposal
There is nothing worse than a smelly garbage disposal. We mean, who wants something smelly in their kitchen? The good news is that there is a nice little hack that will deodorize your disposal and leave it smelling nice and fresh for you and whoever else ventures into the room.
Grab those old coffee grounds that you were planning on throwing away and toss some down the disposal. Well, not just the grounds. First, mix the grounds with some Epsom salt and baking soda to make tablets. Store the tablets next to your sink and use them whenever necessary!
Give Your Home A Nice Coffee-Based Smell
A house will eventually have some funky smells, especially if the people who live there have a pet and are huge cooks. The combined smells of pet odor, garlic, onions, and maybe the occasional fish leave little to be desired for anyone visiting.
Thankfully, there is a fun DIY air freshener that might be just the thing you've been looking for to give your house a fresh smell. Take some old coffee grounds, pour them into a bowl, and set them over in a corner. Your house will smell like a hip coffee joint in no time!
Keep Cut Flowers Fresh Longer
Freshly cut flowers tend to be the missing piece that brings a room together. There's just something about the colors, scents, and overall appearance of flowers that make people happy. Well, at least for a little while, until they begin to wilt.
If you're familiar with freshly cut flowers, then you'll know that florists tend to recommend putting a bit of "flower food" into the vase's water. Well, coffee grounds are actually a great source of food for flowers, with a neutral pH level. Just add a tablespoon or so of grounds to the water and watch as your flowers stay vibrant for longer!
Keep Those Bubbles Away When Baking Unfilled Pie Crusts
For those bakers out there, you no sticking an unfilled pie crust into the oven is a gamble. Bubbles tend to pop up on the bottom, and that is no good for when you get to fill the crust with key lime deliciousness.
Instead of going out and buying pricey backing sheet weights, try using coffee grounds. Don't worry; the flavoring won't get into your crust! You're going to want to grab some tin foil, put it over the un-baked crust, and fill it with grounds. The old grounds will weight down the dough, allowing it to cook as though the filling is already in place.
Coffee Candles To Give Your Home A Cafe Vibe
If you have old coffee grounds lying around your house, try making some DIY candles. Not only do they smell wonderful, but they're a great gift for holidays. You're just going to need a few ingredients before you get started: old grounds, wax, an oil scent of your choice, a wick, a stirring utensil, a glass, and a tablespoon.
You're going to want to start off by melting the wax and adding the oil. Afterward, pour your coffee grounds into the mold you'll use for the candle, adding the wick as well. Then, pour your wax and oil mixture on top. Lastly, light that candle up and enjoy!
