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Do you start your day with a fresh, hot cup of coffee? If so, you’re in good company. Millions of people around the world enjoy a morning cup of coffee to help them wake up and get going. But what do you do with the coffee grounds once you’ve finished your drink? If you’re like most people, you probably just toss them in the trash. However, many uses for Coffee grounds go beyond the morning cup! In this post, we will discuss some of the best uses for coffee grounds other than throwing them away.
Composting
Composting is an easy way to turn waste into a valuable resource. By adding used coffee grounds to your compost pile, you can enrich the soil in your garden with nitrogen and other beneficial nutrients. Composting is a natural, self-sustaining process that transforms organic waste, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, into compost or humus. Humus is a dark, nutrient-rich soil amendment that helps improve the texture and structure of soils. Composting is an important way to help reduce the amount of solid waste that ends up in landfills, which are filling up quickly. If you’re not already composting, start today and add your coffee grounds to the mix!
Use as a Fertilizer
Coffee grounds make an excellent fertilizer for plants. They are high in nitrogen, potassium, and magnesium, all of which are essential nutrients for plants. Coffee grounds are often used as a component of organic fertilizers. You can either sprinkle them around the base of your plants or mix them into the soil before planting. Coffee grounds also work well as a foliar spray; just dilute them with water and spritz them on the leaves of your plants.
Growing Mushrooms
Coffee grounds are an excellent growing medium for mushrooms. All you need is a container and some coffee grounds, along with whatever kind of mushroom spores you wish to grow (oyster mushrooms work well). Simply mix the coffee grounds and mushroom spores in your container, add water, and then allow them to sit undisturbed for two weeks or more until they begin producing mushrooms. Coffee grounds are a great way to grow mushrooms, as they provide the right amount of acidity and nutrients needed for this type of fungus.
Repel Insects
Coffee grounds can also be used to repel unwanted insects. Coffee contains a variety of compounds that are harmful to insects, including caffeine and diterpenes. You can sprinkle coffee grounds around your doors and windows or mix them into a spray bottle filled with water and use them as a natural insect repellent. They’re effective against mosquitoes, fruit flies, and beetles, as well as mites and other insects. You may also keep pests out of your garden by sprinkling coffee grounds around the plants. Coffee grounds can also be used to repel slugs and snails from your garden by creating a barrier around the plants.
Fruit Fly Trap
Coffee grounds can be used to make a simple fruit fly trap. Just add some leftover coffee or coffee grounds with sugar and water, then wait for the flies to come! The smell of the sweetened coffee will attract them and they’ll drown in your homemade trap. Put your mixture in a jar or cup, cover it with plastic wrap, and poke some holes in the top so the fruit flies can get in but not out. This is an effective way of getting rid of these annoying pests without using chemicals that might harm other beneficial insects such as bees or ladybugs. You could even try adding rotten fruit pieces instead of sugar if you have any on hand!
Reduce Odors
Coffee grounds are a great way to neutralize odors in your fridge and freezer. Place a tray or container filled with coffee grounds on one of the shelves inside your refrigerator and leave it there for about two weeks. This will help absorb any unpleasant food odors from other items stored nearby like garlic bulbs, onions, and fish fillets. You can also place trays/containers filled with coffee grounds inside freezers where they will work their magic once again! When coffee grounds are combined with carbon, they release nitrogen, which aids in the removal of noxious sulfur gas from the air. If you have a smelly garbage can or compost bin, try adding some coffee grounds to the bottom of it before placing your trash inside. Coffee grounds are great for keeping your kitchen smelling fresh!
Eliminate Smelly Skin
Do your hands stink after cutting onions or garlic? Rub your hands with coffee grounds and then simply rinse away the odors. Coffee grounds will also help alleviate bad smells stuck in your nose. If you’ve ever had the smell of bleach stuck in your nose after cleaning the bathroom you’ll know what I’m talking about. Smelling fresh coffee grounds can remove offensive odors stuck in your nose. The scent of bleach, gasoline, stinky fish and even sewage can be subdued with the amazing smell of coffee.
Cleaning Dishes
Coffee grounds can be useful for cleaning dishes, as they contain oils that act like soap. Simply add a tablespoon of coffee grounds to one cup of water and use it to scrub away food residue from pots or pans with baked-on grease. For an even stronger mixture, combine three tablespoons of coffee grounds with two cups of hot water in a container before stirring until all ingredients have dissolved into solution form! You can also add them directly onto dirty dishes before washing as usual if you want extra scrubbing power without having any leftover residue after rinsing off your dishes.
Furniture Repair
Coffee grounds can also be used as a stain and scratch remover for wood furniture. Just mix one tablespoon of coffee grounds with one cup of water, then apply the mixture to a soft cloth and use it to rub away any unwanted blemishes on your furniture. You could even try using this method before you seal or polish your wooden furniture pieces for an extra layer of protection!
Removing Fleas From Your Pet
Fleas are a recurring problem in cats and dogs, and treating them may be expensive and time-consuming. One way to get rid of fleas on your pet without using harsh chemicals is to use a mixture of coffee grounds and water. After shampooing, simply massage the grounds through your pet’s fur. Allow your pet to dry as usual after rinsing them away. Coffee grounds may be less successful than prescription medication, so if your pet has fleas and this therapy does not work, you might want to consult with a veterinarian about additional choices.
There are a variety of ways to use coffee grounds to benefit your home, garden, and pets. From killing slugs to getting rid of fleas, there are many uses for coffee grounds! If you have leftover coffee grounds from brewing at home, consider using them for one of these applications! If you’re not a coffee drinker ask a friend, relative, or a local coffee shop to save their used grounds for you.
