10 Surprising Uses for Coffee Grounds You Never Knew About

_{If you make coffee at home, you’ll now have nearly a dozen practical ways to make use of all those old coffee grounds!}

Surprising Uses for Coffee Grounds - pictured white coffee mug with two cakes of coffee grounds

10 Surprising Uses for Coffee Grounds You Never Knew About

Are you a coffee lover who hates wasting anything that still has a use? Then you’ll be excited to learn that there are so many surprising ways to reuse coffee grounds beyond just brewing a fresh cup.

From deodorizing your fridge to making homemade candles, the possibilities are endless. In this article, we’ll dive into 10 inventive and unexpected uses for coffee grounds that you may have never considered before.

So, grab your coffee mug, and let’s explore the surprising power of those leftover coffee grounds!,

Deodorize Your Fridge

Spread coffee grounds out on a cookie sheet, allow them to dry, then put them in a bowl in your refrigerator or freezer to neutralize odors. (This also works well to get rid of mothball smells from closets or campers!)

This works just as well as baking soda.

Exfoliate Your Skin

Coffee grounds contain natural exfoliants that can help scrub away dead skin cells and leave your skin feeling smooth and refreshed. To use ground coffee as an exfoliant, mix them with a carrier oil such as coconut oil or olive oil and gently massage onto your skin in circular motions.

Rinse off with warm water and follow with your favorite moisturizer. Here is a great DIY Body scrub recipe.

Not only is this a cost-effective way to pamper your skin, but it’s also eco-friendly as you’re reusing something that might otherwise go to waste.

natural dye with coffee - fabric in a large pot being dyed by coffee

Make Natural Dye

Using coffee grounds for natural skincare can set you up for another fun activity: making natural dye. Rather than using chemical dyes, old ground coffee can be used to create beautiful and earthy colors on fabrics and paper.

To make the dye, simply boil used coffee grounds in a pot of water for about an hour, then strain out the grounds. The resulting liquid can be used to dye fabric or paper by soaking them in the mixture for several hours or overnight.

Experiment with different amounts of coffee grounds and soaking times to achieve your desired color.

insect repel using coffee grounds to help with bug bites

Repel Insects

As much as we love spending time outdoors, insects can make the experience less enjoyable. Mosquitoes, ants, and other bugs can easily ruin a perfect picnic or a relaxing evening in the backyard.

Luckily, there’s a natural solution that can help repel insects – ground coffee.

Coffee grounds contain compounds that are unpleasant to insects, making them an effective natural repellent. For best results, sprinkle used coffee grounds around areas where insects are likely to gather, such as near doors or windows.

Studies have found that water containing coffee or used grounds deterred adult mosquitoes from laying eggs in those locations. You can also place coffee grounds in small sachets and hang them in areas where insects are a problem, such as closets or pantries.

Eliminate Odors from Hands

When cooking with garlic or onions, the pungent smell can linger on your hands for hours even after washing them. This can be frustrating, especially if you have guests coming over.

Instead of resorting to harsh chemicals or soap, try rubbing used coffee grounds on your hands. Coffee grounds have natural deodorizing properties that can help neutralize odors.

Not only will your hands smell better, but you’ll also be using a sustainable solution.

meat tenderizer with coffee - grilling steak on grill

Tenderize Meat

The natural acidity of coffee grounds breaks down tough muscle fibers in meat, making it more tender and easier to cook. Simply mix the used grounds with water to create a paste and rub it onto the meat before cooking. Let it sit for a few hours and then rinse it off before cooking.

Not only is this a sustainable solution for tenderizing meat, but it also adds a subtle coffee flavor to your dish. This method works particularly well for tougher cuts of meat like roasts or steaks.

You can also try this Coffee Ground Marinade.

Coffee ground as fertilizer. using spoon to spread used coffee grounds on indoor plants

Fertilize Plants

Coffee grounds are not just useful in the kitchen. They also make for an excellent fertilizer for your plants. These grounds contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are essential nutrients for plant growth.

These nutrients are slowly released into the soil, ensuring that your plants receive a steady supply of nutrients over time.

To use ground coffee as a fertilizer, simply sprinkle them around your plants. You can also mix them into the soil before planting. Coffee grounds are acidic, so they work particularly well for plants that prefer acidic soil, such as tomatoes, blueberries, and roses.

Coffee candle with coffee beans as topping on wooden background

Make Homemade Coffee Candles

Coffee grounds can serve multiple purposes besides being a pick-me-up for coffee lovers. If you are a fan of DIY projects, you might be surprised to know that you can make homemade coffee candles with grounds you’d usually discard.

Coffee candles are a great way to add a cozy, inviting atmosphere to your space and the scent of coffee can be a natural air freshener.

To make a coffee candle, mix the used coffee grounds with melted wax and pour it into a container such as a mason jar. You can add essential oils to create a customized scent or use a vanilla-scented candle to complement the coffee aroma.

Once the candle is set, you can light it up and enjoy the flickering flame combined with the rich scent of coffee. Or you can try your hand at this creative candle-making idea.

Feed Your Compost Bin

Another surprising use for coffee grounds is to feed your compost bin. Instead of throwing away your used coffee grounds, you can recycle them and contribute to creating a nutrient-rich soil conditioner.

Coffee grounds are an excellent source of nitrogen, which is a crucial component in composting.

By adding ground coffee to your compost pile, you can speed up the decomposition process and enhance the quality of your soil. Moreover, coffee grounds also improve the soil’s texture by providing organic matter, which is essential for retaining moisture.

Composting ground coffee is an eco-friendly way to reduce waste and promote sustainability. You can either add the coffee grounds directly to your compost bin or mix them with other organic materials such as fallen leaves, grass clippings, and vegetable scraps.

Lastly…

The next time you finish your morning brew, don’t be so quick to toss those leftover coffee grounds into the trash. Instead, consider exploring the multitude of ways you can reuse them for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle.

From deodorizing your fridge to making homemade coffee candles, coffee grounds have surprising powers beyond their delicious taste. So try some of these ideas and discover the versatility of ground coffee for yourself.