Coffee Ground Uses
Coffee grounds are a versatile, nutrient-rich leftover of the coffee production process. Coffee grounds contain nitrogen,phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium and copper. Used coffee grounds are ideal as a compost additive and nitrogen rich fertilizer. Coffee grounds are solely a soil amendment and not a fertilizer. Here are some good uses for coffee grounds ...
- Deodorizer. Dry them out on a cookie sheet and then put them in a bowl in your refrigerator or freezer, or rub them on your hands to get rid of food prep smells.
- Plant food. Plants such as rosebushes, azaleas, rhododendrons, evergreen and camellias that prefer acidic soils will appreciate the leftovers from your morning cup. Also, grounds can add nutrients to your compost bin.
- Insect repellant. Sprinkle old grounds around places you don’t want ants, or on the ant piles themselves. The little buggers will move on or stay away. Used grounds are also said to repel snails and slugs.
- Dye. By steeping grounds in hot water, you can make brown dye for fabric, paper and even Easter eggs.
- Furniture scratch cover-up. Steep grounds and apply a bit of the liquid to furniture scratches with a Q-tip.
- Cleaning product. As they’re slightly abrasive, grounds can be used as a scouring agent for greasy and grimy stain-resistant objects.
- Kitty repellent. To keep kitty from using the garden as her personal powder room, sprinkle grounds mixed with orange peels around your plants.
- Boost your vegetable harvest. Mixing fresh grounds with the tiny seeds makes them easier to sow and may repel root maggots and other small bugs.
- Dust inhibitor. Before you clean out the fireplace, toss wet coffee grounds over the ashes to keep the ash dust under control.
- Cellulite reducer. Mix 1/4 cup warm, used coffee grounds with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, then, while standing over an old towel or newspaper, apply the mixture to “problem areas”. Next, wrap the areas with shrink wrap and leave on for several minutes. Unwind the wrap, brush loose grounds off skin and shower with warm water. For best results, it is recommended to repeat this procedure twice a week.
- Dishwasher cleaner. A few teaspoons placed on a thin rag can be used to clean grease and grime from dishware.
Companies are doing interesting things with recycled coffee grounds. Moving Comfort, an athletic gear company, uses recycled coffee grounds in a fabric called S. Cafe to absorb odors.