When making coffee , the grounds are usually thrown away , ignoring the fact that there are various ways to reuse them and thus benefit from their countless properties.
Here are the most useful ways to give coffee grounds a second life.
Fertilize the garden
Most soil does not contain the essential nutrients needed for optimal plant growth. Furthermore, as plants grow, they absorb the few nutrients that are present through their roots.
Adding coffee grounds to your soil is a great idea because they contain several key minerals such as nitrogen , calcium , potassium , iron , phosphorus , magnesium , and chromium , and they also help absorb heavy metals that can contaminate the soil.
If you don’t need fertilizer right away, you can combine coffee grounds with other food scraps to make compost , a natural process that turns organic products into dark material that can be stored and used later as fertilizer.
Repel insects and pests
Some compounds in coffee such as caffeine and diterpenes are highly toxic to insects , so grounds can be used to repel them. In particular, they are effective in repelling mosquitoes , fruit flies, cockroaches and other pests .
To use these scraps as insect and pest repellants, simply place them in bowls or throw them on the ground near the affected areas.
Neutralize odors
Coffee grounds contain nitrogen, which helps absorb and eliminate odors .
You can then put a bowl of it in your refrigerator or freezer to neutralize the odors of certain foods , or fill old socks or wicking sachets to create portable air fresheners to put in shoe racks, gym bags , drawers, cars, or anywhere else that might need a little natural scent .
You can also keep coffee grounds near the sink and use them to rub your hands after chopping garlic or onion to remove the odor.
Cleaning pots and pans
The rough texture of coffee grounds makes them ideal for scrubbing hard-to-clean kitchen utensils that are often encrusted with dirt, such as pots and pans. Simply sprinkle the grounds directly onto the surface you want to clean and scrub.
Exfoliate the skin
The coarse particles of coffee grounds act as an exfoliating agent and help remove dirt and dead cells from the skin .
To make a natural scrub , mix the grounds with a little water or coconut oil and rub them with your hands directly on your face and body. If combined with a small amount of honey they can also be used as a lip scrub .
Reduce the appearance of cellulite
Cellulite is a condition that affects many women and is difficult to eliminate .
However, caffeine when applied topically can help break down fat deposits and increase blood flow to the area, thus decreasing the appearance of this blemish.
Mix the grounds with water or coconut oil and rub for 10 minutes twice a week on all areas affected by cellulite.
Stimulate hair growth
Shampoos and styling products often leave residue that can dull and weigh down hair . Exfoliating your scalp with coffee grounds can help remove buildup and dead skin cells .
Additionally, several studies have found that caffeine, such as that found in coffee grounds, stimulates hair growth .
Before shampooing, once or twice a week, it is advisable to take a handful of coffee grounds and massage them into the scalp and hair for a few minutes. Then wash and rinse as normal.
Repair scratched furniture
Unfortunately, wooden furniture scratches easily and it seems that coffee grounds can help improve its appearance.
To use them for this purpose, you need to make a thick paste by combining them with a little water, then rub the mixture on the scratch using a cotton ball, let it sit for 5-10 minutes and then rub with a cotton cloth.
This process would help polish out the scratch and hide it by staining the exposed wood a dark brown color.
Continue dabbing the coffee into the scratch using a cotton ball until you achieve the desired color, waiting a few hours between applications.
Fight dark circles
The skin surrounding the eyes is extremely delicate and contains very little fat tissue , which is why it is one of the first places where signs of aging or fatigue become visible.
Many studies show that skin care products containing antioxidants and caffeine, also found in coffee grounds, help prevent the appearance of aging and reduce dark circles.
In particular, caffeine has anti-inflammatory properties and stimulates blood circulation around the eyes, reducing dark circles and puffiness. In addition, the antioxidants in coffee can also fight free radicals , which contribute to skin aging .
Simply add water or coconut oil to the coffee grounds and apply the mixture under your eyes, letting it sit for about 10 minutes before rinsing.
