Discover the versatile uses of coffee grounds: From home spa to garden booster

You often start your day with a cup of coffee; by the evening, you've already had a few more cups. Every day, you're left with many coffee grounds that you simply throw away. You treat them as waste, but they can be reused, at least in part. Here are some tips on how to make use of them at home.

Do you mostly brew your coffee in an espresso machine? Or perhaps you pour it over using paper filters? Either way, you have to dispose of the grounds afterwards. While they can't be used to prepare another drink, they shouldn't always end up in the bin. Use them in the spirit of zero waste. It doesn't matter which type of beans you use, coffee grounds can still be useful in the kitchen, garden, or even your home spa.

For neutralizing unpleasant smells. Coffee grounds can be used to freshen up the fridge or shoes. You need to dry them well and then transfer them to a bag or container that allows air to circulate. You can also place a bag of grounds in your shoes overnight to get rid of bad odours. Rub grounds on your hands too if they smell like garlic or onion. They'll work as a gentle scrub and remove the smell.

As a natural body scrub. Mix grounds with warm water, olive oil, or coconut oil. Use this homemade cosmetic on your body. If you mix the grounds with coarse salt, it can also be used for a shower massage. Such treatments not only tighten the skin but also remove dead skin.

Turn them into a fertilizer for watering plants. Prepare it by steeping about 5-10 grams of grounds in approximately 240 millilitres of water. Once the grounds swell, mix the solution and water your plants immediately. This fertilizer is great for orchids, ferns, and African violets. Use it no more frequently than once every 1-2 weeks.

As a filling for an eco-friendly scrub pad. Coffee grounds can be an alternative to cleaning agents. Wrap them in gauze. With such a pad, you can remove even dried grease from pots and dishes. You can also mix them with dishwashing liquid. It will be easier to remove dirt, including from cutlery. You don't have to worry about scratches, because coffee grounds are gentle.

To deter insects. Coffee grounds from the espresso machine have a very intense smell, which is disliked by ants and fruit flies. They will avoid areas where, for example, a saucer or bowl of grounds is placed. Put them close to fruits. This is a great solution for hot days when a lot of insects appear in the kitchen.