Unexpected Ways Coffee Grounds Can Make Your Life Better

 Coffee is good for more than just waking you up in the morning! But Coffee grounds could be so useful at times. Take a look at this list and find the perfect recycling tips and tricks so you can enjoy your coffee again.

 1. Grow Your Own Mushrooms

Grow Your Own Mushrooms

fivegallonideas.com

You can grow the funnest fungi around with just some coffee grounds and mushroom spores.

2. Blue Your Blooms

Blue Your Blooms

Flickr: martinlabar

Some flowering plants, like hydrangeas, change color depending on the pH level of the soil. Adding coffee grounds will reduce the pH level and give you bright blue flowers.

3. Keep the Slugs Away

Keep the Slugs Away

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Unlike worms, slugs, snails, and other bugs don’t like the acidity of coffee and won’t cross the ground if it’s sprinkled with java.

4. Increase Your Carrot and Radish Harvest

Increase Your Carrot and Radish Harvest

Flickr: abirdie

Mixing coffee grounds with the seeds before you plant carrots and radishes will keep pests and bugs away and increase your harvest.

5. Bring on the Worms

Bring on the Worms

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Worms might not be the best pets, but they are great for your garden; they turn the soil and fertilize it with their own body processes. Worms are attracted to coffee grounds, so adding it to your garden beds will attract more of these helpful creatures.

6. Keep Cats Out

Keep Cats Out

Flickr: nicepureview

Tired of your neighbors cats traipsing through your flowers? Just sprinkle some coffee grounds and orange peel where you don’t want them to walk.

7. Freshen Your Flower Vases

Freshen Your Flower Vases

rethinksimple.com

Using a coffee-soil mix for your flower vase not only looks cool and lengthens your cut flowers’ life, it also acts as an air freshener in the room.

8. Make Some Play-Dough Dirt

Make Some Play-Dough Dirt

kidsactivitiesblog.com

It’s edible (though probably not delicious) and is great for playing with fake snakes and worms.

9. Build a Better Pin Cushion

Build a Better Pin Cushion

Flickr: 51106757@N04

Filling your pin cushion with coffee grounds will prevent your pins from rusting. Plus, it’s like a sachet of good smells every time you use it.

Pro tip: Make sure to dry them thoroughly first by spreading them on a cookie sheet and placing them in the freezer for an hour or two.

10. Make a Roach Trap

Make a Roach Trap

Flickr: photoaxis

All you need is coffee grounds, a can, and some double-sided tape.

11. Scour Your Pans

Scour Your Pans

Flickr: tombothetominator

A few coffee grounds on a rag can help scrape  away caked-on dirt. Just make sure not to use it on ceramic or other dishes that stain easily.

12. Clean Your Hands After Chopping Garlic

Clean Your Hands After Chopping Garlic

Flickr: thekylejones

Keep a little cup of coffee grounds near or under your sink, and rub a handful of them on your hands after chopping garlic or onions or other smelly things. The grounds will absorb the odor.

13. Make Garbage Disposal Cleaners

Make Garbage Disposal Cleaners

popsugar.com

With this recipe, you can make these little cleaners that help your garbage disposal stay sharp and smelling fresh.

14. Unclog Your Drain

Unclog Your Drain

Flickr: chiotsrun

With coffee grounds, boiling water and a little dish soap, you can unclog your bathroom and kitchen drains.

15. Get Odors Out of Your Fridge and Freezer

Get Odors Out of Your Fridge and Freezer

Flickr: mlazarevski

Instead of baking soda, use a box of used coffee grounds to absorb smells in your fridge.

16. Get Scratches Out of Furniture

Get Scratches Out of Furniture

yankeemagazine.com

Use oil and coffee grounds or instant coffee to mask scratches in many shades of wood.

17. Make Wood Look Weathered

Make Wood Look Weathered

lovepomegranatehouse.com

This technique makes new wood look antique.

18. Tenderize Your Meat

Tenderize Your Meat

budgetbytes.com

Using coffee as a spice for a meat rub will tenderize it and add a smokey flavor.

19. Make These No-Bake Energy Bites

Make These No-Bake Energy Bites

blissfulbritt.com

20. Make Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs

Make Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs

thyhandhathprovided.com

This technique also works on paper and fabric.

21. Make a Coffee Candle

Make a Coffee Candle

popsugar.com

All you need is a coffee cup with grounds, and some leftover wax ends from other candles.

22. Make an Air Freshener

Make an Air Freshener

instructables.com

Perfect for your house or car. All you need is some coffee grounds and panty hose.

23. Make Your Own Fossils

spoonful.com

Don’t wait millions of years for your seashells to fossilize. Make your own instant fossils with coffee grounds and flour. Perfect for toy-dinosaur footprints.

24. Paint a Picture

Paint a Picture

instructables.com

Coffee grounds and water (aka second-round coffee) make an excellent nontoxic paint.

25. Make a Flea Bath

Make a Flea Bath

Flickr: mrgranito

Add some coffee grounds to your dog’s shampoo to create a natural flea repellant.

26. Strip Buildup from Your Hair

Strip Buildup from Your Hair

ThinkStock

The abrasive texture of coffee grounds will help strip oils and buildup from your hair. Pile them on in the shower or, for a much less messy strategy, just addsome grounds to your shampoo or conditioner. (Best for brunettes as coffee can also darken hair.)

27. Remove Dark Circles from Under Your Eyes

Remove Dark Circles from Under Your Eyes

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Just like coffee wakes YOU up in the morning, it can also wake up your face by reducing puffiness and tightening skin.

28. Make a Deodorizing Soap

Make a Deodorizing Soap

popsugar.com

You can DIY this masculine (aka non-floral) soap out of recycled hotel soaps and coffee. It’s a great (and nearly free) homemade gift for anyone on your list.

29. Make a Luxurious Salt Scrub

Make a Luxurious Salt Scrub

savynaturalista.com

This rub will leave your whole body feeling soft and rejuvenated.

30. Make a Mocha Frappuccino Mask

Make a Mocha Frappuccino Mask

crunchybetty.com

This delicious-smelling morning mask will wake you up and exfoliate your face.

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