In recent years (fortunately), we've been hearing more and more about recycling and food waste. There are countless ways to avoid, or at least reduce, waste in the kitchen. Among these, a special mention goes to coffee grounds, one of the most consumed beverages in the U.S.: according to research, it's estimated that our country consumes around 146 billion cups a year. So think about how many kilos of coffee grounds are thrown away every day in organic waste: certainly a quick and sustainable method, but what if we tried to reuse them? Even if they can't be used in recipes, there are countless ways to use them to care for your home and garden.
1. Clean Encrusted Pots and Pans
You've probably had to say goodbye to a pan because you didn't know how to descale it. With coffee grounds, you won't have to: they're perfect for making your encrusted pans or pots look like new again. Sprinkle the surface you want to clean with the grounds and add some soap, or add them directly to the soap, and with a little patience, scrub with a sponge. You'll see how shiny they will be.
2. Clean Steel Surfaces
If coffee grounds are excellent degreasers for pots and pans, how could they not be the same for steel cooktops? Simply sprinkle the entire stovetop with the damp grounds and wipe everything down with a sponge to restore shine.
3. Fight Bad Odors in The Fridge
The refrigerator can often become a hotbed of unpleasant, nauseating odors. There are ways to combat them, and one of them involves dried coffee grounds. Simply place them in a bowl on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator and let them sit for a few days: the bad odor will vanish.
Bad Smells on Your Hands
Do the smell of onion, garlic, and spices stick on your hands after cooking? No problem: rub coffee grounds between your fingers, mixing them with water to eliminate that lingering smell. If you want to create something more long-lasting, here's an idea for turning them into an "odor-reducing" hand soap: in addition to the grounds, you'll need water and Marseille soap. Grate the soap, combine it with the grounds, and half the water in a non-stick pan and place everything on low heat until the soap melts. Once the soap is soft enough and has absorbed the water, add the remaining water and continue stirring until it's all absorbed. Then, pour the mixture into a silicone mold very quickly: soap tends to harden quickly. Let it rest for about 3 hours and once it reaches the right consistency, carefully remove the soap and let it rest for 1-2 days on a sheet of parchment paper.
4. Color Hard-Boiled Eggs
A fun activity to organize with the little ones, especially before Easter. There are many natural ingredients for coloring hard-boiled eggs, such as turmeric, blueberries, beetroot, purple cabbage, and now even coffee grounds: add a cup of strong coffee to a saucepan, immerse the raw eggs in the liquid, and add water until the eggs are completely covered. Simmer over low heat for about 15 minutes and let steep for about 24 hours, until they reach your desired color.
5. Use as a Natural Fertilizer
Did you know that coffee grounds are excellent natural fertilizers? Yes, you can use them for your garden, your vegetable patch, or even for your plants and flowers: simply add the well-dried grounds to your universal potting soil or sprinkle them directly on the soil. They are rich in nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium: all of which helps strengthen plants' resistance to disease and prevent weed growth. Coffee grounds also help make the soil slightly more acidic, a favorite of some flowers like roses, azaleas, camellias, and rhododendrons.
6. Add to Homemade Compost
One of the most popular methods for recycling any food scrap is to use any organic waste that is, of course, suitable for the purpose, including coffee grounds. These contribute to enriching the coffee grounds with the precious nutrients mentioned above, which are extremely useful for fertilizing plants like citrus fruits, carrots, pumpkins, and tomatoes.
7. Keep Ants and Insects Away
A tip for everyone, especially those with their own vegetable garden and wanting to protect it from insects: sprinkle coffee grounds directly on the soil to keep ants, snails, and fruit flies away. This trick, however, doesn't just work outdoors, but can also be a great solution indoors: in this case, create a mix of grounds and cloves, arrange it in bowls or even cotton bags, and place them in the most insidious areas. With the same ingredients, you can also make a spray: simply boil 250 ml of water with 2 tablespoons of grounds and 10 cloves. Simmer for about 10 minutes, let it cool, and pour it into a spray bottle: you can use it on windowsills or windowsills. Not only will it rid you of annoying ants, but it will also leave a delightful scent in your home.
Bonus Tip: Coffee Grounds for Skin Care
It's now well known that there are several foods that contribute to the well-being of our body, both inside and out. This list also includes coffee grounds, which, thanks to their rough texture, can be used, mixed with olive oil or sweet almond oil, to exfoliate the skin and eliminate dead cells. Try them in a basin of water for an energizing foot bath, or in hair care, adding them to your usual conditioner, leaving it to act for a few minutes and then rinsing with plenty of water: your hair will be stronger and shinier.
;Resize,width=767;)
