Still Often Throw Away Coffee Grounds? Try to Use it with These 9 Ways

Illustration of using coffee grounds for household purposes (Magnific/lookstudio)

YOGYAKARTA - Coffee grounds are usually thrown away immediately after the coffee is brewed. In fact, coffee grounds are useful for various daily needs. From helping to care for plants, reducing unpleasant odors, to being a material for simple craft projects, coffee grounds can be reused in practical ways. If you have been throwing it away all this time, some of the following ideas may be worth trying.

1. Eliminate the smell on your hands after cooking

The smell of onions, fish, or other food ingredients sometimes still sticks to your hands even after washing with soap. Coffee grounds can be used as a natural scrub to help reduce the smell. Rub a little damp coffee grounds on your hands, then rinse until clean. In addition to helping lift the lingering aroma, your hands will also feel fresher afterwards.

2. Absorb unpleasant odors in the refrigerator

The refrigerator is often a place where various food aromas mix that can cause unpleasant odors. Dried coffee grounds can help absorb the aroma naturally. Store coffee grounds in an open small container and place it in the refrigerator. For better results, replace the coffee grounds periodically.

3. Be an addition to compost

For those of you who make your own compost at home, coffee grounds can be a useful additional ingredient. Reported by The Spruce, Monday, June 1, the nitrogen content in it helps support the decomposition process of organic materials. Coffee grounds can also help increase the activity of microorganisms that play a role in the formation of compost. However, its use should remain balanced with other compost ingredients.

Illustration of using coffee waste for household purposes (Magnific)4. Helps reduce pest disturbances in the garden

Coffee grounds are often used as a natural way to help reduce the presence of snails or snails around plants. You just sprinkle a little coffee grounds in the area you want to protect. In addition to being easy to do, this method is also one form of using kitchen waste that is more environmentally friendly. However, the results can be different in every garden condition.

5. Adding organic materials to the growing medium

In addition to being used for composting, coffee grounds are also often used as a mixture of planting media. The content of organic materials can help improve soil quality if used in reasonable amounts. Some types of plants even like soil with a slightly higher acidity level. It is best to dry the coffee grounds first before using so that it does not easily mold.

6. Camouflage scratches on wooden furniture

Small scratches on dark-colored wooden furniture sometimes make the appearance look dull. One trick that is quite popular is to mix coffee grounds with a little oil to form a paste. This mixture is then carefully applied to the scratched part. The natural color of coffee can help disguise scratches so that the furniture looks neater.

7. Making natural dyes for crafts

If you like handcrafting activities, coffee grounds can be used as a natural dye. The resulting brown color is suitable for giving a vintage or rustic impression to various creative projects. Coffee grounds can be used to dye paper, fabric, or other simple decorations. The end result often gives a unique and not easily found look on artificial dyes.

8. Refresh cabinets and storage drawers

Cabinets or drawers that are rarely opened sometimes cause a musty smell. To overcome this, put dry coffee grounds in a small cloth bag and place it in the storage area. The smell of coffee can help reduce the unpleasant smell while giving a fresher impression. This method is also easy to do without having to buy additional perfume.

9. Be a scrub material for DIY projects

Coffee grounds have a fairly rough texture so they are often used as a homemade scrub ingredient. You can mix it with other ingredients such as coconut oil or sugar to make a simple scrub. In addition to being easy to make, the ingredients are also relatively easy to find at home. After use, make sure the coffee grounds do not accumulate in the drain so as not to cause blockage.

Used coffee grounds actually still have many uses that are a shame if they are immediately thrown away. By knowing various ways to use coffee grounds, you can reduce household waste while getting additional benefits for the house and garden. Many of these ideas also do not require a large cost and are easy to practice every day. So, the next time you finish brewing coffee, it might be a good idea to set aside the grounds for reuse.