There are precious few that beat a good coffee in the morning. It perks you up and gives you that added jolt to start your day. When it comes to coffee, nothing still beats brewed; it has a far richer taste and aroma than the instants you get in supermarkets and stores. They both come at a price though—brewed coffee has dregs that remain after you brew them. These are called coffee grounds and for most people, they’re useless leftovers for coffee.

Like most leftovers, coffee grounds are generally considered useless and just waste byproducts. The easiest way most people do to get rid of them is just throw them away in bins. However, there are other ways to get rid of your coffee grounds that are more beneficial.

Useful Ways to Get Rid of Coffee Grounds

Since coffee grounds are organic-based, they are biodegradable and shouldn’t really pose a problem with filling up a landfill. Aside from the dump yard though, here are some more ways to get rid (and make use) of those coffee byproducts.

1. Use them to reduce your cellulite. One of the easiest and most popular methods of treating cellulite is via the use of topical creams and lotions. They reportedly work by stimulating cell circulation, melting fat, and moving the fluids and toxins out. While there are doctors who are not convinced they help, some say that those whose key ingredient is methylxanthines do have an effect. One form of methylxanthines is caffeine.

To use coffee grounds as cellulite reducer, mix ¼ cup of warm, used coffee grounds with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Apply the mixture on the problem areas. In order to prevent a mess, stand over an old towel or newspaper. Then, wrap the problem areas with a shrink wrap and leave on for several minutes. Unwind the wrap, brush off any loose coffee grounds from your skin, and then take a shower. Repeat the procedure twice a week.

2. Use them as a plant fertilizer. Coffee grounds are great fertilizers because they have a high nitrogen content. Generally, nitrogen is the most difficult of all the mineral nutrients that a plant can acquire. Plants primarily acquire nitrogen through their roots. Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen so sprinkling them to your soil will make your soil nitrogen-rich. Coffee grounds also contain potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium—all minerals that aid greatly in plant development and growth.





3. Use them in composts. There are beliefs that coffee grounds are not good for composting because they are acidic. On the contrary, coffee grounds are not acidic. After brewing, most of the acidity are removed, and the grounds hover closely to pH neutral, between 6.5 and 6.8. The coffee grounds are relatively rich in nitrogen and they provide the bacteria the energy they need in order to turn organic matter into compost.

In a research study done recently in Oregon, when the coffee grounds make up 25% of the volume of the compost piles, the temperatures in the piles stayed between 135 to 155 degrees for at least two weeks. The length of time is sufficient enough to have killed a significant portion of dangerous pathogens and kill the seeds of weeds that were added to the piles. The coffee grounds also seem to improve soil structure and attract the earthworms.

4. Use them as a cleaning product. If you have problems dealing with tough greases on your pots and pans, the coffee grounds can be used as a good scouring agent. Since coffee grounds are slightly abrasive, they can remove the stains and grimes without doing any damage to the utensils. Do not think of flushing the coffee grounds on your sink or drain thinking that the abrasive properties will also work on then, though. The grease in the pipes will just cause them to stick, adding more clog to the drain. In the same vein, don’t use it on your septic drainage.



5. Use them as dyes. Coffee is a natural dye. It is perfect for creating that antique or aged look. It is also good for dyeing natural fibers such as wool, cotton, or hemp and giving them an aged or mellow appearance.To use them as dyes, collect a few days’ worth of discarded coffee grounds until you have about 1-2 cups of coffee grounds, or depending on the dye saturation; essentially, the more quantity, the darker the dye. Boil it in a pot of water, then turn it off and let the mixture steep. You can strain the coffee grounds or leave them in the solution. If you’re aiming for a darker look, leave the grounds in.Thoroughly wet the fabric that you will dye. Wet fabrics accept better dyes than dry ones. When the mixture has cooled down enough, submerge the fabric in the solution. Occasionally stir in order to ensure that the fabric is evenly dyed. Left the fabric in the dye anywhere from 5 minutes to overnight; it will depend on your desired color.

   In order to set the dye, you can: A) add two teaspoons of alum to the solution, B) add two tablespoons of vinegar to the solution, or C) add soda ash to the solution. Then, let the dye set for 15 minutes. Once that’s done, rinse the fabric thoroughly then dry the fabric.

   

6. Use them as deodorants. Dry the coffee grounds thoroughly and add them to an old stocking. Tie off the ends and then use them in your cupboard as an odor absorber. You can also place a bowl of used coffee grounds in the freezer to achieve the same effect. Also, if you have just handled onion or fish, rubbing your hands with coffee ground will remove the strong odor.

So don’t throw out those coffee grounds next time. You will be able to use them for other useful applications.