If you’re a coffee enthusiast, you probably brew a fresh cup or treat yourself to a homemade latte or cappuccino on the regular if not every day. Coffee grounds usually get tossed, but did you know they have a surprising number of uses? Next time, don’t let them go to waste. Here are a few creative uses for used coffee grounds!

Give them to Your Garden

Used coffee grounds are a gardener’s best-kept secret. They are rich in nitrogen, making them an excellent addition to your compost pile. The nitrogen content helps enhance soil quality, making it more fertile for your plants to thrive. As they break down, they release nutrients slowly, providing a steady supply of nourishment to your garden.
Grounds can also help balance soil pH levels. Many plants prefer slightly acidic soil, and they can help maintain this optimal pH, ensuring your plants grow healthy and vibrant.
Additionally, they can act as a natural pest repellent for your garden and your outdoor social areas like your patio and backyard. Sprinkle them around your seating areas and garden to help deter common pests like ants, snails, and slugs. Unlike chemical repellents, the grounds pose no harm to the environment, making it a healthy and eco-conscious solution.

Deodorize Your Fridge, Shoes, and Closet

We’ve all encountered stubborn odors in our refrigerators or freezers. Instead of resorting to chemical deodorizers, place a bowl of dried coffee grounds in the stinky appliances in question. They’ll help absorb and neutralize odors, leaving your food smelling fresh. If your shoes are making your nose sour, just fill a small cloth bag with coffee grounds and place it inside your shoes overnight. This one sounds a little funny, but it works. You can put a container of coffee grounds on a shelf of your closet. The grounds will effectively absorb any musty or stale odors, leaving your space smelling clean.

Natural Exfoliant for Skin Care

We love a good skincare routine, and your coffee’s leftovers make a great natural exfoliant. When used as a scrub, they help remove dead skin cells, leaving your skin feeling soft and rejuvenated. The coarse texture of coffee grounds is gentle enough for regular use and is suitable for most skin types.

Coffee also contains antioxidants, which can help reduce inflammation and puffiness when applied to the skin. Mixing coffee grounds with a bit of oil exfoliates while also providing hydration and protection. To make some at home, combine equal parts coffee grounds with an oil—we recommend coconut! You can also add a dash of baking soda, salt, and water if you want to get a little more artisanal.

Coffee Grounds for DIY Arts and Crafts

If your walls are looking a bit bare and you don’t have the heart to buy mass-produced artwork, here’s your chance to get creative. They add an interesting depth and earthy texture to mediums like paint or glue. Idea—call up your crafty girlies and gents and host a paint and sip with Kahlua-spiked coffee and biscotti.

If you’re into candle making, you could also add grounds to your candle wax for a cozy coffee-scented candle. You’ll just need candle wax, coffee grounds, and your choice of candle fragrance oil—there are also a ton of candle-making kits to get started, that way you won’t have to scrape candle wax off your cooking pots and pans.
Either way, all you have to do is melt the candle wax and add a few drops of the fragrance oil to get your scent. Then, mix in the coffee grounds while the wax is still in a liquid state. Pour the mixture into your chosen candle molds insert wicks and let the candle cool and harden.

Enhance Your Hair’s Natural Shine

Your skin gets all the attention, but what about your scalp? The caffeine content can help stimulate hair growth. Massaging damp coffee grounds into your scalp while in the shower can help exfoliate it, removing buildup and promoting healthier hair. Plus, the massage action also helps with blood circulation.