24 Clever Ways to Reuse Coffee Grinds and Save Money

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Are you a coffee lover, but would you like to do something with the grinds instead of tossing them into the trash? 

Look no further! There are many creative and practical ways to repurpose coffee grounds that will benefit you and the environment.

This article provides 24 clever ideas for reusing coffee grounds, helping you save money and reduce waste. 

From the garden to your beauty routine, there’s a lot you can do with those used coffee grounds.

By adding these tips to your daily routine, you’ll discover a variety of new uses for something you once considered trash and save yourself some serious cash in the meantime. 

So, the next time you brew a cup of coffee, think twice before tossing those grounds.

#1. Exfoliate Your Skin

Face Coffee Grounds Skin Scrub
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You can create a great body scrub by mixing leftover coffee grounds with honey or coconut oil. 

The grounds will help remove dead skin cells, leaving skin soft and smooth.

#2. Compost Them

Coffee grounds being added to compost
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Adding coffee grounds to your compost pile is a great way to increase nitrogen content, speeding up decomposition. 

Adding compost to your garden can also improve soil structure and provide essential nutrients for plants.

#3. Grow Mushrooms

Fresh growing chanpignons mushroom on a production
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Using coffee grounds for growing mushrooms is an excellent idea because coffee grounds are a wonderful growing medium.

Simply mix the grounds with mushroom spores and keep them in a cool, dark place until they start to grow.

#4. Deodorize Your Fridge

Woman feeling bad smell from fridge in kitchen
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Placing a bowl of coffee grounds in your fridge can help absorb any unwanted odors.

The coffee will act as a natural deodorizer, leaving your fridge smelling fresh and clean.

#5. Deer Repellent

Wild Deer in a Garden
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If deer eat your plants, you can use coffee grounds as a natural deterrent.

Just sprinkle the coffee grounds in your yard and garden; the pungent smell will keep them away.

#6. Flea Repellent

A cheerful teenage girl plays on the floor with her kitten
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After bathing, you can rub coffee grounds into your pet’s fur to help remove and repel fleas. 

Make sure you rinse your pet’s fur thoroughly and talk to your vet before trying this method.

#7. Fabric Dye

sepia paper on wooden background
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If you love a vintage look for your home, you can use coffee grounds to create a natural dye for fabrics or paper. 

Just boil the grounds with water, strain, and use the liquid to dye your materials for a vintage, sepia-toned look.

#8. Fireplace Cleaner

Man cleans fireplace with brush and blades
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Before you clean your fireplace, sprinkle damp coffee grounds over the ashes to reduce dust and make them easier to scoop up. 

The grounds will also help to eliminate any lingering odors from the ashes.

#9. Minimize Furniture Scratches

coffee grounds on top of wood counter
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If your wooden furniture has scratches, you can use coffee grounds to create a natural polish. 

Just mix some coffee grounds with olive oil and gently rub the mixture into the wood for a rich, polished finish.

#10. Reduce Under Eye Circle 

Young woman removes under-eye patches
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Did you know that the caffeine in coffee can help reduce the puffiness under your eyes?

Mix a small amount of water or coconut oil with coffee grounds to create a paste, apply it under your eyes for about 10 minutes, and rinse well with water.

#11. Hair Darkener

Young woman combing beautiful long hair in bathroom
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Use coffee grinds if you want your dark hair to have more natural highlights and a deeper color. 

Simply brew an extra-strong pot of coffee, let it completely cool, and then rinse your hair with it.

#12. Insect Repellent

Hand holding crushed egg shell and spent coffee grounds in bowl in garden
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Coffee grinds’ strong scent and texture are unappealing and toxic to these garden pests.

To keep bugs away, you can sprinkle grounds throughout your yard and garden or set bowls around the outside of your home.

#13. Meat Rub

Spice rubbed raw beef fillet
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Coffee grounds can be used as a meat tenderizer or in marinades and rubs.

The enzymes in the coffee grounds will help break down the meat, making it more tender while adding a delicious coffee flavor.

#14.Paper Mache Glue

A pair of older people made of paper mache technique
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Instead of using traditional glue, mix coffee grounds with water to create a strong adhesive for your paper mache projects.

This is a great way to add a unique texture and color to your creations.

#15. Fertilizer

Ground coffee, coffee residue, coffee grounds, thrown under hydrangea
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Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, so they are great to use as a plant fertilizer.

To provide your plants with essential nutrients, mix the grounds directly into the soil or sprinkle them on top.

#16. Fire Starter

Backyard fire pit for heating
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Coffee grounds are a great way to start your fire when camping or cooking out.

Mix dry coffee grounds with melted wax and pour into a cardboard egg carton to harden. Then, break apart the cups and use them as fire starters. 

#17. Soil Acidity Boost

Someone with coffee grounds in their hands to put them in a garden
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If you grow acid-loving plants like azaleas, roses, or hydrangeas, adding coffee grounds to the soil can promote healthy growth.

The coffee grounds will increase acidity levels in the soil, providing necessary nutrients for these plants to thrive.

#18. Coffee Candles

Board with coffee candle and beans on wooden table
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If you make homemade candles, try adding coffee grounds to them to add a delightful coffee aroma. 

Just add the grounds to melted wax before pouring it into a mold, and let the coffee grounds infuse into the wax as it cools.

#19. Scrubbing Power

Close-up detail of coffee grounds
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Coffee grounds are abrasive and can scrub pots, pans, and countertops. 

Try sprinkling some grounds onto a kitchen sponge and scrub away those stubborn stains.

#20. Grill Cleanup

Cleaning the outdoor grill
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If you love grilling but hate the cleanup, you can use coffee grounds to scrub away grease and grime from grill grates. 

Since coffee grounds have an abrasive texture, they make a quick and effective cleaning solution.

#21. Hand Scrub

Woman hand with scrub coffee grounds on table
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If you have been working in the garden or kitchen, your hands might be stained or smell like garlic or onions.

Rubbing coffee grounds on your hands can help get rid of stains and neutralize any odors. 

#22. Anti-fungal For Plants

Abstract of top view of spent coffee grounds with potted houseplant
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Coffee grounds have anti-fungal properties, such as leaf spots or powdery mildew, that can help prevent fungus diseases in your garden.

To help protect against these fungi plant diseases, sprinkle some grounds around your plants or mix them into the soil.

#23. Worm Food

An earthworm and a coffee filter
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If you have a worm farm, coffee grounds can be a great addition to their diet.

Worms love coffee grounds and help break down the organic matter in your worm farm, making a more nutrient-rich compost for your plants.

#24. Make Soap

Natural handmade coffee soap, on wooden background
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Believe it or not, you can make soap using coffee grounds and orange peels. 

Add coffee grounds and ground orange peels to a mild soap base and let it set to create a natural exfoliating soap.

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