Coffee grounds: 17 uses for the garden and the house

Summary

Making garden fertilizerCleaning naturallyMaking compostScrubbing pots and pansNeutralizing bad odorsGetting pets rid of fleas. Scaring away insects and pestsCleaning the chimney Naturally Dyeing mushrooms Erasing scratches on dark wood furnitureMaking homemade candlesDefrosting iceFeeding bait worms and attracting fishKeeping flowers fresh in a vase longerTrap cockroachesMake a repellent that keeps the cat away from the gardenFAQ

Your plants feed on the soil, and generally, the soil does not contain all the nutrients necessary for their optimal growth! Moreover, plants absorb nutrients from the soil as they grow! It is therefore necessary to fertilize its plants to make them bloom.

This is where coffee grounds come into play as Chris Bonnett, founder of GardeningExpress, explains! Indeed, this powder contains several minerals essential for plant growth, including nitrogen, calcium, potassium, iron and phosphorus. You can also use it to absorb heavy metals that can contaminate the soil. It also acts as an activator for compost but in small doses. Just sprinkle coffee grounds on the ground around your plants and see how it takes care of your plantings!

Being abrasive, coffee grounds can be used to remove embedded dirt. It can even help you disinfect different surfaces in the kitchen and home thanks to the antibacterial and antiviral properties of coffee as stipulated in this study. So, if you want to replace your chemical cleaners with an ecological product, coffee grounds are a good alternative! To use it:

Composting consists of transforming organic elements such as food scraps into an effective material to improve the health of your plants! Indeed, compost helps the soil retain more nutrients and water and therefore offers a gourmet ground to feed your flowers and vegetables! So if you don’t need fertilizer right away, you can always compost your coffee grounds for later use. Be aware that compost with coffee grounds added becomes richer in nutrients than compost made from kitchen waste, as horticultural expert Calum Maddock of Home How explains.

This use is similar to that of cleaning, because in addition to shining your worktop and appliances, coffee grounds can also help you scrub kitchen utensils that are difficult to clean. Indeed, its grainy texture is ideal for scrubbing dishes and removing food embedded in pots and pans.

Coffee grounds absorb and eliminate odors. Place them in a bowl to put in your refrigerator to neutralize the smells of spoiled food, or in old socks to place in shoes, gym bags, drawers or others.

Coffee grounds can even rid your fingers of the smell of garlic and onion, so don’t hesitate to keep some in the kitchen! Rub your hands with it and voila!

If your pet has fleas, you can get rid of them by using coffee grounds as a natural flea repellent! This will save you time and money, and you do not risk intoxicating your little companion with a product containing toxic substances!

Fleas seem to dislike coffee grounds, so rub some on your pet’s fur after shampooing, then rinse it and let it dry.

However, it is important to note that coffee grounds are less effective than a prescription product. So, if it doesn’t work, contact the vet!

Warning : Your pet should not ingest coffee grounds because it can be toxic!

According to a study, coffee grounds contain caffeine and diterpenes which are highly toxic to insects like mosquitoes, fruit flies and beetles.

So you can use it to repel them! To do this:

If you keep postponing cleaning your chimney because it’s the worst chore, you have no excuse after that! Simply spread coffee grounds over the ashes to make it much easier! This way, you avoid creating a cloud of dust by sweeping.

We all know, coffee stains! So why not use it as a dye? Know that by moistening coffee grounds, you can create an inexpensive and non-toxic tincture! The latter can be used to color your cotton or linen towels and linen, to give them a vintage look or hide existing stains.

You can even use coffee grounds to dye Easter eggs or revive the color of your hair.

Mushrooms are difficult to grow because they require specific conditions! Indeed, the latter need substrate to grow and coffee grounds are precisely a very rich nutritional base on which mushrooms like to grow!

Plus, your grounds have been sterilized while you’re brewing your coffee! Which is also important in the mushroom growing process!

How to grow mushrooms in coffee grounds?

This cultivation technique works on just about any type of mushroom, but shiitakes and oyster mushrooms are the easiest species to grow!

Here is a video explaining how to grow mushrooms in coffee grounds.

Wooden furniture can easily be scratched and scratched. To minimize the appearance of scratches, you can try coffee grounds!

This is an idea for candle lovers! Know that you can use coffee grounds as an ingredient instead of aromatic oils! Its authentic smell and the pretty layered design it gives to candles will make you fans!

The more the candle melts, the more heat releases the rich aroma of coffee. To test without waiting!

If snow or ice accumulates after a winter storm, coffee grounds can serve as a defroster! Like salt, salt has the power to lower the freezing point of water thanks to its nitrogen content, making it less likely to freeze. Coffee grounds also create friction points, which makes walking easier and prevents you from slipping! Sprinkle some along the aisles!

Anglers usually add a few balls of coffee grounds to their bait worms to keep them alive longer. The latter serves them as food and provides them with comfortable bedding. In addition, fish, especially trout and sea bass, are attracted by the smell of coffee grounds! This helps fishermen catch them more easily!

In order for your flowers to stay fresh and beautiful for a long time, you have to feed them! However, water alone is not enough! It is recommended to add a little fertilizer such as coffee grounds! In addition, it will not affect the pH of the water!

Add a tablespoon of coffee grounds to the water in your vase and change it every other day.

Cockroaches are attracted by the smell of coffee grounds! To create your trap, fill a large glass jar half with water and place small cups of moistened ground coffee in it. Cockroaches will be attracted by its smell and enter the jar where they will get stuck!

That’s the way it is! Cats hate the smell of coffee. So if you have a vegetable garden and you do not want your kitty to approach it, sprinkle coffee grounds around the perimeter of the garden!

FAQ

Can coffee grounds scare away insects?

Yes, coffee grounds can repel many insects like mosquitoes, fruit flies, ants and other pests, thanks to its strong smell, especially when mixed with lemon juice.

Can I use coffee grounds to deodorize the toilet?

Yes, coffee grounds help absorb and eliminate bad odors and not only! It can deodorize your refrigerator, gym bag, and even your shoes.

Which plants like coffee grounds?

Acid-loving plants like coffee grounds because it lowers the pH level of the soil and makes it more acidic. Roses, azaleas, lilies and holly are plants that thrive best in soil containing coffee grounds.