1. Soften and add shine to hair. When washing your hair, rub coffee grounds through wet hair and rinse. Coffee can also be used as a natural dye for lighter hair colors.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Interior
Is Coffee What Your Hair is Missing?
by Homesessive
Finding new uses for the old is a creative and fun way to live a little greener.
Have you ever wondered what other ways coffee grounds could be used after making that much needed morning pot of coffee? For all you java junkies, here are some tips for using coffee grounds.
Used coffee grounds get rid of cellulite -- here is the recipe we found at DIY Maven: "Mix 1/4 cup warm, used coffee grounds and one tablespoon of olive oil. While standing over an old towel or newspaper, apply the mixture to your problem areas. Next, wrap the areas with shrink wrap and leave on for several minutes. Unwind the wrap, brush loose grounds off your skin and then shower with warm water. For best results, it is recommended to repeat this procedure twice a week."
View the slideshow above for instant household tips using old coffee grounds.
See Unusual Uses For Nail Polish, and Unusual Uses For Dryer Sheets for more unusual uses for ordinary products.
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2. Use coffee grounds as an exfoliate for skin. The course texture of ground coffee, works as a natural exfoliate. Add ground coffee to a creamy based soap, pat on skin, massage over skin, and rinse. The coffee grinds will help rub off dry dead skin and leave your skin feeling smoother.
Photo Credit: flickr/Steve A. Johnson -
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3. Add coffee grounds to your skin mask beauty routine. Coffee beans have a few natural benefits for your skin. The caffeine helps fat deposits and the appearance of cellulite, and smooth and tighten your skin.
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4. Make homemade tattoos with henna and coffee grounds. Add together liquid coffee, henna powder, clove oil and eucalyptus oil until they create a thick paste. Simply apply the mixture to skin using a toothpick and begin your tattoo designs.
Photo Credit: flickr/sk8geek -
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5. Fertilize plants. Old coffee grounds are nutrient-rich for plants that thrive in an acidic soil. They have low levels of nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, and traces of salt. Coffee grinds release these nutrients more slowly than most fertilizers making them a great food for plants.
Photo Credit: flickr/dapawprint -
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6. Add used coffee grounds to the pots of indoor plants. Coffee serves as a great fertilizer regardless of environment, so add some to your garden and your indoor plants as well.
Photo Credit: flickr/a_sorense -
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7. Work used coffee grounds into your garden soil before seed planting. After your plants start to emerge, work in coffee grounds near the plants. Used coffee grounds are said to repel snails and slugs as well as adding nutrients to the soil and the nitrogen levels will give the new plant a healthy start.
Photo Credit: flickr/AlyssssyIA -
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8. Increase your carrot and radish harvest by mixing seeds with dry coffee grounds before planting the seeds. Coffee ground make a great fertilizer to enhance the growth of carrots and radishes.
Photo Credit: flickr/Peacock Modern -
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9. Use coffee grounds to repel ants. Ants are very particular about smells. Sprinkle coffee grounds outdoors in front of doors, or near plants you want to keep ants away from. The ants will turn around once they run into the smell of coffee.
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10. Keep cats from using your garden as a kitty box by spreading used coffee grounds and orange peels throughout flower beds. Mix together used orange peels, and used coffee grinds to keep cats out of your garden. While helping to fertilize the soil, the pungent smell will keep cats away.
Photo Credit: flickr/postbear -
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11. Deodorize a freezer. Place a bowl with used coffee grounds in the freezer to remove unwanted odors. Add a few drops of vanilla to coffee grounds.
Photo Credit: flickr/Magnetisch -
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12. Rub coffee beans on hands to get rid of smells from chopping or cutting up pungent foods. Coffee can help deodorize your freezer and your hands as well. Rub whole beans in your hands to get rid of tough smells like garlic and onion.
Photo Credit: flickr/qnsagetyrtle -
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13. Make a used coffee grounds sachet. Fill old nylons or cheesecloth with dry used coffee grounds. Hang in closets to absorb odors.
Photo Credit: flickr/dougoblue -
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14. When you need an abrasive cleaner, coffee grounds can be used. The course texture of the grounds make coffee a good abrasive cleaner. Use around the kitchen when wiping down countertops and such just be careful of any surfaces that might stain.
Photo Credit: flickr/reddevil1 -
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15. Remove furniture scratches with wet coffee grounds. Clean off your piece of furniture then use a paintbrush dipped in brewed coffee grounds to fix the scratched area. The more times you do this, the darker the results will be.
Photo Credit: flickr/ellecer -
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16. Got a fireplace? Sprinkle wet coffee grounds over the ashes to keep from becoming engulfed in the plume of dust ashes create when you need to remove them.
Photo Credit: flickr/tkw954 -
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17. Dye fabric, paper or Easter eggs. Just like berries and flowers, coffee beans serve as a natural dye. Simply add used coffee grounds to warm water and let sit a bit to create a dye.
Photo Credit: flickr/lissalou66 -
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18. After you give your dog a bath, rub coffee grounds through the coat of your pet. Coffee grounds are said to repel fleas. Just like ants, fleas hate the smell. Rub your dog down with a coffee mixture, and send those fleas packing.
Photo Credit: flickr/jstreit -
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19. Keep bait worms alive by mixing coffee grounds into the soil before you add worms. The reason behind this one is a bit unclear. It is rumored that the caffeine and smell make the worms wriggle and become more active. Most likely the coffee just helps fertilize the soil that the worms are feasting on.
Photo Credit: flickr/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region -
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20. Grow mushrooms on old coffee grounds. Using mushroom spawn and a bucket of coffee grounds, you can grow very impressive mushrooms.
Photo Credit: flickr/artizone
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