A nice, hot cup of coffee is part of many Kiwis’ daily routine. The strong aroma and caffeine make it a perfect way to start the morning or as an afternoon pick-me-up. But think twice before tossing out those stale beans or used coffee grounds!
There are plenty of ways coffee waste can be put to use around the house. Here are six great uses for coffee that you may not know:
1. Kill foul odors
Fresh, unused coffee grounds are great for absorbing and neutralising strong odors. Place a bowl in the fridge, down the drain or even in smelly shoes to naturally deoderise! Washing your hands with used grounds can help get rid of strong odors like garlic, onion, fish or coriander leaf.
2. Touch up furniture scratches.
Mix a bit of instant coffee with hot water to create a damp paste. Rub this into scratches on wood furniture, repeating as necessary until the scratch matches the wood. The blemish will soon disappear using this natural wood stain!
3. Create home decor
Don’t throw out stale or dirty coffee beans. Instead, use them to decorate around the house. Fill a clear vase or jar with beans to create a holder for pens, paint brushes or wooden utensils. Beans can also be brewed and used to dye fabric or as a watercolour “paint.”
4. Add them to the garden
Used coffee grounds can improve your garden in a couple ways. Plants need nitrogen to convert sunlight into energy, and coffee beans are full of the element. Coffee also attracts worms, who help give soil and plants nutrients, as well as naturally aerate the soil as they tunnel through. Regularly adding grounds to your compost or garden will help your plants thrive.
5. Repel pests naturally
Coffee is also a great way to keep pests out of your yard, garden or home. Ants, snails and slugs all dislike coffee. Spread used grounds around openings to your home and in the garden to help keep them at bay. A sprinkling of coffee grounds in the backyard will also help ward off neighbourhood cats.
6. Cleaning around the kitchen
Mix coffee grounds with a bit of dish soap to create a cleaner for countertops, cooking ranges and appliances. Grounds are naturally acidic and mildly abrasive, great for scrubbing tough to clean surfaces. Dry grounds are also a great absorbent. Pour a scoop into a greasy pan or onto spills to make washing up a breeze.
Do you rely on a cuppa (or two!) just to start the day? Try these tips for a calmer, more relaxed morning routine.
About Author: Momentum Life is a leading provider of Life insurance and Funeral insurance in New Zealand.
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