Last week we talked about natural beauty treatmentsusing coffee grounds. Today we’ve got some household uses for those same used
grounds.
Many people recycle their used coffee grounds by
dumping them onto their composting pile. Coffee grounds make excellent “green”
matter because they’re rich in nitrogen. In addition, the coffee attracts
beneficial worms. However, there are quite a few other uses for those coffee
grounds once you’ve gotten your daily (or in my case, hourly) caffeine fix.
You can make fertilizer with used coffee grounds. The
coffee adds nitrogen and potassium to the soil and boosts magnesium to help
keep plants healthy. Simply mix the grounds with grass clippings or brown
leaves and spread the mixture around your plants. You’ll need to add lime or
wood ash to the mix to encourage blooms and fruit, though, because without it
your fertilizer will lack calcium and phosphorous.
If you just need to lower the pH levels in your soil
for hydrangeas, azaleas, and rhododendron bushes, sprinkle used grounds around
the base of the plants.
If you don’t like using salt to keep from slipping on
your icy steps, sidewalk, or driveway and have found kitty litter creates too
much of a mess, try substituting used coffee grounds.
Got furniture scratches and nicks? Dip a Q-Tip into
wet grounds and dab to hide the marks.
Before you clean the ashes out of your fireplace,
cover them with damp grounds. This will minimize the ash dust created when you
sweep out the hearth.
Used coffee grounds will absorb odors in your
refrigerator and freezer in much the same way as baking soda. Place a small
open container of used grounds in the back of your fridge. Swap out with newer
used grounds once a month.
Coffee grounds are a natural abrasive. Replace harsh
chemicals with used coffee grounds to scour away stuck-on food from dishes,
pots, and counters.
Want an antique look for cloth, paper, needlework or
other arts and craft projects? Wet coffee grounds are an excellent natural dye.
Add water to the grounds and soak the material until the desired shade is
achieved.
1 comment:
I l-o-v-e these tips! Thank you!!!
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