Oh, the smell of freshly ground coffee in the morning, a piping hot cup, the cold, the tranquillity… but what happens to the coffee grounds once we’ve had them? Most of us throw them away without a second thought, right? But what seems like unimportant trash hides a hidden value that very few people know about, and now with the winter cold, you could be using these leftovers in an ecological way to save a little bit. We’re going to tell you now what are the unknown uses of used coffee grounds so that you know that you’re throwing away something very valuable. Join us!
Coffee instead of salt, what?
When temperatures drop, it starts to snow and the sidewalks get covered in snow, we usually turn to salt to clear the way, right? But something you don’t know is that this method has many drawbacks, because it damages the soles and materials of your shoes! So what do we do? This is where ground coffee comes in, as its gritty texture offers a natural and effective alternative that doesn’t negatively affect the soles. You just need to sprinkle the ground coffee on the icy surfaces, this will speed up the melting of the ice. Plus, it’s an economical and sustainable way to recycle the remains of your daily coffee!
How can I prepare my coffee grounds?
Before using the coffee, it is important to prepare it properly to avoid problems such as mold or bad odours. The process is very simple and we will explain it to you below:
- Store the coffee grounds in a clean, dry container after drinking your drink (you can store them for several days even!)
- Spread the ground coffee on a flat surface covered with absorbent paper or newspaper. Leave it in a warm, well-ventilated place until it is completely dry.
- Once dry, store it in an airtight jar to keep it ready for use in the winter.
Are there other uses for coffee?
Of course! Coffee is not only used to melt ice, coffee grounds can have multiple functions in the home, and below we leave you more keys to use your used coffee!
- For your plants: if you don’t know yet, coffee contains nutrients rich in nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, so it will be an excellent option to fertilize your plants naturally.
- For pests: sprinkling coffee grounds around your plants or near drains will make ants and slugs not want to come closer.
- Give skincare a try! If you mix ground coffee with a little coconut oil, you will create a natural exfoliant that will revitalize your skin and improve your circulation. Try it and tell us!
- Have you ever tried adding coffee to a hair mask? You’ll be amazed by its antioxidant benefits and it will leave you hair full of shine.
- You can also prepare small bags with the grounds and cool them, you will see how the caffeine makes those bags that we try to hide under makeup disappear a little!
Recycling coffee grounds, as you can see, is not only useful, but also a way to reduce waste and help the environment a little, such as by using them on plants. So, the next time you are enjoying a nice hot cup of coffee on a cold day, remember that you can also do “good” with the remains of your drink, from taking care of yourself to taking care of your plants. And you, did you know about these benefits hidden under your cup of coffee? We are sure that you will think twice before dumping coffee grounds from now on, for you and for the environment!!