Coffee Grounds
At Mrs O'Malley's we generate lots and lots of used coffee grounds. After years of simply dumping them we started to think that they must have some use, and what do you know...................?
Having researched uses for used grounds we now bag them up and they are available free of chage to customers in our shop (sorry they are not available online!)
We have listed a few uses for coffee grounds below, if you know of any more we'd love to hear them!
- Outdoor Gardens: Sprinkle the coffee grounds on the ground around plants before watering for a slow release of nitrogen or compost them, of course (along with the coffee filter!).
Indoor Plants: Mix the grounds with potting soil before planting or just dump them on top of the soil in the pots of houseplants. They'll discourage mites and other small bugs as well as enrich the soil. Don't overdo it for container plants, though, because used grounds contain salts.
Going Fishing: Keep your worms happy in a container with moist, used coffee grounds.
Health & Beauty: Take the used grounds in the shower with your, or wash your dog!
Used grounds make a good skin facial pack - sort of like a mud pack.
They can also be used for skin dermabrasion.
Deodorize with Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds will get rid of the oniony, garlicky, or fishy smells that cooking leaves often behind on our hands: just rub a handful of used grounds all over your hands and then rinse with warm water. You can also fill a muslin bag with used grounds to deodorize yourself all over in the bath or shower.
Cellulite Buster
Those expensive cellulite creams have one ingredient in common: caffeine! You can make your own cellulite treatment with caffeinated coffee grounds that works beautifully. Here's how:
The used grounds work better if they're warm.
1. Put some newspaper on the floor of your bathroom.
2. Mix about a quarter-cup of warm used coffee grounds with a tablespoon or so of olive oil. Stand on the paper and apply the coffee mixture to your cellulite areas using your hands or a loofah mitt. Don't worry if a lot of the coffee mixture falls to the floor; enough will stick to your skin to do the trick.
3. Wrap the area in plastic wrap and allow to remain on for several minutes.
4. Remove wrap and brush off excess coffee mixture. Shower with warm water.
5. This procedure is most effective when repeated twice a week.
Exfoliating and Firming Perk-Up Facial
This will gently firm and tone your skin, minimizing pores and sloughing off dead skin so the fresh new skin underneath is revealed. Those with dry skin will want to follow the facial with a moisturizer.
Mix 1/4 cup used coffee grounds and one egg white, combining well. Massage gently onto face, then allow to dry. Rinse off with warm water.
Tie-dye a shirt - Rub petroleum jelly on the areas you don't want dyed. Dip in coffee bath, let dry, then wash gently until the color has set. Wash again and line dry.
Home Care: Use steeped grounds and a cotton swab to touch up furniture scratches.
Flush them down your drains and let the abrasive action clean your pipes. (Not recommend for septic systems).
Spread them in a thin layer on a grease-proof sheet and dry them thoroughly. Fill old nylons or a muslin bag with the dry grounds, and tie off the ends. Hang in closets to absorb odors. Works in the refrigerator as well.
Steep coffee grounds in water and dip hard boiled eggs (shelled) in it to make easter eggs with a different look.
Crafts and Hobbies: Steep coffee grounds in water to make a 'bath' for sheets of paper. Dip them, then lay them out to dry to make imitation parchment, or to cut up for collages and other crafts.
Kids can make Treasure Stones with used coffee grounds:
Materials Needed:
1 cup used coffee grinds
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1/4 cup sand
1 cup water
Instructions:
Mix all dry ingredients together. Slowly add the water to make a stiff dough; you might end up using only half the water - add it slowly or your dough will be too runny!!
Knead on a floured surface until fairly smooth. Break the dough into desired rock sizes. Hide toys and surprises in the center of a ball of dough. Set in a safe place until totally dry. At least 3 - 4 days.
Once it is dry, the dough will look and feel like a rock. You can carefully break open
the home-made rocks with a hammer to reveal the hidden treasures inside.
1. Altoids Mints
