- Green Lifestyle
Used coffee grounds? Don’t pour them down the drain.
The other day, a friend and I were standing in the kitchen, totally relaxed, I poured the French press coffee in the thermos, and the used coffee grounds down the sink – and received the rebuke of my life.
Barbara Beiertz
Together with fats and other sediments coffee grounds turn in to a thick paste that cannot be removed with a plunger or chemicals. We have absolutely no idea where the misbelief, that you can clean the drain with it, comes from. But the rumor stick.
Used coffee grounds are way too valuable to just poor them down the drain.
Whenever you want to dispose of used coffee grounds, please put them in the organic waste. Or you could use them for wonderful things: From gardening to DIY cosmetics. Here are some examples:
Coffee grounds as fertilizer.
Because coffee grounds contain lots of nutrients like nitrogen, phosphor, and potassium, they can be used to boost the growth of your plants in the garden or on your balcony. They have a low ph level, which is why they are especially good for hydrangeas and rhododendrons. Simply spread some coffee grounds around the plant and cover them with a bit of soil. Done.
Besides, the caffeine works well against parasites. So, if you scatter a circle of coffee grounds around a lettuce you can keep the troublemakers away without harming them.
Coffee grounds as a secret beauty weapon.
Whenever your skin and hair need a special boost, we can highly recommend coffee grounds. Check out our article How good is this…? Here, you find the instructions to make peeling, shampoo, and more.
One last thing:
You can use coffee grounds to get rid of bad odors. No matter if it is your hands or rooms that have an unpleasant odor, coffee grounds will neutralize them. It even works on your sneakers (in case you can’t put them in the washer). Simply put some of the (dry!) coffee grounds inside, leave them in there for a day, and use a vacuum to remove them again.
Do you know any more life hacks for used coffee grounds? Then leave us a comment – here, on Facebook or on Instagram. We look forward to reading your ideas.
