by Carolina Dream Chapman

Created on: May 14, 2007   Last Updated: August 10, 2010

The smell of coffee brewing first thing in the morning, followed by actually drinking the coffee is an excellent way to wake up. Not only is coffee a great way to start your day, there are many other things you can do with those coffee grounds after you have your morning coffee. If you are in the habit of just throwing those coffee grounds away, but would like to find a way to reuse them that could also save you money, keep reading.

Composting coffee grounds

If you want to compost, your coffee grounds so you can use them later. You will need an area in which to keep them. A barrel or something outside would work great. You can use a variety of other things into your coffee compost. Vegetable scarps such as onion peels, potatoes peels or vegetables or any other vegetable scraps you may have make a great addition as do grass clippings, leaves and sawdust. A few earthworms will be a great addition to your compost.

Avoid putting this into your compost

Old newspapers and cardboard boxes are best recycled somewhere other than your compost box. Newspapers have ink, which can be toxic, and cardboard could have ink or glue both of which could be toxic. While this may not hurt your flowers, it would not be wise to use compost that has toxic chemicals to grow your fruits and vegetables.

In the Garden

Sprinkling coffee grounds on your flower garden plants are able to get many nutrients from coffee grounds. Many of the nutrients found in coffee grounds are the same nutrients found in store bought plant fertilizer. Therefore, by using coffee grounds, your plants will be getting the nutrients they need and you will be saving money and recycling at the same time.

Indoor plants

For your indoor plants, you can mix coffee grounds in with the water before watering the plants this will help the plants get the nutrients they need and the coffee ground water is almost like an energy drink for your plants.

Beauty uses for your body

Coffee grounds mixed with sea salt and olive oil or rose oil. Applied to the body for 5 minutes scrubbing in circular motions this will make your skin irresistibly soft and smooth. An added bonus is the caffeine mixed with the sea salt will help diminish the appearance of cellulite. Rinse off in the shower and feel how silky smooth your skin is. I love doing this. My skin is always so soft after doing a coffee scrub. I have not found anything else that even comes close.

Beauty uses for your hair

If you want to give your brunette hair, a boost mix some coffee grounds with warm water let it steep and rinse this through your hair. It will give your brunette hair a boost of fresh color and shine.

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