by Patricia Coffey

Created on: July 29, 2007   Last Updated: September 01, 2011

Stop! Before you put that used coffee filter filled with grounds into the disposal or your garbage can, there are several live plants calling for them. Coffee grounds with the unbleached paper filters are a great addition to any gardener's compost heap. The acid attracts worms and the unbleached filter decomposes.
If you don't have a compost heap, you can still recycle by scattering the coffee grounds into your garden. The grounds enrich the soil with more acidity making your blue flowering plants turn from blue to a deep purple. Azaleas, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, and honeysuckle are among the blooms that blossoms with coffee near their roots. Roses love coffee grounds. Any indoor plant that likes acid in its diet eagerly welcomes a teaspoon or two of used coffee grounds.

Critters dislike coffee grounds. Ants hate them. Cats avoid areas where coffee grounds and citrus peels are mixed into the soil.

Scrub your hands with dried used-coffee grounds to eliminate cooking odors. Just lay out grounds on a flat surface to dry out. Place grounds in dry container until you plan to use them.

Speaking of scrubbing, the same dried grounds easily become a body scrub that whisks away dried skin. Mix olive oil with the dried used-coffee grounds and add your favorite essential oil. Voila! You have a spa-quality coffee scrub. Experiment with the coffee grounds and olive oil mixture to determine how intense you want the scrub. the more the grounds, the deeper the scrub. Add more oil and the scrub's focus is on moisturizing. The amount of scent in the scrub entirely is based on personal preference.

So coffee lovers, drink your "cup of joe" with joy when you recycle those grounds. Remember you can help both fauna and flora bloom while making your skin softer.

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