A friend of mine posted this great list of 20 things to do with used coffee grounds and tea on Facebook. I thought it was so great I just had to share it. Hope you all enjoy it.
Uses for coffee grounds:
1. Soften Skin
Exfoliate with a body scrub made of coffee grounds, coconut oil, and a little brown sugar. Gently massage it on in the shower, rinse, be soft. (I've tried this one and it's great, leaves your skin feeling amazing!)
2. Please the Flowers
Use coffee grounds as mulch for acid-loving plants – like roses, azaleas, rhododendrons, evergreens, hydrangea, and camellias – they like coffee grounds for the natural acidity and nutrients they add to the soil.
3. Sadden the Ants
Sprinkle coffee grounds around areas of ant infestation to deter them.
4. Deter Gastropods
Used grounds are said to repel snails and slugs, sprinkle in problem areas.
5. Simplify Fireplace Cleaning
Before cleaning the fireplace, sprinkle with dampened used coffee grounds -- which weigh down the ash and thus eliminate clouds of smoke-flavored dust.
6. Make a Sepia Dye
Soak used grounds in hot water and use as a dye bath for Easter eggs, fabric, and paper for a lovely, soft brown tinge.
7. Keep Cats at Bay
Keep kitties out of the garden with a mixture of orange peel and used coffee grounds distributed around plants.
8. Encourage the Carrots
To boost a carrot harvest, mix seeds with dried coffee grounds before sowing. The extra bulk makes the wee seeds easier to sow, as well, the coffee aroma can nourish the soil and help repel pests.
Uses for used tea bags or leaves:
9. Tame Stings and Burns
Cool tea bags can bring relief when applied to bug bites and minor burns, including sunburn. For overall skin irritation, put spent tea leaves in a bath and soak.
10. Soothe Your Eyes
The tannins in tea have anti-inflammatory effects, which is why cool ones are often employed on puffy eyes. (The chill also helps with swelling.)
11. Feed the Garden
Use tea leaves as food for garden plants – green tea is high in nitrogen, and as a bonus, the leaves can ward off pests and insects. Also good for houseplants, add old tea leaves to their water.
12. Boost Potted Plants
When potting plants, place a few used tea bags on top of the drainage layer at the bottom of the planter before adding soil. The tea bags will help to retain water and will also leach some nutrients into the potting medium.
13. Quell the Cat Box Smell
Sprinkle used, dried tea leaves in litter boxes to help reduce the smell.
14. Eliminate Pet Odors
Sprinkle dried, used green tea leaves on your pet’s pillow, bed, in the doghouse, or other smelly spots to eliminate odor.
15. Freshen the Carpet
Sprinkle dry tea leaves onto the carpet, crush them lightly and let sit for 10 minutes, then vacuum. This will refresh the carpet and deodorize your vacuum cleaner and bag. (Especially helpful if you have pets.)
16. Treat the Dog
As an extravagance, loose leaf gunpowder tea is a treat for dogs to roll around in. It’s great for the aroma and luster it adds to the coat.
17. Freshen Mats and Beds
It is common in Southeast Asia to wash straw sleeping mats in tubs of water to which tea has been added. The tea works as a deodorizer, you can apply this method to yoga mats and air mattresses.
18. Save the Fridge
If you’re out of baking soda, place dried, used green tea bags or leaves in a small open bowl in your refrigerator to help absorb odors.
19. Wash Your Hands
Rid your hands of food odors (garlic, onions, etc) by rubbing them with wet green tea leaves, an instant deodorizer.
20. Deodorize Kitchen Surfaces
Rub wet tea leaves on cutting boards and counters to remove food odors.
Posts
