How to Use Coffee Grounds Around the House

By Food & Wine
Updated October 22, 2015
Credit: Courtesy of PureWow
As it turns out, that daily cup of coffee is good for more than just a morning pick-me-up. We’ve rounded up some fun and surprising ways to use the royal grounds.This piece originally appeared on PureWow.
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Deodorizer

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Instead of baking soda, try putting a bowl of coffee grounds in the fridge to eliminate icky food smells. You can also keep a dish of them by the kitchen sink to rub on your hands after chopping onions, garlic or fish.

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Exfoliating Body Scrub

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Turn your used coffee grounds into a luxurious body scrub. Just combine a half cup of used grounds with a quarter cup of olive or coconut oil and a pinch of citrus zest. It will slough off dead skin cells, tighten blood vessels and boost blood flow. Thank you, caffeine.

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Hair Rinse

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Massage the grounds into your hair and rinse thoroughly for extra shine — no products required. Just be careful if you have light hair, as the coffee can leave behind a little color.

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Compost or Plant Food

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Toss them in your compost pile for a boost of nitrogen, or feed them to acid-loving plants (like blueberries, roses and hydrangeas) as a soil amendment.

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Pest Control

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Sprinkle coffee grounds to scare away ants, snails or slugs. These critters are offended by the strong smell.

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Meat Rub

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Coffee grounds make a great flavor profile when rubbed directly onto meats or used in marinades. (Here’s an easy-peasy recipe.)

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Kitchen Scrub

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Use coffee grounds to help get the grease and grime off of extra-dirty pots and pans. Just remember that the grounds can stain, so maybe don’t rub them all over that white wedding china.

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