How to Use Coffee Grounds Around the House

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.