Beauty Secret: 10 Surprising Benefits of Used Coffee Grounds

Coffee has become a staple beverage for many people today, not just students but also working professionals who consume at least one cup daily. While many drink coffee to fight off sleepiness with its caffeine content, a growing number of people are enjoying it for its taste due to the development of various menus. People roast and grind coffee beans, then compress them to make coffee, generating many grounds. Due to the high demand for coffee, many coffee grounds are produced, indicating whether there are ways to utilize these grounds.

Removing Pan Grease

The leftover grease after cooking with a frying pan can be a headache. Some people remove the grease by wiping it with paper towels, which can lead to waste. In such cases, you can use coffee grounds to remove the remaining grease effectively. Pour the coffee grounds into the pan and scrub all corners. The coffee grounds absorb the oil left in the pan and remove any remaining food particles.

Removing Humidity from Wardrobes and Shoe Racks

Putting coffee grounds in a well-ventilated cloth and placing it in your wardrobe or shoe rack removes odors. Brewing coffee produces a pleasant aroma; this fragrance in the coffee grounds helps eliminate odors from clothes or shoes and acts as a deodorizer. Also, well-dried coffee grounds absorb moisture so that you can see the effect of humidity removal. However, to fully enjoy the benefits of humidity removal, it is advisable to replace the cloth containing the coffee grounds frequently.

Utilizing as a Soil Supplement

You can use coffee grounds as organic ingredients to accelerate compost decomposition and include them in the compost. Also, coffee has a pH of about 5.1, which is more acidic than soil. Therefore, it is good to use in soil when growing plants that require firm acidity, such as blueberries or citrus fruits. Coffee grounds contain various nutrients, including nitrogen, magnesium, and potassium, making them suitable for supplying nutrients to the soil.

Utilizing as a Scrub Product

Because coffee is brewed by grinding coffee beans, you can create a natural scrub product using the coffee bean particles from the coffee grounds. Completely melt solid glycerin soap in a double boiler, mix in the coffee grounds, pour it into a silicone soap mold, and let it harden. A good ratio is 1/3 cup of coffee grounds for every 110g of glycerin. The coffee grounds smell good and do not contain any chemical ingredients needed for the scrub, making it popular as a gift.

Utilizing as a Microwave Deodorizer

Microwaves are one of the most commonly used appliances because they are easy to operate and safe, as they do not necessitate direct exposure to heat like gas ranges. Additionally, microwaves evenly distribute heat, making them convenient. However, the smell does not easily escape after use because it cooks with closed doors. In such cases, coffee grounds can be helpful. Transfer the lands to aluminum foil or a microwave-safe dish and run it for 1-2 minutes to eliminate odors.

Pest Repellent

The caffeine in coffee serves to repel pests like cockroaches and flies. Therefore, transferring coffee grounds to stockings or soup packs and hanging or scattering them on the floor where pests often appear can be an effective pest repellent. Also, for pets kept outside, fleas may be present on their bodies. In this case, you can use coffee grounds to sprinkle over the entire body like a massage, effectively controlling fleas.

Removing Food Odor from Glass Bottles and Dishes

When cleaning glass bottles with fruit syrup or jam, the smell of the fruit syrup stored for a long time may remain in the glass bottle. Especially in dishes with kimchi, the unique scent remains even after washing several times. In such cases, straining the water that has been boiled with coffee grounds into a glass bottle or dish, ensuring it is fully submerged, allowing it to cool, and then draining the water and washing it will result in removing any fruit or kimchi odor.

Using as a Refrigerator Deodorizer and Air Freshener

If you roast the coffee grounds that have moisture in a frying pan or microwave and dry them, you can see the effect of an air freshener. No matter how clean you keep your refrigerator, the large amount of stored food can make it challenging to eliminate food odors. In such cases, if you put dried coffee grounds in a dish, plastic container, or cloth and place it in the refrigerator, you can eliminate the unique food smell of the fridge. Once the scent fades and it has fulfilled its role as a deodorizer and air freshener, you can dispose of it as regular trash.

Repelling Mosquitoes and Wasps

The scent of coffee is effective in repelling wasps and mosquitoes. Fill a short, non-flammable container with coffee grounds after securing something that can serve as a wick. Then, light the wick, which will quickly burn out while spreading the coffee aroma, repelling wasps and mosquitoes. Compared to mosquito coils sold in stores, it is harmless to the human body and can be used anywhere if there is fire, making it easy to use when camping or traveling.

Cellulite Removal

Cellulite refers to skin changes that mainly occur in women’s thighs, buttocks, and abdomen, characterized by a bumpy skin surface when seen or touched. It happens when fat deposits push the connective tissue beneath the skin. Applying coffee grounds containing caffeine can break down this fat and increase blood circulation, reducing cellulite. Mix water or vegetable oil with coffee grounds and massage it locally for about 10 minutes.

By Oh Hye-in press@daily.co.kr