Creative Uses for Used Coffee Grounds

After reading an article on creative uses for dryer sheets, I thought I'd research other creative uses for common household items - there were tons of great ideas out there! I was so intrigued I knew I had to share this information with my readers, hence, my new series was born! I hope you'll join me each Friday for Creative Uses for Common Stuff!

Creative Uses #3: Used Coffee Grounds

If you're a coffee drinker like me, you get your brew on at your local Starbucks. But I'm trying to cut back on expenses, so the coffee will be brewing at home or at the office from now on. I enjoy reusing items when I can, so I was instantly intrigued when I saw a top ten uses for coffee grounds.

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1. Deodorizer. Dry them out on a cookie sheet and then put them in a bowl in your refrigerator or freezer, or rub them on your hands to get rid of food prep smells.

2. Plant food. Plants such as rosebushes, azaleas, rhododendrons, evergreen and camellias that prefer acidic soils will appreciate the leftovers from your morning cup. Also, grounds can add nutrients to your compost bin.

3. Insect repellant. Sprinkle old grounds around places you don’t want ants, or on the ant piles themselves. The little buggers will move on or stay away. Used grounds are also said to repel snails and slugs.
4. Dye. By steeping grounds in hot water, you can make brown dye for fabric, paper and even Easter eggs.
5. Furniture scratch cover-up. Steep grounds and apply a bit of the liquid to furniture scratches with a Q-tip.
6. Cleaning product. As they’re slightly abrasive, grounds can be used as a scouring agent for greasy and grimy stain-resistant objects.
7. Kitty repellent. To keep kitty from using the garden as her personal powder room, sprinkle grounds mixed with orange peels around your plants.
8. Flea dip. Follow up Fido’s shampoo with a coffee ground rub down, working them down to his skin. Not only are the fleas suppose to vamoose, but puppy’s hair will feel soft too.
9. Dust inhibitor. Before you clean out the fireplace, toss wet coffee grounds over the ashes to keep the ash dust under control.
10. Cellulite reducer. Mix 1/4 cup warm, used coffee grounds and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. While standing over an old towel or newspaper, apply the mixture to your "problem areas". Next, wrap the areas with shrink wrap and leave on for several minutes. Unwind the wrap, brush loose grounds off your skin and then shower with warm water. For best results, it is recommended to repeat this procedure twice a week. A little weird to be sure, but as high priced cellulite creams have coffee in them, it just might work.

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Cellulite reducer, huh? Interesting. 

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Do you have some creative uses for common stuff to share with the class? Leave me some suggestions in the comments. I'm looking for other "common stuff" to highlight...maybe I'll highlight yours! Wanna guest post for Creative Uses for Common Stuff? Send me a message; I'd love to have guest posters in this series as well.
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