Those who are lucky enough to own coffee machines may often wonder if there’s a better way to get rid of their grounds than to throw them out. After all, this would make the machine a more economical investment and also help them get the most value possible out of it.

In fact, there are myriad ways in which to recycle used coffee grounds; such as using them to deodorize hands filled with food smells or using them as plant food. They can also be added to compost heaps, helping to give it a nutritional boost. So what are some of the other uses?

Cleaning
Yes, grounds can be used for cleaning items with stubborn, dried-on stains that just won’t shift. The grounds act as a type of exfoliating; their abrasive nature working as a scourer.

Making dye
Coffee grounds can be used to dye clothing, fabrics and paper. They must be re-boiled in hot water though, but once this stage is complete, it can save a lot of money when it comes time for Halloween costumes!

Beauty
Grounds are renowned for their cellulite-busting habits! Mixing them with olive oil and scrubbing them over affected areas can go a long way to improving the appearance of cellulite. As long as this is repeated a couple of times each week, for perhaps a two-month period, it should work a treat.

Odours
Getting rid of smells of any kind is easy with coffee grounds. As aforementioned, you can rub dried grounds on your hands to get rid of food smells, or, if it’s an area that needs deodorizing, you can pop some dried grounds in a small bag. That way, the entire area will be left smelling like roses (or coffee!).