Did you know ? In the world, nearly 400 billion coffee cups are consumed in a single year and tons of coffee grounds are left behind. Residue of the coffee percolation, it is wrongly considered as a waste. This is a serious mistake, because the brown gold of the gardener (its nickname) is a real concentrate of benefits that you can use in many ways. Rich in potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and nitrogen, its many advantages make it a daily ally and these 5 tips will show you how.
Anti-odour and cleaning agent
Coffee grounds are an excellent household product. Place a damp, open container of coffee grounds in the refrigerator or sprinkle some directly into the garbage or into your homemade soap recipes. Thanks to its anti-bacterial properties, it degreases, cleans and absorbs bad odors. When it becomes dry, change it.
To clean your pipes, simply pour it in your sink, bath or wash basin pipes and run hot water to make it disappear. You get rid of the stubborn odors and clean your pipes at the same time!
5 beauty treatments: face, body and hair!
#1 Coffee grounds are an excellent exfoliant for facial skin. Simply mix it with a little honey - to be measured according to the reaction of your skin - and an oil of your choice (olive, avocado, almond, etc.). For a tightening effect, use it as a mask for a few minutes or by gently massaging the face and neck, then rinse thoroughly. You can also use it as a lip care product, gently exfoliating and wiping with a damp cloth for a smoother result.
#2 The caffeine content of the pomace and its granular texture make it an excellent repairing exfoliant for the body: under the shower and on wet skin, massage gently and rinse.
#3 Its decongestant and anti-inflammatory virtues make the pomace a good ally to reduce the bags and dark circles under the eyes. Mix 1 teaspoon of white yogurt with 1 teaspoon of pomace and apply to the eyes, leaving on for no more than a few minutes: the eye contour is a very fragile area.
#4 Coffee grounds restore color to dark hair - they are not recommended for blonde hair, unless you want to dye it! Use it as a natural dye in your conditioner or in a simple recipe that mixes coffee grounds and vegetable oil to bring back the shine to your hair.
#5 Note that used as a mask or scrub, it can also be soothing to the scalp. By acting as an exfoliator, it will purify it, reduce excess sebum and calm any irritation felt.
Our advice: Massage gently and do not use on sensitive or weakened skin.
Compost activating agent
Boost your compost by adding coffee grounds. Thanks to its properties, it offers earthworms a better digestion of organic matter, which accelerates the process of transforming plants into compost. Use it in moderation, however, by not exceeding 20% of the added material.
Fertilizers
Coffee grounds, composed of various nutrients, form a very good fertilizer when mixed with soil. Used sparingly, it enriches the soil and strengthens the plantations. The short-term contribution is made by potassium and magnesium which are immediately absorbed by the soil and the plants. As for nitrogen and phosphorus, they are assimilated more slowly, in a progressive way. This mixture of soil and pomace favors the growth of your seeds.
It is equally effective as a natural repellent for insects and other pests such as ants, aphids, slugs and snails. Be careful, it can also be toxic for dogs and cats. So don't overuse it. Put a little around your plants by mixing it with water and spray your plants with it.
Convinced? Coffee grounds are not only a source of nutrients for our tomato and chive plants, they also support us in the cultivation of our mushrooms! ;)
