Cleaning & Organizing Cleaning Supplies 10 Surprising Ways to Use Coffee Grounds Around the House Don't toss those used coffee grounds just yet—they can come in handy for a range of uses around your home. By Alexandra Kelly Alexandra Kelly Alex is the senior home editor for Martha Stewart. She has over 10 years of experience producing digital content in the home and lifestyle space, ranging from cleaning and organizing to etiquette and home design. Editorial Guidelines Published on March 14, 2024 Close Photo: Boy_Anupong / Getty Images Brewing coffee is one of life's greatest, simplest pleasures. Dealing with the leftover coffee grounds, though? Less than ideal. But, before you send your used coffee grounds to the compost bin or trash, it might be worth hanging on to them for a few key uses. Used coffee grounds can do everything from scouring your pots and pans to deodorizing your fridge to fixing scratches on your wood furniture. Ahead, we spoke with experts to share their favorite uses for used coffee grounds around the house that will have you rethinking this versatile household staple. Petya Holevich, Fantastic Services' domestic cleaning expert and supervisor Rocky Vuong, professional cleaner, organizer, and founder of Calibre Cleaning Limited Karina Toner, operations manager for Spekless Cleaning 11 Clever Uses for Wax Paper Around the House (That Don't Involve Cooking) 01 of 10 Natural Cleaning Scrub Because of their gritty texture, used coffee grounds make for a perfect DIY cleaning scrub for scouring anything from pots and pans to your stovetop. "The gritty texture helps to scrub away stubborn food residue," says Karina Toner, operations manager from Spekless Cleaning. "Simply sprinkle the grounds on a damp sponge and scrub the dishes before rinsing thoroughly." 02 of 10 Odor Neutralizer Coffee grounds have a natural ability to absorb odors, whether that's in your refrigerator, freezer, shoes, or trash can. Place a bowl of coffee grounds in the offending area (or, in the case of your shoes, place dry grounds in an old sock or cloth tied up and leave overnight inside the shoe) and let the grounds absorb unpleasant odors, says Rocky Vuong, founder of Calibre Cleaning Unlimited. You can even use coffee grounds to deodorize your hands after handling food like garlic or fish. "Simply wash your hands with the coffee scrub and see the magic," says Vuong. 03 of 10 Body Scrub Alina Nechaeva / Getty Images You don't need to spend a ton of money for a fancy body scrub—used coffee grounds (alongside some honey or coconut oil) work in a pinch. "The grounds help to remove dead skin cells and leave the skin feeling smooth," says Toner. 10 Surprising Ways to Use Coffee Grounds Around the House 04 of 10 Furniture Scratch Repair If you notice scratches on your wooden furniture, you can use coffee grounds to easily repair them. "This is one of the more interesting uses for coffee grounds because not many people know about it," says Petya Holevich, Fantastic Services' domestic cleaning expert and supervisor. "To use coffee grounds as a furniture scratch repair tool, mix them with a bit of water until it creates a paste and use it to mask scratches on dark wood furniture. Alternatively, you can also use a Q-tip to apply them for a more detailed approach." Then, let the paste sit for a few minutes before scrubbing away with a clean cloth to reveal like-new furniture with no superficial scratches. 05 of 10 Meat Tenderizer Coffee grounds don't just add a depth of flavor—they can also tenderize meat because of their unique composition. "The enzymes, as well as natural acidity in the coffee grounds, can easily help to break down the protein and fibers in the meat," says Toner. "You can develop your own coffee rub by mixing coffee grounds, cinnamon, and water." 06 of 10 Garden Pest Repellent Prevent your garden from becoming an all-you-can-eat cafeteria for pests by spreading coffee grounds throughout. "The strong scent and texture deter pests from approaching," says Toner. "Additionally, coffee grounds can act as a natural fertilizer, enriching the soil and promoting plant growth." 6 Kitchen Scraps You Can Use in the Garden, According to Experts 07 of 10 Plant Fertilizer Wachiwit / Getty Images Besides deterring pests, coffee grounds are actually great to add to your garden as a natural fertilizer, specifically for acid-loving plants like azaleas, rhododendrons, and blueberries, says Toner. "The grounds add organic matter and nutrients to the soil, promoting healthy growth," she says. "Be sure to mix the grounds into the soil rather than leaving them on the surface to prevent mold growth." Can Coffee Really Improve Your Plants' Health? Experts Weigh In 08 of 10 Fireplace Cleaner Cleaning your fireplace can sometimes have the unintended effect of actually creating a somewhat larger mess in the process, due to dusty ashes flying around. But coffee grounds can help with this. "If you want to avoid making a dusty cloud while sweeping, scatter around damp coffee grounds into the pile of ashes and they’ll weigh it down, preventing smoke clouds from forming," says Petrovich. 09 of 10 Exfoliating Soap Anusha Rajeswaran Infuse coffee grounds into your favorite homemade bar soap for an exfoliating effect. "The grounds help to scrub away dirt and dead skin cells, leaving the skin feeling refreshed," says Toner. After chopping your own melt-and-pour soap, mix 1 tablespoon of brewed coffee grounds for every cup of soap. Add more coffee grounds if you'd like it to offer more exfoliating properties. Stir together, adding your favorite scented essential oil, and then pour into a mold and let it sit for about 40 minutes. How to Make Cold Process Soap 10 of 10 Natural Dye You can use coffee grounds to make natural dye for everything from Easter eggs to fabric. "You can use coffee grounds to dye paper, fabric, or Easter eggs in a natural way for a vintage, sepia-toned effect," says Petrovich. For more saturated color, use more coffee grounds in your dye mixture. How to Make Natural Dyes for Easter Eggs Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit