How do I recycle coffee grounds? 

It's no secret that we can't go without our morning fix — or our afternoon fix, or our evening fix. The average American alone drinks 2 to 3 cups of coffee a day — and some drink as many as 11 cups a day. That's a lot of coffee grounds. 

But instead of throwing those coffee grounds away, there are tons, and I mean TONS, of ways to re-use and recycle coffee ground. Are you a gardener? Use coffee grounds. Looking for a new skincare routine? Coffee grounds. Spending a lot of your summer outside? Yup, you guessed it — coffee grounds.

No matter who you are, you can save your coffee grounds to use for any number of household projects. Here are some of our favorite ways to re-use.  

1. In the garden 

Used coffee grounds can be used as insect repellents when they're dry. Sprinkle coffee grounds around places where there are ants, slugs, or snails or burn coffee grounds to keep those pesky bugs away when you're trying to enjoy your backyard. 

You can also use coffee grounds in your compost pile or to help grow your plants — yes, some plants love coffee, too. Find out which plants to use them on. 

2. Health and beauty 

Coffee grounds are great for homemade exfoliants and scrubs. The caffeine in the grounds actually stimulates skin cells, so it literally wakes up your skin, too. You can add coffee grounds to a number of products to make a face mask, a full skin exfoliant for the shower, or even a hair mask. Our favorite recipes include this Death Wish Coffee-infused sugar scrub bar and this DIY coffee mask. 

3. In the kitchen 

You can use coffee grounds in tons of different recipes. Add them to marinades and sauces to give your chicken or steak a nice flavor. You can also use grounds in chili, chocolate cake, and more. 

When you're cooking with garlic or onions, rub your hands with coffee grounds — it'll take those smells right off your hands.

4. Cleaning

If you're looking to avoid harsh chemicals when you clean, coffee grounds are a great substitute. They can be used as an abrasive cleaner when mixed with baking soda, which is good for scrubbing pots and pans. Be careful though — coffee grounds can stain certain surfaces. And make sure to continue disinfecting with normal kitchen cleaning products.

5. Eliminating odors

Coffee grounds don't smell like a pot of freshly brewed coffee, but they're a huge help at getting rid nasty smells in your house. Spread out your grounds on a baking sheet and allow them to dry, then place them in a bowl. 

Recycling and re-using coffee grounds is just one step in being a sustainable coffee drinker. Together, we can make the world a greener place — after all, it's the only planet with coffee (for now). 

Related: How to be a sustainable coffee drinker

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