It takes a brave and hearty (and spartan) soul to give up coffee and tea in the name of food miles. Many do, but
morning caffeine
is the guilty pleasure that whispers in a voice too alluring for many
to resist. One thing is for sure: it's generally a long journey for
beans and leaves to travel from exotic climes to the kitchen counter so we may as well honor them with some extra chores before condemning
them to the trash. For those who add their spent dregs to the compost
bin, you can still do so in many of these applications once their
mission has been accomplished. Coffee powder/grounds to work with these clever idea
What to do with coffee grounds
1. Soften skin: Exfoliate with a body scrub made of coffee grounds, coconut oil and
a little brown sugar. Gently massage it on in the shower, rinse, be
soft.
2. Please the flowers: Use coffee grounds as mulch for acid-loving plants roses,
azaleas, rhododendrons, evergreens, hydrangeas and camellias. They like
coffee grounds for the natural acidity and nutrients they add to the
soil.
3. Insect repellant: Sprinkle coffee grounds around areas of ant infestation to deter them. 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. Simplify fireplace cleaning: Before cleaning the fireplace, sprinkle with dampened used coffee
grounds, which will weigh down the ash and thus eliminate clouds of
smoke-flavored dust.
5. Make a sepia dye: Soak used grounds in hot water and use as a dye bath for Easter eggs, fabric and paper for a lovely, soft brown tinge.
6. Keep cats at bay: Keep kitties out of the garden with a mixture of orange peels and used coffee grounds distributed around plants.
7. Encourage the carrots: To boost a carrot harvest, mix seeds with dried coffee grounds
before sowing. The extra bulk makes the wee seeds easier to manage,
while the coffee aroma can nourish the soil and help repel pests.
8. 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.
9.
Furniture scratch cover-up. Steep grounds and apply a bit of the liquid to furniture scratches with a Q-tip.
10.
Cleaning product. As they’re slightly abrasive, grounds can be used as a scouring agent for greasy and grimy stain-resistant objects.
And, finally, the top use for used coffee grounds....drum roll here....
11.
Cellulite reducer. I kid you not. We're supposed to mix 1/4 cup warm, used coffee grounds with 1 tablespoon of
olive oil,
then, while standing over an old towel or newspaper, we're to apply the
mixture to our "problem areas". Next, wrap the areas with shrink wrap
and leave on for several minutes. Unwind the wrap, brush loose grounds
off our 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 actually have coffee in them,
it just might work.
now tea leafs. Some tips call for dried leaves, here’s how. When you’re finished
brewing tea, place the leaves into a large strainer or colander. Press
out as much moisture as possible, and then spread the leaves on paper.
Let the leaves dry thoroughly, turning over several times in the
process. Also note that wet tea leaves stain, so if you are using wet
tea leaves on or near a porous surface, be sure to test in an
inconspicuous place first.
Tame stings and burns Cool tea bags can bring relief when applied to bug bites and minor
burns, including sunburn. For overall skin irritation, put spent tea
leaves in a bath and soak.
Soothe your eyes The tannins in tea have anti-inflammatory effects, which is why
cool ones are often employed on puffy eyes. (The chill also helps with
swelling.)
Feed the garden Use tea leaves as food for garden plants green tea is high in
nitrogen, and as a bonus, the leaves can ward off pests and insects.
This is also good for houseplants, so add old tea leaves to their water.
Boost potted plants When potting plants, place a few used tea bags on top of the
drainage layer at the bottom of the planter before adding soil. The tea
bags will help to retain water and will also leach some nutrients into
the potting medium.
Quell the cat box smell Sprinkle used, dried tea leaves in litter boxes to help reduce the smell.
Eliminate other pet odors Sprinkle dried, used green tea leaves on your pet’s pillow, bed, in the doghouse, or other smelly spots to eliminate odor.
Freshen the carpet Sprinkle dry tea leaves onto the carpet, crush them lightly and let
sit for 10 minutes, then vacuum. This will refresh the carpet and
deodorize your vacuum cleaner and bag. (Especially helpful if you have
pets.)
Treat the dog As an extravagance, loose leaf gunpowder tea is a treat for dogs to
roll around in. It’s great for the aroma and luster it adds to the
coat.
Freshen mats and beds It is common in Southeast Asia to wash straw sleeping mats in tubs
of water to which tea has been added. The tea works as a deodorizer, so
you can apply this method to yoga mats and air mattresses.
Save the fridge If you’re out of baking soda, place dried, used green tea bags or
leaves in a small open bowl in your refrigerator to help absorb odors.
Wash your hands Rid your hands of food odors (garlic, onions, etc.) by rubbing them with wet green tea leaves, an instant deodorizer.
Deodorize kitchen surfaces Rub wet tea leaves on cutting boards and counters to remove food odors.
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