11 clever uses for used coffee grounds

Those used coffee grounds left in your pod or cafetière aren't rubbish — they're genuinely useful stuff. Here are eleven easy ways to put them to work before they hit the bin.

In the garden

• Compost booster: grounds are nitrogen-rich "greens" that help a compost heap along.
• Fertiliser: sprinkle a thin layer around plants — many, like roses and tomatoes, appreciate it.
• Slug and snail deterrent: a barrier of grounds around vulnerable plants can help keep them off.
• Worm food: if you have a wormery, worms love coffee grounds in moderation.
• Acid-loving plants: a gentle boost for hydrangeas, blueberries and azaleas.

Around the home

• Odour absorber: a bowl of dried grounds soaks up smells in the fridge or bin.
• Natural scrub: their grit helps scour pots and pans (avoid delicate surfaces).
• Hand deodoriser: rub grounds on your hands to lift strong smells like garlic or onion.
• Body scrub: mixed with a little oil, they make a simple exfoliating scrub.
• Cleaning grease: their mild abrasiveness cuts through baked-on grime.
• Furniture touch-up: a paste can help disguise scratches on dark wood.

The greenest option of all

If you use home-compostable pods, you don't even need to separate the grounds — pop the whole used pod into your food-waste caddy or compost and it all breaks down together. More on that in our guide to recyclable vs compostable pods.

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