What to Do with Leftover Coffee Grounds After Brewing
(Because Moms Waste Nothing—Not Even Coffee Scraps)
You’ve brewed your cup (or three), survived another toddler tantrum, and finally tossed your spent coffee grounds into the trash…
But what if we told you that those little leftover bits of bean still have some serious mom magic in them?
That’s right—your used coffee grounds are more than just soggy leftovers. They’re surprisingly versatile, earth-friendly, and can be used in ways that make you feel like the DIY queen of caffeine.
Here’s what you can do with them—because being resourceful totally counts as self-care.
🌿 1. Feed Your Plants
Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen and make a great addition to compost or garden soil.
Mix into compost: Adds nutrients and helps balance out food scraps.
Sprinkle around acid-loving plants like hydrangeas, roses, and blueberries.
Keep pests away: Some say coffee grounds help deter slugs and ants (bonus!).
Warning: Don’t go overboard. Too much can throw off the pH balance. Like most things in mom life, it’s all about moderation.
✨ 2. Make a Natural Scrub
Used coffee grounds = the exfoliator you didn’t know you needed.
Mix them with a little coconut oil or yogurt to make a natural body or hand scrub. Great for:
Smoothing dry skin
Scrubbing off toddler slime
Feeling like a pampered human for 4 whole minutes
🐾 3. Deodorize All the Things
Coffee grounds are awesome at absorbing odors—just like that giant candle you light after taco night.
Try it:
In the fridge (instead of baking soda)
In the bottom of your diaper pail
In a small dish in your mudroom or by the litter box
🧼 4. Clean Tough Messes
Those gritty little grounds are basically natural scouring agents. Use them to:
Scrub your sink
Clean stuck-on food from pots and pans
De-grime your stovetop
Avoid using on porous surfaces like marble—that’s a little too enthusiastic.
🎨 5. Craft with the Kids (Or Just for Fun)
Leftover coffee grounds can be turned into homemade “paint” or textured art supplies.
Bonus idea: Make DIY playdough that smells like a coffee shop. Your house may still be loud, but at least it’ll smell divine.
🐶 6. Keep Critters Out of the Trash
Sprinkle some used coffee grounds in your outside garbage bins to deter raccoons or stray animals. They hate the smell (unlike us civilized humans who reheat the same mug 4 times in a row).
💛 Final Sip
You already squeeze the most out of your day—and now you can do the same with your coffee grounds.
From gardens to grime-busting, self-care to sustainability, there’s no reason to toss your post-brew coffee sludge. It’s full of hidden potential—just like you.
So the next time you brew your favorite Mommy Needs A Fix blend, don’t trash those grounds… put them to work.
