A small open container of dry coffee grounds placed in the fridge absorbs lingering odors, working much like a box of baking soda.
Five Surprising Uses for Coffee Beyond Your Morning Cup
A morning cup of coffee is only one of the things coffee is good for. Here are five more surprising ways to put it to use around the house.
Kill Fridge Odor
Reduce the Look of Cellulite
A scrub made from used coffee grounds mixed with a little oil, massaged into skin before rinsing, is a popular home remedy for temporarily smoothing skin's appearance.
Exfoliate Skin
Used coffee grounds make a gentle, inexpensive body scrub on their own, buffing away dry, flaky skin in the shower.
Touch Up Furniture Scratches
A bit of strong, thick coffee dabbed onto a scratch in dark wood furniture with a cotton swab can help disguise the mark by darkening it to match.
Repel Ants
A line of used coffee grounds sprinkled along windowsills, doorways, or other entry points is a natural deterrent that many ants avoid crossing.
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This edition is part of the Genius House Hacks archive: 20+ years of tips, rebuilt from the original Handy Hints newsletter. Browse more hacks →