We’ve all had it happen: you pour a fresh cup of coffee, get caught up in something else, and find it sitting cold on the counter hours later. Before pouring it down the drain, consider putting that leftover coffee to use around the house.
Plain black coffee can be useful for a few household tasks, from touching up dark wood to adding moisture to compost. Here are 10 ways to reuse that forgotten cup instead of throwing it away.
Feed Acid Loving Plants
Some acid loving plants, including azaleas and rhododendrons, may tolerate occasional applications of diluted black coffee. Mix it with an equal amount of water and use it sparingly, rather than letting it replace your plant’s regular watering routine.
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Water Your Compost Pile
A small amount of leftover black coffee can add moisture to a compost pile when the materials have started drying out. Skip coffee containing milk, cream, sugar, or flavored syrups, and remember that used coffee grounds are a more common addition to compost.
Freshen Your Garbage Disposal
A little cold black coffee can be rinsed down the garbage disposal with plenty of running water, though it won’t do much to clean the unit itself. For lingering odors, remove food debris safely according to the manufacturer’s instructions and clean the disposal with a method approved for your model.
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Make a Natural Furniture Scratch Touch Up
Cooled black coffee can temporarily darken tiny scratches on some dark wood finishes, making them less noticeable. Dab on a little with a cotton swab, test an inconspicuous spot first, and wipe away any excess to prevent staining.
Deodorize Smelly Hands
After chopping onions or garlic, rub a small amount of cooled coffee over your hands before washing them with soap and water. It may help mask lingering food odors, though the coffee’s own smell can stick around for a while.
Give Your Hair Extra Shine
Some people use cooled black coffee as a rinse to give dark hair a temporary deeper look and a little extra shine. Results vary, and coffee may stain towels or lighter hair, so test a small section first and rinse thoroughly.
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Make a DIY Plant Fertilizer
If you’d like to try using leftover coffee on outdoor plants, dilute it well and apply only a small amount to plants that tolerate acidic conditions. Coffee isn’t a complete fertilizer, so compost or a suitable plant fertilizer remains a better source of balanced nutrients.
Hide Minor Floor Scratches
A tiny dab of cooled coffee may make a small scratch on dark hardwood flooring less noticeable by adding a little color. Test an out of sight spot first and wipe the area dry right away, since coffee can stain floor finishes and isn’t suitable for every floor type.
Remove Refrigerator Odors
Place a small bowl of used coffee grounds in the refrigerator to see whether it helps absorb lingering odors. Replace the grounds regularly, keep them dry, and clean up the source of the smell rather than relying on coffee to solve the problem on its own.
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Freeze It for Future Projects
Pour leftover coffee into an ice cube tray and freeze it for later use instead of wasting a whole cup. The cubes work well in iced coffee without watering down the drink, and you can also add them to recipes that call for brewed coffee.
