Coffee Day #1!

In addition to being a delicious beverage, brewed coffee and coffee grounds can be used for a variety of projects, as such cleaning, gardening or body care... So drink up and enjoy the many benefits that come even after your cup is empty.

Help your ashtrays

Place a layer of coffee grounds in your ashtrays to greatly reduce the stench of ashes and old cigarette butts.

Odors in rooms

Leave a dish of coffee grounds out to absorb odors in rooms (including your car) that have an unpleasant smell.

Deodorizer for refrigerators and freezers

Place coffee grounds in a jar or dish inside your refrigerator and freezer to absorb odors from them.

Old food in dishes

Clean old food off of dishes with coffee grounds. Be aware not to use them on materials that might be absorbent or porous so that you do not end up with brown stains.

Cleaning sinks

Scour sinks with coffee grounds. Make sure you do not use them on porcelain sinks to avoid brown stains.

Cleaning pots and pans

Skip the toxic abrasive cleaners for pots and pans and use a handful of coffee grounds instead.

Gin Day!

While it is an essential ingredient in a great martini and many other cocktails, the potent drink has also been put to more pragmatic use. Here are a few…

Cleaning your body

Mixing a splash of gin into your liquid soap will give it a lovely added scent, while boosting its bacteria-battling capabilities.

Herbal tinctures

Tinctures are a great way to extract the medicinal and flavor-bearing components of herbs. Cover a handful of dried herbs with gin and seal in a sterilized canning jar for a week. Then strain the mixture through a cheesecloth and you will have a potent, great-tasting tincture.

All-purpose cleaner

Use a spray bottle filled with gin to get rid of mold and mildew. Let the stubborn spores soak in the alcohol for a few minutes before wiping them away with a damp cloth or sponge.

Homemade air freshener

Fill a spray bottle with some gin and a few drops of essential oil for a homemade air freshener. The alcohol quickly evaporates, leaving behind the piney scent of juniper and whatever else you add in.

Tasty pie crusts

Because alcohol evaporates at a lower temperature than water, you can make your pie crust more delicious by replacing some of the water in your recipe with gin, which has a flavor that works especially well with savory pot pies.

Flavored pickles

Whether you make your own pickles, or buy them from the store, adding a shot or two of gin to the brine is a great way to boost their flavor.

Homemade footwash

To eliminate foot odor, mix some gin with a few drops of thyme oil and apply to your feet.

Soothe bleeding gums

After a tooth extraction or when an older child loses a tooth, try putting a cold, wet tea bag in the mouth where the tooth was lost and bite down on it. The tannic acid in tea helps healing blood clots to form, can reduce bleeding and soothe pain.

Tea Day #2!

Before you throw out your used tea bags and tea leaves, check these alternative uses for them.

Help houseplants

Occasionally use brewed tea instead of water to feed ferns and other houseplants that like rich, acidic soil. Spread used tea leaves around rosebushes, and then add mulch and water. The tannic acid and other nutrients will benefit the plants. A few used teabags in the bottom of a planter can help the soil retain water, and adds valuable nutrients.

Speed up composting process

Pouring strong tea into a compost bin will help speed up the process and encourage more friendly bacteria to grow, improving the compost.

Tenderize meat

Marinate tough meat in black tea to make it tenderer.

Soothe acne

Wash your face with green tea or calendula flower tea. They have mildly antiseptic properties.

Shine dry hair

Brewed tea makes a good conditioner for dry hair. Rinse with (unsweetened) tea and leave to dry for a while, and then rinse again with water.

Tea Day #1!

Before you throw out your used tea bags and tea leaves, check these alternative uses for them.

Soothe tired eyes

Warm, wet tea bags can reduce puffiness and soothe pain around tired eyes.

Soothe sunburn

Tea can soothe sunburns and other minor burns. Sponge sunburned skin with cooled chamomile tea for its anti-inflammatory effect. Do not try this if skin is broken.

Clean toilet stains

Used tea leaves can remove stubborn stains in the bottom of the toilet bowl. Just leave them in the toilet for several hours, then flush the toilet and brush the bowl.

Clean mirros and windows

Tea can remove stubborn, greasy fingerprints from glass. Simply rub a damp teabag on the glass or fill a spray bottle with brewed tea.

Polish furniture

The tannins in tea can re-color light spots and scratches in wood surfaces. Dip a soft cloth in a small amount of strongly-brewed tea, and use it to wipe down scratched furniture.

Shine wood floors

The tannins in black tea can help shine and color hardwood flooring. Follow your regular floor cleaning routine by carefully rubbing some brewed tea into the floor and letting it air dry.

Cleaning carpets

Sprinkle dry, used green tea leaves on the carpet and let them work for about 10 minutes, then vacuum them up. Delicate Persian and Oriental rugs can also benefit from a sprinkling of tea leaves. In this case, sprinkle nearly dry, used whole tea leaves on the rugs, and gently sweep them away.