Braly: Many uses for coffee

I'm no coffee snob. In fact, it's rare that I have coffee beans in my house. I usually fix instant coffee since I'm usually in a hurry to get out the door in the morning. But, if you do have extra coffee beans around, here are some ways to use them once they've completed their main task of making your morning java. The suggestions come from coffee.org.

"People traditionally think that coffee is only useful in drinking form," said Bill McClure, the website's CEO. "Customers will be surprised to find that coffee serves as a helpful aid in many different situations around the house and in everyday life."

1. Removing odors from your hands: After cooking with certain foods such as garlic or fish you might have a strong odor on your hands that regular soap won't remove. Rub a few coffee beans in your hands and the oils being released from the beans will absorb the foul smell.

2. Kitchen drains: Drains tend to get smelly from having leftover food put down them. Slowly pour a cup of coffee grounds, mixed with boiling water, down the drain and the odor will disappear.

3. Cleaning around the house: Coffee grounds can be used to clean any stain resistant surface. They have a mild and gentle element and smell super fresh. This technique is particularly useful for cleaning greasy kitchen surfaces.

4: Gardening: Adding coffee to the soil used for your plants can be an effective way of helping them thrive. This is best done in small amounts of soil and by simply adding the coffee grounds onto your compost pile. Certain acid-loving plants such as azaleas, camillias and crepe myrtles will love you for it.

5. Freshen your breath: If you're all out of Altoids, suck on a coffee bean and your mouth and breath will smell clean and fresh.

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