Mixing coffee grounds with baking soda creates a paste that eliminates odors from the refrigerator, removes grease from pots, repels insects from the garden, and exfoliates the skin of the face, all with two ingredients that most people throw away or already have in their cupboard.

Written by Bruno Teles

Published on 11/04/2026 at 18:38

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The coffee grounds left after straining the coffee preserve a granular texture and the ability to absorb odors, and when combined with baking soda, which neutralizes acids and works as a light abrasive, it becomes a multipurpose product that replaces degreasers, deodorants, and industrial exfoliants for a fraction of the cost

The average Brazilian consumes 6 kilograms of coffee per year. Almost all of this coffee ground goes straight to the trash. At the same time, baking soda costs less than R$ 5 at the pharmacy and is already present in most kitchens. The combination of the two creates a homemade product that solves at least four different household problems.

The logic is simple. Coffee grounds have a granular texture that works as a natural abrasive and a proven ability to absorb odors. Baking soda is a base that neutralizes acids, eliminates odors, and cleans surfaces without scratching. Together, they do what neither can do alone.

How to prepare the coffee grounds and baking soda mixture?

The preparation takes less than two minutes. Let the coffee grounds dry naturally after straining. It can be outdoors or in a baking tray in a low oven for 15 minutes. The grounds need to be dry to avoid mold.

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What is it good for inside the house?

Refrigerator and trash can: place the dry mixture in an open container inside the refrigerator or near the trash can. The grounds absorb odors and the baking soda neutralizes the acids that cause bad smells. Change every two weeks.

Pans with grease: apply the paste directly onto the greasy surface, scrub with a sponge, and rinse. The granular texture of the grounds loosens the adhered grease without scratching the bottom of the pan, while the baking soda dissolves the grease layer. It works especially well on stainless steel and cast iron.

Drains and sinks: the same paste can be used to clean drains with accumulated organic residue. The combination helps to loosen dirt and reduce the odor that rises through the pipe.

Shoes: place the dry mixture inside a used coffee filter or an old sock, tie it up, and leave it inside the shoe overnight. The smell disappears by morning.

Does it work for the skin?

Coffee grounds have been used as a natural exfoliant for decades. The granular texture removes dead skin cells without the need for plastic microbeads, which are banned in several countries for polluting oceans. Baking soda, in small amounts, helps balance the skin’s pH and unclog pores.

The exfoliation mixture is different from the cleaning one. Use a 2:1 ratio (grounds to baking soda) and add a teaspoon of coconut oil or olive oil to hydrate while exfoliating. Apply to the face or body with gentle circular motions and rinse with warm water.

Do not use on skin with open wounds, sunburns, or irritations. And do not apply more than twice a week to avoid damaging the skin’s natural barrier.

Does it really repel insects?

Coffee grounds are already known to repel ants and mosquitoes when spread dry around pots and flower beds. The addition of baking soda enhances the effect because it alters the pH of the soil superficially, creating a less attractive environment for larvae and crawling insects.

Spread the dry mixture around the plants, at the entrance of the house, or in corners where ants usually appear. The effect is not permanent and needs to be renewed after each rain or watering, but it works as a temporary barrier without using insecticide.

Two ingredients that cost cents, that almost everyone has at home and that would normally go to waste. Together, they replace degreaser, deodorizer, exfoliant, and repellent. Sometimes the smartest solution is not on the supermarket shelf, it’s in the kitchen sink.

With information from El Tiempo and El Cronista.

Mixing coffee grounds with baking soda creates a paste that eliminates odors from the refrigerator, removes grease from pots, repels insects from the garden, and exfoliates the skin of the face, all with two ingredients that most people throw away or already have in their cupboard.

How to prepare the coffee grounds and baking soda mixture?

What is it good for inside the house?

Does it work for the skin?

Does it really repel insects?

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How to prepare the coffee grounds and baking soda mixture?

What is it good for inside the house?

Does it work for the skin?

Does it really repel insects?

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