Mommy Trick #2. Disposing Used Nespresso Capsules

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Last year, my mother in law who has done nothing but pamper me and my kids, sent me my first Nespresso machine. I used to spend a lot on gourmet coffee not including my Ventis from Starbucks on the way to work. Thus, the machine I got meant so much savings on my coffee caprice.

I consume about 3-5 cups a day (depending on my stress level). That meant, I use about 4 capsules on an average per day. Each capsule can only be used once. So, during the first few days, I managed to keep the used capsules on a container. I intentionally had them saved and planned on leaving them outside for a while just to get air so I can make facial scrub out of them. Until, I didn’t realize that I have consumed more than my kitchen drawer can handle. The container I had them contained with was full enough that it filled up my drawer. Most of the capsules have dried out, others have molded and it made me too lazy to actually put the plan in place. All got thrown away.

It made me a little guilty. Mother Earth must be really pissed off at me for not reducing, reusing and recycling. I was still juggling office work and mommy duties back then but I didn’t wanna use that as an excuse.

Therefore, I’m trying to make up to Mother Earth. I had a good month of no Nespresso capsules consumed because I ran out of them and if I order online, it will take a while. Also, my mother in law said she was gonna send me supplies so it arrived just last month, boxes of nespresso capsules. Good for 3 months (I hope it lasts 3 months, really!)

Here’s sharing with you how I’m making it up with mother Earth. Hopefully, this can help you too in case you don’t know what to do with those aluminum thingies and coffee grounds.

First, I wanted to separate the coffee grounds from the aluminum shells. By the way, this is just a week’s worth of coffee I consumed. Not much, no?

I used small kitchen knife to remove the lining that holds the coffee, placed the grounds to a container and lined up the shells.

What was I trying to achieve? Just some from the many uses of coffee grounds. Like, aside from wanting mother nature to be proud of me. I wanted to get rid of slugs and ants and bugs around the house. These don’t like the acidity of coffee so hopefully, the keep away as I sprinkle some along the yard or dark corners of the house. I am also tired of cleaning after cats that keep pooping at my plant box. Some coffee grounds and oranges peel (those oranges I have from New Year’s eve) will make them not want to pass by there anymore. I like fresh flowers too. So instead of pure soil on used bottles, might as well mix them with coffee grounds and lengthen my flower’s life.

My husband is a scaredy cat when it comes to cockroaches. Some coffee grounds which they are attracted to and some double sided tape will work as cockroach trap. Smelly trash bins or fridge? Some vinegar, Epsom salt, coffee grounds and baking soda will make them stay sharp and smelling fresh. Coffee is also a natural flea repellant, so I may wanna keep some grounds and make use of them on Chase’s next bath.

Those are just some you can use your consumed coffee for. There’s a lot more, I’m sure. Maybe on my next blog. But before I finish my day 5 of @dragosroua's #challenge30days, see what my daughter did with the empty shells.

Any more cool ideas I can do with them? I still have boxed left to consume.

Thanks for reading!

Love,
Jonah (and John)