Why put coffee grounds in the bathroom? A cheap tip to try out

In the bathroom we expect to find many things, but probably not coffee grounds. So, what would be the reason for keeping coffee grounds in the bathroom instead of throwing them out? Well, this has everything to do with a common problem that occurs in our bathrooms: the unpleasant smell that sometimes emanates from the sewer via the pipes.

This smell is bit like rotten eggs, mainly because - among the many substances that can be found in the pipes - there is also hydrogen sulphide (H2S). H2S is released by rotting organic substances, and the smell is very difficult to mask.

Coffee grounds, on the other hand, can absorb this unpleasant smell, which explains why they can come in handy in the bathroom.

Coffee grounds to absorb unpleasant odors

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In research conducted by scientists at the City College of New York (CCNY), an eco-sustainable filter was developed to remove toxic gases, such as hydrogen sulfide, from the air. And this filter contains coffee grounds.

The fundamental ingredient that gives coffee grounds this power is the same one that makes want to drink it: caffeine. Caffeine contains nitrogen, which - along with the other materials in the filter - absorbs H2S. Another material used in the filter can also be easily found: activated carbon.

How to make a bathroom deodorizing filter

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In the research done by the City College of New York, coffee grounds were also burned to form charcoal. This was done at very high temperatures, but you can do something similar at home.

The process is quite easy:

• Let the coffee grounds dry out thoroughly as soon as you remove them from the coffee maker, so that they do not become moldy.
• Take some pieces of activated charcoal and place them in a small bowl. If you want to, you can also grind the charcoal into a course powder.
• Add the coffee grounds to the charcoal powder and mix in a bowl.
• Place the bowl near the toilet (or wherever is best in the bathroom), and leave it there to do its job.

Over time, since they are hygroscopic substances, these ingredients could become damp and will need to be changed. Do the same when you can no longer detect an aroma of coffee grounds.

Again, even without activated charcoal, you could simply leave a small bowl of coffee grounds in the bathroom and it will do the job!

Have you tried out this cheap deodorizer yet?