If you are like most people, you normally throw away the banana peel when you are finished eating the banana. Well, think again before your peel ends up in the garbage, as it is useful in many different ways!
Household uses
1. Oil and stain remover
Rub the peel on stained kitchen utensils. The dirt and oil will come off easily.
2. Leather polisher
Use the peel on leather products such as shoes and jackets. It revives the shine and prolongs the life of the product.
3. Silver polisher
Rub the peel on silverware. The oxidation will come off, and your silver will shine like new.
4. Ink remover
If you get ink on your skin, rub it with a banana peel. The oil in the peel will break down the ink and remove it effectively.
5. Car freshener
If your car smells, place a banana peel inside to absorb the odor, but remember to change the peel!
Medical uses
6. Itchy skin
Chemicals in the peel can suppress fungus and bacterial growth. There are three ways to use the peel for this remedy:
Rub the inside of the peel directly on the area.
Pound the peel into a paste and apply it to the area.
Boil the peel in a small amount of water and use it to rinse the area.
7. Oral ulcers
Boil a dried banana peel with the Chinese herb Huo Tan Mu (Polygonum Chinesis Herba). Next, add some brown sugar to make tea. Drink this preparation a few times a day and the ulcer will disappear.
8. A hangover
Boil about 2 ounces (60 grams) of banana peel in water for 10 minutes and drink it when it has cooled. It will relieve your headache and other hangover symptoms.
9. Mosquito bites
Rubbing the bite with a banana peel will soothe the itchiness.
Other uses
10. Plant polisher
Rubbing the dull leaves of an indoor plant with a banana peel can restore their shine.
11. Organic fertilizer
A banana peel is rich in minerals such as magnesium and potassium. Burying a peel in the soil can improve plant growth.
12. Ripener
Placing a banana peel with raw fruit in a paper bag can hasten the ripening time to just one day.
Watch this video from KarterMD on how to use banana skins.
Edited by: David Clapp
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