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Bananas are one of the most consumed foods on the planet. Native to South Asia, bananas grow in many of the warmer areas of the world and come in a variety of sizes and colors including green and red. Bananas are also very good for you, according to Healthline. That’s because this tropical fruit is nutrient dense, full of fiber, Vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants.
Bananas are also extremely easy to use, just peel and eat. But don’t just toss the peels in the trash or the compost pile, there are a myriad of useful things you can do with them from removing splinters to polishing shoes. Besides eating or cooking with the peels, here are seven additional alternative uses to try:
Polish Silver
You can use banana peels to polish silver. Better Homes & Gardens suggests that you rub the banana peel directly on the silver. If you have a lot of silver to polish, you can make a paste of the peels in a blender or food processor and apply the paste with a soft cloth and then buff. After you have removed the tarnish, wash the silver in warm water with a mild dish detergent to remove the banana residue.
Dust Houseplants
Dusting your houseplants is an important part of being a plant parent. You can use a banana peel to wipe the leaves, this will remove dust and the oils in the peel will give the plant a healthy shine. After using the peel, gently wipe the leaves with a microfiber cloth to remove the residue.
Treat a Burn
You can treat a minor burn with a banana peel if you do not have a burn cream handy, according to yahoo!life. That’s because banana peels are full of antioxidants and vitamins that help soothe the pain and speed healing. Just press a banana peel on the affected area for five minutes.
Pest Control
Banana peels can also help protect your garden from pests. Just cut up a few banana peels and place in a one-inch (three-centimeter) hole next to the base of your plants. The peels contain a chemical that pests, especially aphids, detect as a sign of danger so they will avoid the plants. This works very well on roses.
Whiten Teeth
You don’t have to use whitening strips to brighten your smile. Use a banana peel instead. Just rub the white side of the peel on your teeth for two minutes. The potassium and manganese that is found in banana peels will whiten your teeth without damaging the enamel.
Soothes Bug Bites
Warm spring weather means that bugs are out and about. To relieve the itch of mosquito bites, rub the inside of a banana peel directly on the bites. The peels contain plant-compounds that can soothe the inflammation.
Polish Furniture
You can use banana peels to help restore and polish your wood furniture. Instead of investing in products to remove scratches, just use a banana peel instead. Use a circular motion to work the peel into your furniture and then buff the fruit residue away with a clean cloth.
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