The post “23 Surprising Uses for a Banana Peel” puts together the mentioned number of uses for a banana peel, many of them very surprising. Each of the uses has an original source than you can follow in the before link (some of them work… others not).

Bananas can be used in a variety of ways, are delicious, and are good for you, too! You can slice it up and put it in your favorite cereal or use it to turn your protein shake into a healthy, post-workout smoothie. You can bake with them or even include them in your daily skin care routine. Bananas are a wonderful, multi-use fruit, but what about the peel? Have you ever wondered what you could do with the banana peel? Keep reading to learn about some surprising uses of the otherwise-thrown-out banana peel that doesn’t involve a compost heap.

Improve Your Mood

1. Whiten Your Teeth
Professional teeth whitening can come at a hefty price, and at-home teeth-whitening kits can make your teeth super sensitive. To whiten your teeth naturally, brush your teeth as you usually would, and then, rub your teeth with the inside of the banana peel for two minutes per day. It works because the peel contains salicylic acid, which is a natural astringent; citric acid, which is a gentle bleaching agent; and a combination of manganese, magnesium, and potassium, all of which safely remove stains without damaging the enamel on your teeth.

2. Polish Your Fine Silver
Banana peels contain oils that can help make your dull silver shiny again without the use of harsh or toxic chemicals. Simply throw a few banana peels and some water in a blender to make a paste. Then, buff your silver items, such as jewelry or cutlery, with the banana paste and a soft cloth. Next, simply rinse off the silver with warm water, and dry it off with a clean rag.

If you don’t have the time or money to get your shoes shined professionally, you can always buff away scuff marks at home by rubbing the inside of a banana peel against your leather footwear. After you’ve buffed your shoes, wipe them off with a clean cloth. The potassium and waxy property of the peel is what helps reduce the appearance of scuff marks as well as water damage. Who would have thought that you can clean up your shoes with a banana?

3. Polish Your Shoes
If you don’t have the time or money to get your shoes shined professionally, you can always buff away scuff marks at home by rubbing the inside of a banana peel against your leather footwear. After you’ve buffed your shoes, wipe them off with a clean cloth. The potassium and waxy property of the peel is what helps reduce the appearance of scuff marks as well as water damage. Who would have thought that you can clean up your shoes with a banana?

4. Banish Garden Bugs
Aphids are a common garden pest that can wreak havoc on your plants. However, if you put a few pieces of a banana peel into one-inch holes around the base of the afflicted plants, the bugs will leave, so there’s no need to use toxic chemicals. The potassium in the banana peel repels aphids, so your garden should be pest free in no time.

5. Soothe a Bug Bite
When a mosquito bites you, your body’s immune system reacts to it, causing it to itch. At the time of the bite, the mosquito injects you with an anticoagulant to prevent the blood from clotting while it sucks it out of you. If you rub a fresh bug bite with the inside of a banana peel, which contains an anti-inflammatory called polysaccharides, it will quickly soothe the itching and reduce potential swelling.

6. Nourish Your Flower Bed
Banana peels aren’t just great bug repellents; they’re also great for nourishing your flowers because they’re rich in minerals and vitamins such as calcium, magnesium, sulfur, and trace elements. In addition, they act as a natural fertilizer that rejuvenates your flower beds. All you need to do is bury a few banana peels around the base of your flowers, and watch your garden flourish.

7. Rid Your Kitchen of Fruit Flies
If you have bananas in your kitchen, you probably know that they’re a fruit fly magnet, but you don’t have to suffer with annoying fruit flies any longer. Use a hammer and nail to poke small holes into the lid of a large, clean yogurt container. Next, put a banana peel inside the container, put the lid on, and place it in the area that seems to have the most fruit flies. The flies will be attracted to the peel and will enter the container, but they won’t be able to find their way out. Then, throw away the trap after a few days.

8. Fertilize Your Tomatoes
If you’re thinking of growing tomatoes, you’ll want to save up a few banana peels. Like flowers, tomatoes love all the nutrients a banana peel has to offer. After you’ve planted your tomatoes, wrap a few banana peels around the bottom of the stems, or slowly roast a few peels and stick the pieces into the soil.

9. Give Your Indoor Plants a Face-Lift
Potted plants are a great addition to have in your home because they offer improved air quality as well as aesthetic appeal, but as dust accumulates on the leaves, they can begin to look a little worn down. To make your plants look as good as the day you planted them, just wipe them down with the inside of a banana peel. It makes your plant’s leaves look cleaner, removes dust particles to improve photosynthesis, and prevents mold growth because you aren’t using water.

10. Tenderize Meat
Whether you’re making a slow-cooked roast or grilling up some chicken, lean protein is a healthy food option that’s also delicious, especially when it’s cooked properly. No one wants dried, overcooked food, so during the cooking process, place a few peels on top of your meat. The meat absorbs the oils and moisture from the banana peel, which helps keep it moist and juicy.

Create a Work of Art

11. Try a Banana Peel Recipe
While banana peels aren’t edible, they can add some flavor to your favorite recipes. For a delicious and flavorful side dish, place some seasoned rice inside a banana peel, tie it up with some cooking twine, and steam it.

12. Make a Delicious Handheld Dessert
Both kids and adults will love this simple yet decadent campfire treat! Partially cut an unpeeled banana lengthwise so that it looks like a taco shell or hotdog bun, and fill it with chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and nuts. Wrap the banana in aluminum foil, and place it over an open flame for five to eight minutes. Then, open up the dessert packet, and using a fork, enjoy the chocolatey banana deliciousness. It will be hot, so be careful not to burn yourself!

13. Get Rid of Warts
Warts are caused by a virus and commonly appear on the hands, feet, face, and neck in the form of small raised skin growths. Although they are virtually harmless and treatable, they can be irritating and embarrassing. The high levels of potassium in banana peels can combat even the most stubborn warts, including plantar warts. All you need to do is gently rub the wart with the inside of a banana peel for one to two minutes per day. Within two weeks, the wart should shrink or disappear.

14. Heal a Bruise
Many people say that holding the inside of a banana peel against a bruise can speed up the healing process and can cause it to fade away more quickly. That’s probably because of its polysaccharide compound, which acts as an anti-inflammatory. To get the most out of the banana peel, tape it over your bruise, and let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes or overnight.

15. Treat Your Acne
By this point, we know that banana peels have anti-inflammatory and tissue-healing properties, so it makes sense that they can also be used to treat acne. To get rid of acne, gently rub the inside of the peel over the afflicted area for approximately five minutes. You’ll want to let the oil from the peel and any leftover residue dry on the skin. Then, wash the area with warm water and dry it off with a clean cloth. After repeating this process three times per day for one to three days, your zits should become less noticeable. Banana peels also contain salicylic acid, which is an active ingredient in most acne treatments.

16. Moisturize Dry Skin
If you have acne, you might have dry skin as well. In addition to drinking plenty of water, you can gently massage your dry skin with a banana peel. It’s a safe yet effective option for people who have eczema or psoriasis. Plus, you don’t expose your body to parabens, preservatives, or other hard chemicals that store-bought skincare products might contain.

17. Smooth Out Wrinkles
You’re less likely to have wrinkles and fine lines if your skin is healthy and moisturized. While loving yourself the way you are is important, there’s nothing wrong with trying to look and feel your best. Lightly rub your face with the inside of a banana peel for a natural, at-home facial. Let the oil and banana residue dry on your face; then, just wash it off with warm water. You can even leave it on overnight. If you perform this beauty ritual regularly, your skin will begin to look tighter, smoother, and overall healthier. Like tea bags and cucumber slices, you can even put banana peels over your eyes to reduce puffiness!

18. Heal Those Hemorrhoids
While common, hemorrhoids are an embarrassing condition that many people suffer with. They’re caused by inflamed or irritated veins around the anus and in the rectum that can cause pain and bleeding. Instead of using over-the-counter creams, try pureeing a banana peel and one tablespoon of witch hazel in a blender to create your own hemorrhoid paste. Soak a clean gauze in the banana mixture, and place it on the irritated area for half an hour. During outbreaks, repeat this process two times a day. The combination of the peel, which contains a natural astringent, and the witch hazel helps reduce swelling and pain while keeping the area clean.

19. Remove Ink Stains from Your Skin
Left-handed people deal with ink stains all the time. If your pen explodes or you find yourself with ink all over your fingers, rub the stained area with the inside of a banana peel. The natural oils in the peel bind with the ink pigments, which makes it much easier to wash away.

20. Remove Splinters
What’s worse: having a splinter or trying to get it out? To easily and painlessly remove a splinter, tape a small piece of banana peel over the area with the white side in, and leave it there for about 30 minutes. Your skin will absorb the oils and enzymes from the peel, which will help move the splinter towards the surface of the skin and make it easier to pull out.

21. Improve Your Mood and Your Eyesight
According to researchers in Taiwan, drinking a beverage made with boiled banana peels might be the mood booster you need. Dopamine and serotonin, which are chemicals that boost your mood, are a natural ingredient in banana peels. In addition, drinking the extract of a banana peel might protect your eyesight because it contains lutein, which is an antioxidant that promotes retinal health.

22. Restore a Scratched CD or DVD
If you’ve ever used a CD or DVD, you know that a scratched disc can result in annoying skipping or freezing. Next time your movie skips, try this strange trick. Rub the underside of the disc in a circular motion with the white side of a banana peel for one minute, wipe it off with a clean, soft cloth, and clean the disc with glass cleaner. The wax in the peel will help fill in the scratches that are causing it to malfunction.

23. Create a Work of Art
Starting your day off with a creative task is a great exercise for your brain, so get your creative juices flowing by drawing or carving a design on a banana peel. If you choose to carve your peel with a knife or needle, the oxidation process will turn your carving brown, so you can clearly see your design. It’s a fun and easy way to show off your artistic talent! If you need some inspiration, head over to Google and type in “banana peel art” to see some examples.

 

Todas las cosas que puedes hacer con una cáscara de plátano, antes de tirarla