9 Reasons to Save Your Banana Peels
The edible part of the banana is famous for its incredible health and beauty benefits. Far less acknowledged yet equally incredible are the benefits and uses of banana peels. The following ways to use banana peels are likely to make you think twice before discarding them.
1. Polishing Silverware and Leather Shoes
Lightly rubbing silverware or shoes with the white side of a banana peel and then wiping them with a cloth or paper towel is an easy and quick way to remove scuffs and restore shine—thanks to the natural oils present in banana peels. The peels also have high quantities of potassium, a mineral which is a common ingredient in traditional shoe polish.
2. Fertilize Your Plants
Potassium is also essential for healthy plant growth. This, along with phosphorus and the plethora of other nutrients found in banana peels make them an ideal natural plant fertilizer and compost material. Simply grind the peels in a blender or food processor and place them in the soil around your plants.
3. Teeth Whitening
Banana peels are inexpensive and lack the abrasiveness of traditional whiteners. The minerals potassium, manganese and magnesium help remove surface stains (like those formed from tea, coffee and cigarette smoking) from teeth. Since bananas contain a large amount of natural sugars, make sure that you do not apply the peels to your teeth more than four times a week and for not more than three minutes at a time.
4. Wart Removal
For an easy and inexpensive way to remove a wart, simply secure a piece of banana peel to the skin above it using medical tape, and leave the peel on overnight. Repeat this procedure with a fresh banana peel every night until the wart disappears. You should start to see signs of improvement within just a few days of beginning this process.
5. Splinter Removal
The enzymes in banana peels help loosen splinters. Keeping a fresh banana peel over the site of the splinter for just half an hour will cause it to come out smoothly and painlessly.
6. Prevent a Scratched DVD from Skipping
The wax in banana peels can fill in the gaps of any scratches without harming the finish of the disc—as long as you make sure to clean the disc with a glass cleaner to remove any banana residue before playing it.
7. Brighten Up Houseplants
Like silverware and leather, house plants also look great after being rubbed with banana peel. The dust and dirt on plant leaves are replaced instantly with a lustrous shine.
8. Treat Itches and Burns
Banana peels have anti-inflammatory properties, which make them very useful in the treatment of mild burns, sunburn, bug bites, and minor scrapes. Simply place a banana peel at the site of injury, apply gentle pressure if possible. Replace the banana peel as often as necessary (the peel should be replaced as soon as the inside begins to darken/appear black).
9. Skin Conditioning
Banana peels provide a variety of skin benefits as a result of their nutritive, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. They contain vitamins A, B, C, and E, potassium, zinc, iron and manganese. When applied to the skin, the peels combat acne and wrinkles, keep the skin supple, bright and hydrated, and give it a healthy glow.
Note: To use banana peels for skin treatment, make sure to wash your face with a mild cleanser beforehand. Gently massage a fresh banana peel on to your skin for about 10 minutes. As you massage, check the bottom of the piece of peel every few minutes, if it has turned black, replace this with a fresh piece before continuing. Do not wash your face immediately after massaging, instead, allow the banana residue to sit on your skin for at least half an hour More Banana Benefits.
