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How to use onion skins: five useful ways for the home
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Aaj Tak
www.aajtak.in

How to use onion skins: five useful ways for the home

Onions are used daily in every Indian kitchen when preparing vegetables, dal, or salads. However, after peeling the bulbs, the dry skins are often thrown into the trash without considering their benefits. It is known that onion skins contain more antioxidants, sulfur, potassium, calcium, and a digestive element called quercetin than the onion itself.

These dry remnants can serve not only as excellent natural fertilizer for plants but also demonstrate remarkable effects when dyeing gray hair, enhancing the flavor of soups and curries, and improving skin tone. If you collect onion skins instead of throwing them away, you can complete five important household tasks for free. Below are five wonderful ways to use onion skins.

To prepare a liquid fertilizer, take two handfuls of onion skins and pour one liter of water over them, covering the container and leaving it for 24 hours. After a day, the water will take on a reddish-brown hue. After straining, this liquid should be applied to the root zone of the plants. Thanks to the potassium, iron, and sulfur contained in it, the plants are protected from insects and yield abundant flowers and fruits.

To obtain a dye, the onion skins must be roasted in a pan without oil until completely blackened. The resulting ash is then ground into a powder. This powder is mixed with one teaspoon of aloe vera or coconut oil and applied to gray hair. This provides instant natural darkening of hair without using chemicals.

When cooking vegetable soup, stew, or dal gravy, wash the clean onion skins and add them to the boiling liquid. The skins must be removed before serving the dish. This will give the soup or gravy a beautiful, natural, rich color and a pleasant aroma.

To create a spray, boil the onion skins in water for 10–15 minutes. After cooling, pour the water into a sprayer and add half a teaspoon of dish soap. Spraying this solution on plants leads to the immediate repulsion of insects, aphids, and ants.

Wash the onion skins thoroughly, then boil them in two cups of water for 5–7 minutes. After straining, drink the beverage, adding a little honey and lemon juice. Quercetin, contained in the skins, strengthens the immune system and also helps with sore throat and colds that occur during seasonal changes.

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Ways to use potato peels at home: from skincare to cleaning household items
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Ways to use potato peels at home: from skincare to cleaning household items

When cooking vegetables, steam, or snacks, we regularly peel potatoes, and the peels are often thrown in the trash. However, it is known that potato peels contain a large amount of Vitamin C, potassium, iron, and a natural bleaching agent. These components not only effectively help reduce stubborn tanning, dark spots, and dark circles under the eyes but are also useful for cleaning household items and caring for plants.

If instead of throwing away potato peels, you collect them and use them correctly, you can do without many expensive products in both skincare and cleaning.

Reducing pigmentation and stubborn tan

To get rid of pigment spots and severe sunburn, gently rub the inner (starchy) part of the potato peel on the face, neck, and arms for five minutes. After fifteen minutes, rinse the area with regular water. The natural bleaching agent contained in the peel gradually lightens dark spots, sunburns, and pigmentation.

Treating dark circles and eye swelling

Take fresh potato peels and chill them in the refrigerator for ten minutes. Then apply them to closed eyes and the area around dark circles for 10–15 minutes. This provides immediate relief from fatigue, swelling, and darkness around the eyes.

Shining rusty dishes and knives

To remove rust from iron or steel dishes, apply a little baking soda to the potato peel and rub the rusted area. Oxalic acid and starch contained in potatoes easily remove rust.

Cleaning glass and mirrors

Wipe the inner part of the potato peel on window glass or bathroom mirrors, and then wipe dry with a cotton cloth. Water marks and cloudiness on the glass will disappear, and the glass will become shiny.

Fertilizing plants with starchy water

To prepare fertilizer or water for plants, boil the potato peels in one liter of water, and then let the water cool. After straining the peel, pour the resulting liquid at the roots of both indoor and outdoor plants. This water, rich in potassium and vitamins, helps plants stay green.

Ways to Use Orange Peels: 7 Useful Applications Instead of Throwing Them Away
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Ways to Use Orange Peels: 7 Useful Applications Instead of Throwing Them Away

Often after eating an orange, its peel is considered useless waste and thrown away. However, it is known that orange peel is a treasure trove of Vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber, and natural essential oils. These parts of the orange can not only improve health and skin beauty but can also be effectively used to clean greasy spots in the kitchen, scent the home, and nourish plants.

Instead of spending money on expensive cosmetic products or cleaning chemicals, you can use orange peels for various beneficial purposes. Below are seven amazing ways to use orange peels that will make you never throw them away.

To prepare a natural skincare product, you need to dry the orange peel in the sun for two to three days, and then grind it into a fine powder. This powder, mixed with one teaspoon of yogurt or rose water, is applied to the face to eliminate pigmentation, acne scars, and blackheads, providing immediate skin radiance.

To create an air freshener, boil water in a pot, adding orange peel, one cinnamon stick, and two or three cloves. After that, let the mixture simmer slowly. Its rich and fresh aroma will spread throughout the house, and persistent odors, such as dampness or seafood smells, will disappear in minutes.

This cleaning solution is made by filling a glass jar with orange peel and pouring white vinegar over it. After two weeks, the mixture is strained and poured into a spray bottle. The resulting universal natural cleaner can brilliantly clean greasy surfaces of kitchen countertops, gas stoves, and sinks without using chemicals.

To make tea, boil small pieces of fresh or dried orange peel in water for five minutes. Add a little ginger and honey to this mixture. The flavonoids and Vitamin C contained in the tea strengthen the digestive system and help protect against colds.

To improve oral hygiene, you can gently rub the inner white part of the orange peel on your teeth, which helps remove yellowness. Additionally, chewing small pieces of peel helps destroy bacteria in the mouth and eliminate bad breath.

Orange peel should be soaked in water for 24 hours, and the resulting liquid should be watered around plant roots. This enriches the soil with nitrogen and repels insects and ants. Also, if the peel is cut into small pieces, it can be added to compost to accelerate its formation.

To get rid of unpleasant odors, place orange peel under the refrigerator or trash can, lightly sprinkling it with baking soda. The soda will absorb all types of odors and moisture, keeping the refrigerator fresh.

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