home remedies

50+ Uses for Citrus Peels

Carrie Kirby — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 10:31:30 +0000

After years of drought, it's raining in California, and that means backyard citrus trees are springing to life, delivering green, yellow, and orange packets of deliciousness. But after you make your key lime pie, your lemonade, and your fresh juices, pause before throwing out those peels.

Far from being garbage, citrus rinds or peels may actually be more valuable than the fruit inside. For one thing, the peel is the source of oil that is used as a solvent in many products, such as citrus-based cleaners, and is also a natural pesticide. For another, it's nutritious — an orange peel contains more fiber than the orange itself, plus antioxidants, protein, potassium, riboflavin, vitamin A, and vitamin C.

But eating an orange, lemon, grapefruit, or lime peel doesn't sound appetizing to most of us. Here are 52 more appealing ways to get the value out of those citrus peels. Unwaxed fruit works best for these recipes.

Household Uses

Those leftover citrus peels can become the key to a clean and fresh home.

1. Eco-Friendly Cleaner

This has been my go-to use for the peels from our lemon and lime trees for years. It cuts grease, disinfects, and smells great. Simply submerge the peels (or juiced whole fruits) in vinegar, let them steep two weeks or longer, then mix the resulting liquid 50/50 with water for a great counter spray, bathroom cleaner, and all-purpose cleaner.

I buy a gallon of vinegar, pour some out, and then replace the liquid with peels as I use them. Make sure that the peels are completely submerged in vinegar to prevent mold.

An alternative recipe, called an enzyme cleaner, uses brown sugar and water, but no vinegar, with citrus peels. This one takes a long time to make because it's fermented.

2. Essential Oil

Another way to harness the cleaning power and aroma of citrus is to distill it into an essential oil, which you can then add to homemade cleaners or use for deodorizing everything from your trash can to laundry that's been sitting in the washer too long. You can use vodka and a food processor to draw the oil out of citrus peels and create essential oil in your kitchen.

3. Furniture Polish

Infuse any kind of furniture friendly oil with citrus rinds to make a nontoxic treatment for wood furniture.

4. Garbage Disposal Cleaner

This has to be the laziest way to "use" citrus peels — just throw them in the disposal. But if you want to get fancier about it, you can freeze the peels in ice cube trays with water or vinegar, so you have a cube available any time the disposal starts to stink.

5. Frugal Sponge

If you juiced a lemon or orange while cooking, wipe that sucker all over the place before discarding it: cutting board, counter, sink.

6. Dishwasher Booster

After you've squeezed the juice out of the lemon, just throw the remains right into the dishwasher. It may get the dishes cleaner, and it will freshen the machine at the same time.

7. Mineral Deposit Remover

Decalcify the inside of a tea kettle by boiling peels inside it, then letting it sit for an hour. Or soak cloudy glassware in a sinkful of hot water and citrus rinds.

8. Microwave Cleaner

Zap a bowl of rinds and water for five minutes, and any caked-on gunk inside the microwave should wipe away easily.

9. Metal Polish

For a chrome faucet, a once-over with a squeezed-out lemon wedge should do the trick. For copper, brass, or stainless steel pots, you can dip the wedge in baking soda or salt before rubbing.

10. Indoor Pest Deterrent

Rub a lemon peel along a windowsill where ants have been coming in, or spray insects with a lemon/vinegar infusion to kill them.

11. Natural Air Freshener

Boil citrus rinds along with anything else that smells good to you. I like to throw in cinnamon sticks that have already been used to stir cups of apple cider. Not only does it make your house smell great, but it doubles as a humidifier.

12. Potpourri

Dry out strips of orange peel, and combine them with other dehydrated ingredients such as cinnamon sticks or flower petals to make sweet-smelling sachets to keep in a drawer or around the house.

13. Brown Sugar Softener

Put a piece of any citrus rind into a container of brown sugar to keep the sugar from getting hard.

14. Fridge Deodorant

A super-easy use for squeezed out lemons after a lemonade stand: Stick them in the fridge, as is, and let them soak up odors.

15. Fire Starter

Believe it or not, dried-out citrus peels can be used as fire starters for your grill, fireplace, or campfire. Bonus: If you're using them indoors, the room will smell great. You can use the peels alone, or incorporate them into a fire starter made of rolled newspaper or pine cones.

16. Oil Lamp

You can turn a half-orange peel into an oil lamp with a natural wick if you prepare it carefully. I love this idea, especially as a centerpiece, floating in a bowl of water. Does your yard have both a citrus tree and a swimming pool? A pool full of flaming orange or grapefruit halves would look amazing for an evening patio party.

17. Candle

A hollowed-out citrus half can serve both as mold and fragrant holder for a candle. You can use a drop of the essential oil you made to make the smell even stronger.

18. Egg Pan

On your next camping trip, try cooking an egg over the campfire with an empty orange half.

19. Scouring Powder

This recipe calls for dried-out grapefruit rinds ground into powder, borax, and baking soda, to make a wonderful-smelling cleaner for your kitchen sink or toilet. Seems to me other citrus rinds would work just as well. The same ingredients mixed in different proportions make a carpet freshener.

20. Cannabis Keeper

Now that weed is legal in some states, users might like to know that a fresh orange peel or two can add moisture to dried-out weed or keep it moist in a sealed container.

21. Soil Enricher

Stir powdered citrus rinds into your garden to add sulfur, magnesium, and calcium to the soil.

22. Natural Pesticide

Soak orange peels in boiling water, strain, add a few drops of soap, and spray on plants to discourage soft-bodied pests such as slugs. This can also kill ants and roaches if you spray it directly on them. Some folks strengthen the spray with garlic, cayenne, and other smelly stuff.

23. Cat Repellent

Want to keep a neighborhood cat out of your garden? Spread around lots of citrus peels; felines hate the smell.

24. Mosquito Repellent

As weird as it sounds, you can rub an unpeeled orange right on your skin to get some mosquito-repelling orange oil on you — which would be a good emergency measure if you forget bug spray on a picnic. You can even use a strip of peel to replace the insert of a plug-in mosquito repelling device.

25. Bird Feeder

This DIY project involves filling an empty half peel with bird seed and hanging it from a tree.

26. Homemade Goo Gone

Citrus oil's solvent properties are useful for dissolving sticky stuff, like tar on the bottom of a shoe or the sticky residue left behind by tape. You can try rubbing a fruit peel right on the goo, or combine citrus essential oil with baking soda and oil to make a homemade version of the commercial product.

Culinary Uses

Wash peels well before using them for edibles, and scrape or cut the bitter white pith off the peels. Some people use only organic peels for edible concoctions.

27. Infused Liquor

You can use your citrus rinds to create bottles of flavored spirits or liqueur that make excellent gifts. I was surprised to learn how easy this is: You only have to infuse the peels in the alcohol for a few days to make flavored liquor. If you want a sweet liqueur such as limoncello or triple sec, just add sugar syrup.

28. Garnish

When it's time to make cocktails with that infused vodka, cut a strip of citrus peel and simply curl it into a spiral with your fingers or wrap it around a pencil. It will stay curled like magic. You could also garnish food with these whimsical curls, if you have any peels left over after getting through all that infused vodka.

29. Citrus Extract

A lot of recipes call for lemon extract, and a few call for other citrus extracts as well. Making it at home is just like making a vodka infusion, but with more rinds, less vodka, and a longer soaking time. This recipe calls for soaking the rinds of six lemons in one cup of vodka for up to six weeks before decanting into a bottle and adding to your spice cupboard.

30. Lemon Oil

This takes longer than creating infused liquor, but you can make lemon-flavored coconut oil or olive oil in a few weeks, and it's pretty easy. If you're in a hurry, you can use a hot process to speed things up to just a few hours. Use it in salad dressings or any way that you'd use the unflavored oil.

31. Infused Vinegar

To make an easy gift that looks very fancy, soak dried citrus peels in good vinegar, then strain and simmer the vinegar, then reunite it with the peels and put it all in a pretty bottle.

32. Lemon Butter

Combine lemon zest, butter, and herbs to make a concoction to flavor your Thanksgiving turkey or spread on bread.

33. Frozen Zest Stash

Many recipes, both baking and cooking, call for a teaspoon or so of lemon zest. What's more, you can throw it into all kinds of dishes, such as pastas and salads, just to brighten them up.

You don't need to go out and buy a lemon every time you want to make one of these recipes. Simply zest the fruit with a microplane before peeling or juicing, and store the grated bits in a freezer bag or in ice cube trays in your freezer. You can keep it for six months and don't need to defrost it before throwing it into a dish.

34. Dried Zest

I recently bought a small jar of dried lemon zest, causing my husband to laugh at me since we have a tree right outside our front door that's producing more lemons than we know what to do with. I didn't realize that making a jar of this stuff, which is useful for baking and marinades, is as simple as zesting the fruit and leaving that zest out to dry overnight. Now that I know, I think a jar of this would make a great holiday gift.

35. Lemon Sugar

Great for frosting the rim of a cocktail or sprinkling on pancakes, lemon sugar is so easy to make that the compliments I get upon serving it make me feel like a fraud. You can throw some rinds in the food processor with sugar and pulse, or even just seal an intact rind in a bag with sugar for a month or so. Boom. Lemon sugar.

36. Candied Peels

In a fancy restaurant on our anniversary last year, my husband and I pressed the waitress for the secret of the bursts of flavor in a dish. "Candied lemon peel," we were told. Revelation!

Turns out this delicacy, also known as citron, is easy to make: Just boil your peels with sugar syrup and store them in the fridge for up to a month. Candied citrus peels can be dipped in chocolate to make the French treat known as orangettes, used to garnish a lemon pie or a cocktail, sprinkled on ice cream, or simply gobbled up by those of us who love candy but want to feel sophisticated while eating it.

37. Recipe Ingredients

Some recipes call for not just a teaspoon of zest but whole chunks of citrus peels. Store whole rinds in your freezer and you'll be ready to make Sichuan tangerine beef, orange chicken, or orange peel chutney at a moment's notice.

38. Citrus Powder

To make a powder that stores well and is handy for adding to recipes (as well as cleaners or cosmetics), dehydrate citrus peels and then reduce them to dust in a food processor. One easy way to use the powder is adding it to club soda to make a refreshing, sugar-free beverage.

39. Lemon Pepper

Delicious on fish and chicken, lemon pepper is a pantry staple that is just slightly more complicated to make than lemon sugar. This recipe calls for dehydrating the zest with crushed peppercorns in the oven, then grinding it together. If you don't have a spice grinder, you can try crushing it with the back of a spoon or in a food processor.

40. Lemon Pickle

Simmer lemon peel with salt, then mix with lemon juice and olive oil to make preserved lemon peel or lemon pickle, which you can then use as a condiment or seasoning.

41. Citrus Salt

Just as with pepper, this is just a matter of mixing zest with salt, baking it dry, and grinding if a smoother texture is desired. A sprinkling of lemon salt is a nice finishing touch on a dish. If you use fancy salt in a pretty jar, this would make a good gift.

42. Orange Vapor

This could be considered a household use, but one recipe I found from super-fancy Chicago chef Grant Achatz, recommends orange vapor as part of a scallops recipe. According to the chef, you are supposed to put an orange rind in a bowl in front of each guest, and pour boiling water on it, creating a vapor that they can inhale while they eat. I told you he was fancy.

43. Juice or Smoothie Additive

I've never heard of juice made of just the citrus peel, and it doesn't sound good. But you can certainly include the peel when putting citrus fruits in a powerful juicer, to increase the nutritional value of the juice. Throw as much peel as you want into a smoothie as well, and let the other fruits balance out any bitterness.

44. Marmalade or Jam

This is a little more challenging than many of the other recipes here, but avid jam makers should be able to handle making jam from lemon rinds and squeezed-out pulp.

45. Tea

Add dried citrus rinds to your cup of tea, or include them in a homemade herbal tea mix.

Cosmetic Uses

Because it's nontoxic and fragrant, the sky is pretty much the limit when it comes to adding powdered, grated, dried, or infused citrus peels to homemade personal care products. A little more care is required if you're using the essential oil derived from citrus peels, because the oil is powerful and could irritate some people's skin.

46. Body Scrub

Mix the lemon-infused oil described above with sea salt or sugar to make a refreshing body scrub.

47. Skin Lightener

Cover an age spot with a lemon peel and attach it with a bandage for an hour.

48. Soap Additive

You can throw just about anything into homemade soap to add fragrance and texture, so why not little strips of citrus peels? This recipe lays out when in the soap-making process to add the citrus rinds.

49. Body Spray

This recipe for orange-vanilla body spray makes for another easy gift.

50. Simple Soak

If you don't have time to make a preparation with citrus peels, just throw some in a tub of hot water for an instant infusion, and soak.

51. Facial Mask

Dry and powder your citrus peels, then combine with ingredients such as oatmeal, milk, or sandalwood, depending on your goals for your skin.

52. Feet Treat

There are lots of recipes using citrus rinds for foot baths, including this one with lime zest, peppermint, and sugar. Citrus brings a great fragrance as well as helping to exfoliate feet.

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Carrie Kirby of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Flashback Friday: 41 Frugal Ways to Battle a Cold or Flu

Chrissa Hardy — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 10:30:30 +0000

Have you gotten sick yet this season? No matter what your answer is, you might end up with a cold or flu before the snow melts. And being sick just sucks. It can also cost a lot of money to recover. You should do everything you can to guard against the crud, but if you find yourself down for the count, here are 41 frugal ways to battle a cold or flu.

8 Important Reasons to Always Call In Sick When You're Sick — One of the most important things you can do when you're sick is to stay home! Don't try to be the hero and work through an illness. You spread your germs all over the office when you're too sick to focus and nobody wins.

9 Frugal Ways to Treat the Common Cold — Since both the cold and the flu are viruses, there is no "cure." However, these frugal "treatments" might help you feel good enough to get back to your normal routine.

The High Cost of Catching a Cold or the Flu — You might think that the cost of catching a cold is nothing more than a bag of cough drops and a box of tissues. You would be wrong. Even if you have health insurance, being sick can add up quickly. Being informed will motivate you to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

7 All Natural Home Remedies for Colds — When you're sniffily and congested, shop your pantry for the best cold home remedies. A couple bowls of broth and a spoonful of honey can work wonders on your cold symptoms.

7 Places to Get Vaccinated for Cheap or Free — If you haven't gotten your flu shot yet, head to your local pharmacy! That big flu strain is going around right now, and you can still guard yourself against it.

Make These 9 Health Moves Now or You'll Regret It in 20 Years — An easy way to protect yourself against these common viruses is to eat healthy, get enough sleep, and stay active. Any bad habits that could weaken your immune system could lead you straight into bed with a fever. Health is wealth, y'all!

This article is from Chrissa Hardy of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Smart and Frugal Uses for Epsom Salt

Ashley Marcin — Fri, 20 May 2016 09:00:09 +0000

The next time you're at the store, pick up a bag of epsom salt. These inexpensive crystals won't only ease your aches and pains in a warm bath — there's a host of other awesome things you can do with them! From feeding your lawn to cleaning pots and pans, here are 10 smart and frugal uses for epsom salt.

1. Clean Cast Iron

We had an old cast iron skillet in need of some love, so I searched around and found this simple method to restore it using epsom salt. Rinse off any excess rust and then scrub with epsom salt followed by baking soda or table salt. Rinse again, dry, and coat the inside with a little olive oil. Heat pan on low for 30 minutes to let the oil soak in to finish.

2. Feed Your Lawn

The folks at Bob Vila's site explain that one good way to rescue your dying lawn is to feed it with epsom salt. It sure beats using chemicals on price and safety. You can either fill your lawn spreader with the salt, or mix it with water and apply to your lawn with a garden sprayer. The idea is to get your soil to a neutral pH of seven.

3. Kill Nasty Weeds

While you're at it, stir together this effective weed killer for those trouble spots in and around the grass. You'll need a gallon of white vinegar, two cups of epsom salt, and a quarter of a cup of blue Dawn soap. You can scale this recipe down if you like so it will fit into a convenient spray bottle. Kills weeds in just a few, sunny, hours.

4. Boost Your Magnesium

Whether you take a bath or soak your feet in epsom salt, you will add some vital magnesium to your body. It may help you relax and have better sleep, among other benefits. Take your routine a step beyond by mixing together your own magnesium oil spray. Heat one cup of distilled water to boiling, turn off heat, and then mix in a half cup of epsom salt until fully dissolved. Pour cooled mixture into a spritz bottle.

Similar oils cost around $8 to $20. This batch? Less than $1!

5. Scour With a DIY Scrub

Add some epsom salt to your cleaning routine for an effective scour scrub that's tough on stains but gentle on the environment. My mom showed me this hard water remover, and I can't believe how effective it is. Combine one cup epsom salt, 1/2 cup baking soda, and 1/4 cup of liquid dish soap. Use this scrub on shower doors, stubborn sinks, and even stained glass.

6. Decorate Your Space

Whether you're hosting a Frozen-themed birthday party or planning a winter wedding, these epsom salt luminaries would make a great decor item. Start by picking up some crystal epsom salt (think Dr. Teal's, not the Dollar Store) and glass jars. Pour epsom salt onto a paper plate, slip your hand inside a jar, paint where you want to stick the crystals with Mod Podge, and roll into the epsom salt. Let dry and then coat with some clear sealer a few times.

Note: You shouldn't make these far in advance — less than a week before your event — for the best results.

7. Entertain Your Kids

And if you're lost on what to do on a rainy day, try making this overnight crystal garden with your kids. Just measure out a 1:1 ratio of epsom salt to warm water in a glass jar. Add food coloring and stir this mixture well. Next, place the jar in the back of your fridge or freezer. Then wait overnight to discover your magic crystal garden.

8. Add Aroma to Laundry

Are you skeptical about all those scented chemicals you add to your wash cycle with store-bought detergent? Me, too. Add some aroma the natural way using epsom salt and essential oils. You need just three ingredients for this project: Epsom salt, baking soda, and 20-30 drops of your favorite essential oils. Mix everything together and store in an air-tight container. Add a few tablespoons to each load.

9. Make Great Gifts

Need a last-minute gift that's easy on the wallet? Mix together your own DIY bath salts. This stuff may even help you kick your own Lush habit. Combine three cups of epsom salt with two cups sea salt, one cup baking soda, and peppermint or other essential oil. You can also add food coloring as a fun option. Once everything is mixed, place it in a decorative, air-tight container for storage.

10. Ward Off Mosquitoes

Keep mosquitoes out of your lawn by spraying this unique epsom salt solution that's safe on grass, flowers, and more. Combine three cups of epsom salt with a large bottle of cheap blue mouthwash and 12 oz of inexpensive beer. The author of this recipe explains that he's used it for the last 15 years with success of keeping mosquitoes away for up to 80 days. I am looking forward to testing this one out for myself!

What are some other clever uses for epsom salt? Share with us!

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Ashley Marcin of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Best Money Tips: Healthy Home Remedies That Work

Amy Lu — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 20:00:04 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found healthy home remedies, the best and worst things to buy in February, and tips to save on flowers.

7 All Natural Home Remedies for Colds

Ashley Marcin — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 16:00:14 +0000

My husband is a high school English teacher. My daughter is in her first year of preschool. Sickness is a way of life for us with so much exposure to germs. In fact, we just got over a full month of passing around two nasty cold viruses. (See also: 12 Natural Remedies for Stomach Pain)

Here are some helpful cold remedies that won't send you running to the store, as you likely have most of the ingredients sitting around in your kitchen cabinets. The best part? They're all drug-free!

1. Miso Broth

From upset stomach to coughs and colds, this delicious miso soup doubles as a cure and healthy meal option. Miso is made from fermented soy and rice, and it's full of good-for-you living enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. My husband skips the veggies and simply warms a few cups of water on the stove. He then dissolves a tablespoon or two of miso in it and sips all day long.

2. Veggie Broth

You don't need to go out and buy miso if you don't have it already. Instead, try this healing veggie broth that combines the goodness of garlic, ginger, lemon, cloves, and cayenne pepper. And water for hydration, of course. Simmer on the stove and strain before drinking. The cayenne pepper acts like an expectorant and helps get all the gunk out of your system.

3. Garlic Snack

I love how garlic tastes minced in olive oil. But did you know garlic is a powerful antioxidant with antimicrobial, antiviral, and antibiotic properties? In other words, it's great for fighting cold and flu viruses. You can munch on a whole clove to get the benefits. For those of you with sensitive stomachs, try mincing garlic and letting sit with some olive oil and honey before eating on a cracker.

4. Vapor Rub

Or try mixing together some DIY vapor balm — much like the popular ones on the market — using olive oil, beeswax, and essential oils (peppermint and eucalyptus). This balm is wonderful for easing chest congestion and discomfort. The benefit here is knowing exactly what you're rubbing into yourself. You can also make different strengths to suit all your family members by adding more or less essential oils.

5. Salt Gargle

Most of us know about the mighty salt gargle to relieve scratchy, sore throats and wash away germs. But are you doing it correctly? Combine ½ to ¾ teaspoon salt with one warmed cup of pure water. Chlorinated tap water will irritate your throat, so skip that in favor of something filtered. Or you can dechlorinate water by leaving it out in the open for 24 hours.

6. Apple Cider Vinegar Drink

My family has long used unfiltered apple cider vinegar as a cold cure. It's pretty darned effective at thinning mucus and clearing out sinuses. Dilute two to four tablespoons of ACV into one cup of warm filtered water (same reason to avoid tap water, as explained above) and add raw honey for taste if you like. Drink up four to six times a day to help kill bacteria and soothe your sore throat. (See also: 12 Awesome Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar)

7. Honey Coat

Honey is an effective, natural cough suppressant. So, skip the pricey cough drops and syrups and use this mixture of honey and lemon instead. Combine a half cup of honey with half a lemon, two cups of water, and some fresh or dried thyme leaves. Store this homemade syrup in your refrigerator for around a month.

What are your flu season go-to home remedies? Please share a dose in comments!

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Ashley Marcin of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

15 Unexpected Uses for Peanut Butter

Paul Michael — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 10:31:22 +0000

As a Brit, I was not a big eater of peanut butter growing up. To be honest, I rarely ate it in college or beyond either. Then I came to America, where peanut butter is as common in the kitchen as milk, eggs, and flour. And now, I'm a regular eater of PB&Js. (See also: 11 Ways to Update Your PB&J)

But when you're not putting peanut butter in a sandwich, what else can you do with it? I've been doing a little digging, and found 15 unusual uses for this everyday household snack. Some of them surprised even me.

1. Peanut Butter Popcorn

I'm not a huge fan of plain popcorn, but throw some flavor in there and I'm a happy camper. First, bring a ½ cup each of sugar and honey to a boil in a pan, stirring constantly. Let it get a darker color, around 3-4 mins, then stir in ½ cup of smooth peanut butter and a teaspoon of salt. Put your popcorn on a baking tray, pour the mixture all over it, and toss it around until covered. Once cooled, it becomes a delicious snack. If you like more crunch, use crunchy peanut butter instead. (See also: Yummy Homemade Popcorn)

2. Shaving Cream

This is not a permanent replacement, but a good solution when you're all out of shaving cream. Spread a thin layer of smooth peanut butter on your face or legs and shave as usual. The natural oils in peanut butter help moisturize the skin, too.

3. Leather Cleaner

Once again, the natural oils in peanut butter come to the rescue. Obviously this only works with the smooth or creamy varieties, but it really does work. Just use a small amount on a soft cloth, and rub it in using a circular motion. You can also use it on your leather shoes, purses, and more.

4. Pill Disguiser

Ever tried giving a pill to a fussy kid, or an equally fussy pet? It's a job Superman would have trouble accomplishing. But a little peanut butter can hide the pill, and the taste, very easily. They may even want a little more.

5. Gum Remover

Oh, the annoyance of treading gum into your carpet. It seems like the worst thing you could do is pile peanut butter on top of that, but it actually does work. There is a method to this madness though. First, grab you hair dryer and heat up the gum, then rub with a plastic bag. Most of the goop should come out, but it won't get it all. Apply a small dab of peanut butter onto the remaining gum, and let is sit for 5-10 minutes. Wipe it away with a damp cloth, and finish with warm water and dish soap, or your carpet shampooer if you have one. Job done. It also works on hair and clothing. (See also: 6 Secret Homemade Stain Removers)

6. Mouse and Rat Bait

The cartoons have been lying to you. Cheese just doesn't do it for mice and rats. But stick a big blob of peanut butter in the mouse trap (humane if possible) and they'll pile in like shoppers on Black Friday. (See also: Mouse Traps That Work)

7. Odor Eliminator

Fish. It's delicious, it's healthy, but boy, it can really leave a funky smell in your pans. After you've cooked fish, put a tablespoon of smooth peanut butter in the pan and swirl it around. It will soak up the fishiness for you. (See also: Delicious and Affordable Ways to prepare White Fish)

8. Glue Remover

We've all been in that sticky situation, when we get more super glue on our hands and work surfaces than the object we're trying to fix. One way to remove the glue, without using harsh solvents and chemicals, is to rub peanut butter into your hands or the affected surfaces. For really bad gluey fingers, hold them in the whole jar for several minutes (then throw it away, obviously). Once again, it's those precious oils that loosen the glue.

9. Windshield Cleaner

After a long drive you'll have enough bugs on your windshield to keep a spider happy for months. Sadly, they don't just clean right off. They stick. That's when you grab your jar of peanut butter and rub it into the affected spots. Let it sit for 5-10 mins, then spray with your hose. The windshield is now clear.

10. Wood Scratch Repairer

When you have those unsightly scratches on your wooden furniture, banisters or anything else, you can use peanut butter to make them fade or even disappear. Just rub some smooth peanut butter into the scratch and let it soak for 30 minutes to one hour. Then rub it away with a clean cloth and your scratch will be almost unnoticeable. (See also: Simple Tips to Refinish Wood Furniture)

11. Bird Feeder

You can make your own bird feeders just in time for winter, and it's really easy. Just tie a string to a pinecone, then cover it in peanut butter and roll it in birdseed. Now you can hang this to a tree or from your porch and make the birds pretty happy.

12. Squeak Eliminator

Do you have squeaky door hinges, or other creaking objects that could use some lubrication? Well, if you don't have a can of oil handy, use the natural oils in peanut butter. A little dab on the offending squeaker will keep it quiet for a while.

13. Butter Substitute

If you're all out of butter, and the recipe can handle the switch, use the same amount of smooth peanut butter instead. This is especially useful when you're cooking on camping trips, when peanut butter is usually more readily available than regular butter. It also adds a nice nutty flavor as well.

14. Ice-Cream Cone Sealant

When you're making an ice-cream cone, put a big blob of peanut butter, chunky or smooth, into the bottom of the cone. Then add your ice cream as usual. Now, the melting ice-cream won't make the cone soggy or leaky, and you'll have a delicious extra treat when you reach the bottom. (See also: Best Ice Cream Makers)

15. Roach Motel

Bugs check in, but they don't check out. After you've used peanut butter for all the methods listed above, you may not have much left in the jar. Don't throw it away yet. Remove the top, lay it on its side and place it where you may have roaches, spiders, or other bugs. They are attracted to the peanut butter, but it's a fatal attraction, as the sticky peanut butter easily holds them inside the jar. When it's full, screw the lid back on and dispose of it.

Do you have any unusual uses for peanut butter? Share them with us in comments!

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

15 Refreshing Ways to Use Mint

Mikey Rox — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 11:24:31 +0000

As far as herbs go, peppermint is wholly underused in my humble opinion.

But recently I’ve started picking up the herb when I stock up on the usual suspects for my fridge, like basil, rosemary, and cilantro, and I have to admit that I’m totally stoked by all the applications mint has.

Primarily I use it to make a water-based metabolism-boosting drink that also features lemon and fresh ginger. But even after two or three pitchers per week, I have lots of mint leftover in the bunch. This abundance has forced me to discover other ways to use it up. Here are 15 of my favorites. (See also: 15 Uses for Garlic That Deserve a Round of Applause)

1. Keep Mice Away

I live in New York City, and when I was thinking of planting a garden in the backyard, I was advised to plant a bed of mint because it deters rats. Same goes for household mice. The vermin despise it, and they’ll steer clear of any area it’s in.

2. Relieve Cramps

Mint has natural digestive properties that help relax tract muscle and relieve cramping. So when your tummy hurts, mix mint into a soothing liquid drink like hot tea or warm water spiked with lemon.

3. Soothe Your Feet

The refreshing, tingly sensation you experience when you eat mint comes from the menthol it contains. To give your feet a pick-me-up, chop up a cup of mint leaves and combine with a cup of sea salt and one-third cup of olive oil. Scrub away.

4. Reduce Headache Pain

Use mint to reduce headache pain the same way you would to relieve cramps. Infuse your hot tea with mint or add mint to a glass of water and drink it.

5. Prevent Infections

Mint is known to slow down — and sometimes completely stop — bacteria and fungus from growing in the body because of its antibacterial properties. A diet that includes mint may give your body the boost it needs to ward off certain infections, like athlete’s foot, for instance.

6. Open Up Your Airways

Have a stuffy nose? Put mint in a pot of boiling water or hot tea and breathe in the spicy menthol to open up your passages. It works much like Vicks VapoRub, only peppermint is cheaper and all natural.

7. Relieve Stress

Mint has been linked to feelings of calmness and reduced levels of stress.

8. Potential Cancer Preventative

Studies are ongoing, but peppermint may help prevent certain types of cancer, including those that affect the skin, lungs, and colon. The research is currently inconclusive, but hopefully there will be sufficient evidence in the future that will give us another weapon to fight the deadly disease.

9. Spice Up a Salad

Want to add a little zing to your summer salad? Tear up a few leaves and toss them in with your other greens, fruits, and veggies for a surprise that’ll make your taste buds sing.

10. Make Grooming Products

With mint oils you can give a fresh scent to homemade soaps and shampoos that will save you lots of money over store-bought products. You can usually find these essential oils in a craft or natural food store.

11. Add to Ice Cubes

If your mint is in danger of rotting, put one leaf in each cube of an ice tray and freeze for later. Add a minty cube to water, lemonade, and iced tea for an instant refresher.

12. Refresh Your Face

Add mint leaves to a large bowl of cold water and let them steep for an hour or so in the fridge. Take it out, submerge your face, and experience the refreshing rush of this natural cleanser.

13. Freshen Your Carpet

Sprinkle a mixture of dried mint and baking soda on your carpet, let it sit for an hour, and then vacuum it up for a room that smells fresh and fantastic.

14. Make an Air Freshener

Mix mint with other fresh flowers and herbs for a homemade potpourri that will leave your house smelling bright and clean. For an easy mint potpourri recipe, try this pick from eHow.

15. Refresh Your Breath

Add mint oil to a baking soda/peroxide mixture to create a tasty homemade toothpaste that will freshen your breath and whiten your teeth.

Have more usual uses for mint that we should know about? Please share them with us in the comments below.

This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

25 Alternative Uses for Lemons

Ashley Watson — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:36:15 +0000

When life hands you lemons, you can make a lot more than lemonade. From household cleaners to weed killers, here are 25 uses for lemons and lemon juice that you might not have considered. (See also: 254 Uses for Vinegar. And Counting.)

1. Boozy Lemonade

If you are going to make lemonade, you might as well get creative. Try this watermelon rosemary lemonade if you are looking for a refreshing alcoholic drink. Or for the non-drinkers, you can leave out the gin or simply add fresh mint to your favorite lemonade to give it a little kick.

2. Lemon Cubes

You can freeze fresh-squeezed lemon juice in ice cube trays to preserve in small amounts. It's nice to have on hand when you forget to buy lemon for a recipe and don't want to go to the store for one item.

3. Sangria

While you don't need a recipe to make a great sangria, you do need lemon. It's also nice to serve it with a few slices in the glass or on the rim.

4. Removing Strong Odors

When I worked in produce, we would squirt some lemon juice in the sinks or over the compost whenever there were some funky smells in the prep room. To remove odors from garbage disposals, you can drop in leftover lemon peels (make sure the pieces are small or they will get caught). Rub lemon juice into cutting boards that have retained strong odors or stains, and clean with soap and water. For the fridge, pour some lemon juice on a sponge or cloth and place it in the fridge until the smell goes away.

5. Natural Cleaner

Similar to Citrasolv, lemon juice works as a natural household cleaner. You can use lemon juice or squeeze a lemon directly on kitchen or bathroom surfaces, and wipe them with a wet cloth to remove the sticky residue. For stains and really dirty areas, mix in some vinegar and water with the lemon juice.

6. Skin Care

For dry skin, you can use a lemon-sugar scrub, or rub a cut lemon on particularly dry areas, such as knees, elbows, or heels. Be careful when applying to cracked skin. You can also make your own detoxifying body wash with this recipe for sea salt and lemon body cleanser.

7. Bathroom Stains

It may take a little extra scrubbing, but you can remove water stains, soap scum, and limescale naturally with lemon juice. Use a lemon, water, and vinegar mixture for tough stains on your shower walls or tub.

8. Laundry Detergent

You don't need bleach or chemicals to brighten your whites. Try using lemon juice instead of detergent for cleaner and naturally scented clothes. Lemon juice is also good for removing stains. You can directly apply lemon juice to the spot before washing it, or for bigger stains, it is recommended to soak the clothing in a 50/50 mixture of baking soda and lemon juice.

9. Sore Throat

There's nothing like a Hot Toddy for a sore throat, but you don't have to have the whiskey. A freshly squeezed lemon in a cup of hot water will also do the trick. I like to add honey, which sweetens the drink and is another natural germ killer.

10. Natural Preservative

For fresh-cut fruit or veggies, squeeze a fresh lemon over them to prevent browning. This is another reason many guacamole recipes call for lime; in addition to the flavor, it keeps the guac from turning brown when you store it.

11. Natural Weed Killer

Believe it or not, you can use lemon juice instead of harmful weed killers to get to those hard-to-remove weeds that always come back, particularly in the cracks of your sidewalk or driveway. For more efficiency, put the lemon juice in a garden hose filter, and soak the area thoroughly.

12. Hair Highlights

For natural hair highlights, use lemon juice directly on your hair before going out in the sun. There are many different suggestions for how much lemon juice, but it depends on the hair. You may have to experiment to see what works best for you. But always wash your hair afterwards.

13. Nails

Like hair, nails can be brightened with a little lemon juice. Again, there are many recipes for whitening nails; however, if you find a recipe online that also recommends using lemon to whiten teeth, I would not recommend lemon for this. My mother worked for a dentist for a long time, and she said that the citric acid is too harsh on the teeth and gums. You can also mix a teaspoon of baking soda and a few drops of hydrogen peroxide on a toothbrush to get the same results, but keep in mind it will take a few applications to notice a difference.

14. Notes

Yep, notes. A friend of mine has two children who like to leave notes or little poems on lemons. I'm not sure why, but they love it, and it's cheap entertainment for mom.

15. Dirty Dishes

Lemon juice works great to cut the grease on dishes if you don't have a dishwasher, but you can also use lemons in the dishwasher (in addition to dish detergent). Place a cut lemon in the top rack of the dishwasher to get that Jet-Dry clean, but make sure you secure it so that it doesn't fly around during the wash.

16. Stainless Steel

I used to buy an expensive stainless steel cleaner until I heard that I could just use a little salt and lemon juice. Make sure you wipe the steel down with a clean cloth afterwards. You can use this on most metals, but it is not recommended for silver or gold.

17. Natural Ant Repellant

Spray lemon juice around the areas that you see ants in your house or outside in the places where you think they might be getting into your home.

18. Flavoring and Tenderizing Meat Dishes

Recently, someone invited me to dinner, and she had roasted a chicken with an entire lemon inside of it (cut in half). It was the most tender chicken I've ever had; she told me that the lemon was the key. You can also mix lemon juice with your favorite herbs and rub it under the skin to add moisture and flavor. And freshly squeezed lemon is a classic pair for any kind of fish, grilled or broiled.

19. Making Tasty Salads

Any time I make a salad dressing, I add a small amount of lemon juice to enhance the flavor and also preserve it longer. A good basic vinaigrette to have on hand is lemon, balsamic vinegar, and oil. The portions depend on your tastes, but typically a vinaigrette has more oil than vinegar (olive oil is best), and a small amount of lemon juice.

20. Zest

Lemon zest can be used in many recipes, but it also makes a nice garnish.

21. Table Centerpiece

If you are looking to gussy up that centerpiece and don't want to spend a lot of cash, lemons add a lot of color to the table and can be used with many other decorations. Try putting them in a large clear bowl for something simple, or place them in a basket with some fresh herbs for a holiday decoration.

22. Desserts

There are so many luscious desserts that use lemon from meringues to pies; lemon is a classic dessert flavor. You can also use lemon instead of lime in some recipes. I replaced the lime with lemon zest and lemon juice, and turned lime and coconut crumble bars into lemon bars. Very tasty!

23. Cold Drinks

From soda and seltzer to iced tea, a few slices of lemon can enhance any cold drink, even some light beers.

24. Pasta

While lemon may not be the first ingredient you think of using when making pasta dishes, baked lemon pasta is one of my favorite dishes.

25. Hand Sanitizer

Lemon can disinfect germy hands. So skip the hand sanitizer, and grab the nearest lemon.

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Ashley Watson of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

7 Cheap and Natural Ways to Fight the Cold and Flu

Lori Kerrigan — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:00:01 +0000

Over-the-counter symptom relief is a normal and common reaction for the millions of people who suffer from the cold and flu each year. However, for my family, limiting how much acidic and unnecessary medicine enters our bodies is top on my priority list. In my research, experience and wisdom gained from others, I have found 7 cheap and natural suggestions for beating the common cold or flu.

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)

On Backwoods Home Magazine, Linda Gabris discusses the many valuable uses of ACV. I can personally attest to the MANY benefits of this wondrous creation. (Even when I do not have a cold I drink ACV to aid in detoxifying my body, and to speed up my metabolism.)

To fight a cold, Gabris suggests mixing two tablespoons of ACV with one cup of boiling water. She recommends adding honey if you would like to sweeten the taste (ACV is not pleasant tasting to most people, though after a few months of drinking it, I now enjoy the taste). You can drink this as a tea and is said to be good for relieving a cough and breaking up phlegm. Another benefit to the ACV tea is inhaling the steam which can lead to a relief in the painful congestion that builds up.

It is not recommended to give to children under 2. Cut the dose of ACV in half for kids over two.

Garlic

Cheap and effective...and smelly, but, if you can deal with the smell, you have an inexpensive, way to fight off a cold with a powerful punch. Alicin, which gives garlic its odor, also gives garlic its antioxidant compounds to fight the virus, and shorten the duration of the cold. There are different ways to take garlic: supplements, powder, extract, oil, mixing it with food, or eating a clove whole or mixed with food. Garlic is safe for children (mixing it with apple sauce is said to be a tasty way for kids to eat it), though avoid giving children supplements as there is not enough research to know if anything but fresh garlic with kids is safe.

Ginger

Another little guy with a powerful punch! Research on Catalog, by Rita Hutner, states that ginger is a diaphoretic that contains particles active against rhinoviruses (a common group of cold viruses). Basically, ginger raises your body temperature, forcing your body to perspire and sweat out the cold...nice...sweating without working out! If your child does not like the tea, put about 3-5 tablespoons of ginger, wrapped in a cheese cloth, in a warm bath. This will help them sweat out the cold, in a more enjoyable way.

Ginger is also a blood thinner — talk to a doctor about taking it if you are taking blood thinning medicine.

Green Tea

One of my favorites, even when I do not have a cold. Many “A List” celebrities drink this to keep healthy, speed up their metabolism, and to detoxify their body...not to mention, it tastes great, especially with a little lemon and honey (which are both helpful for soothing a sore throat). When it comes to shortening the length of a schedule disturbing visit from the cold or flu virus, green tea aids in ridding your body of those nasty toxic viruses that causes the many aches and pains keeping you from tending to your to do list.

This is not recommended for children.

Chicken Soup

Your mother’s suggestion of treating your cold with chicken soup was not in vain. Chicken soup contains mucus fighting elements, steam to relieve congestion, carbohydrates to give you energy, and veggies to aid in giving your body the nutrients it needs to stay strong while fighting away the cold. Keep to low sodium though. Some sodium is good for regulating the amount of fluids in your body, but too much will dehydrate you.

Rest

Your body is working overtime to fight this nasty little virus invading your body. Resting gives your body the ability to strengthen itself to fight these toxins, and also gives your body time to repair itself. Even if you are a constant doer like myself, step away from your to do list and rest, it might be painful for a while (believe me, I know), but the recovery for your body will aid in getting you back to your most effective self.

Water

We have all heard that drinking 8 glasses of water a day is imperative to our health. This is even more true when fighting a cold. Water will flush out your system, aid in digestion, and fights fatigue.

Follow these five tips, fight that nasty cold, and get back to the many roles you play in your life. Most of these tips are also helpful for ending the agony you and your kids are in when they get hit with cold or flu bug. Feel better soon!

I am not a doctor and this should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your doctor.

Guest Post Blurb:

This is a post from our sister blog, Parenting Squad. Visit Parenting Squad for more tips and news for your family.

This article is from Lori Kerrigan of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

home remedies

50+ Uses for Citrus Peels

Household Uses

1. Eco-Friendly Cleaner

2. Essential Oil

3. Furniture Polish

4. Garbage Disposal Cleaner

5. Frugal Sponge

6. Dishwasher Booster

7. Mineral Deposit Remover

8. Microwave Cleaner

9. Metal Polish

10. Indoor Pest Deterrent

11. Natural Air Freshener

12. Potpourri

13. Brown Sugar Softener

14. Fridge Deodorant

15. Fire Starter

16. Oil Lamp

17. Candle

18. Egg Pan

19. Scouring Powder

20. Cannabis Keeper

21. Soil Enricher

22. Natural Pesticide

23. Cat Repellent

24. Mosquito Repellent

25. Bird Feeder

26. Homemade Goo Gone

Culinary Uses

27. Infused Liquor

28. Garnish

29. Citrus Extract

30. Lemon Oil

31. Infused Vinegar

32. Lemon Butter

33. Frozen Zest Stash

34. Dried Zest

35. Lemon Sugar

36. Candied Peels

37. Recipe Ingredients

38. Citrus Powder

39. Lemon Pepper

40. Lemon Pickle

41. Citrus Salt

42. Orange Vapor

43. Juice or Smoothie Additive

44. Marmalade or Jam

45. Tea

Cosmetic Uses

46. Body Scrub

47. Skin Lightener

48. Soap Additive

49. Body Spray

50. Simple Soak

51. Facial Mask

52. Feet Treat

Like this article? Pin it!

Flashback Friday: 41 Frugal Ways to Battle a Cold or Flu

10 Smart and Frugal Uses for Epsom Salt

1. Clean Cast Iron

2. Feed Your Lawn

3. Kill Nasty Weeds

4. Boost Your Magnesium

5. Scour With a DIY Scrub

6. Decorate Your Space

7. Entertain Your Kids

8. Add Aroma to Laundry

9. Make Great Gifts

10. Ward Off Mosquitoes

Like this article? Pin it!

Best Money Tips: Healthy Home Remedies That Work

Top 5 Articles

Other Essential Reading

7 All Natural Home Remedies for Colds

1. Miso Broth

2. Veggie Broth

3. Garlic Snack

4. Vapor Rub

5. Salt Gargle