Everyone knows how versatile the humble potato can be
as a food stuff, but there are plenty of other ways they can help around the home. Without going into producing electricity or making alcohol (really!) here are ten different uses you can put them to!
1. Treat rust by rubbing the rusty area with a potato. The potato contains
oxalic acid which will help to remove it.
2. Clean marks on walls using a cut potato. Gently rub over the marks and they should disappear. If you are unsure about the color-fastness of the paint, just try the trick on a less obvious area before attacking your
marks.
3. Shine silver: method one. A potato can be applied to tarnished silver to bring back its shine.
4. Shine silver: method two: Alternatively, keep the water used for boiling potatoes and soak silverware in this water for half an hour. Then rinse and buff it to restore the shine.
5. Reduce condensation. Rub the glass in a mirror or panes in your greenhouse with a cut potato and leave it to air dry. The remaining film will reduce condensation.
6. Stop ice from forming on your windshield. Cut a potato in
half and rub this on your windshield before a cold snap. The sugars from the potato will stop water and ice from sticking onto your screen. This may leave a slight film, but that is easily cleaned off.
7. Help your roses grow. When taking rose cuttings, split a potato in half and
poke the cut stem into it. The sugars and moisture in the potato will help your plant get off to a good start.
8. Make potato stamps. Make a variety of pictures, cards, and wrapping paper patterns by cutting shapes and pictures into a halved potato. Use a sharp knife to carefully
make your "stamps." Then dip into paint and press onto paper or a card.
9. Remove stains. If your hands are stained by colored food such as beetroot or berries or are sticky from honey, rub a potato over the stains. Then wash your hands as normal and the stains should be
gone.
10. Safely dispose of glass. When picking up small pieces of broken glass, use a cut potato to gather the shards and save your hands from damage. You can then wrap the potato piece, glass and all, and dispose of it safely.
There, ten uses you might not have tried before. Why not give some a go?
P.S. By the way, if you peel a lot of potatoes, you may like this electric potato peeler that will
save you a bunch of time. In addition, this potato masher is the best if you enjoy cooking (and eating) mashed
potatoes!
