Cucumber peels have a multitude of useful applications in our daily lives. Although often discarded, cucumber peels are actually a valuable part of the cucumber, with a range of uses in both beauty and culinary preparations.
Cucumbers, being rich in water, low in calories, and packed with vitamins and minerals, make an excellent choice for a healthy snack or a soothing face mask. Instead of throwing away cucumber peels, you can utilize them to benefit from their versatile properties.
Create Fertilizer for Flowers and Potted Plants
Cucumber peels are a great source of essential vitamins and minerals for plants, and they can also be used to make fertilizer. To create fertilizer from cucumber peels, chop the peels into small pieces and place them in a bucket or a plastic container with a lid. Dissolve brown sugar or rice water in water and pour it into the container with the peels. Don’t fill the container to the brim; instead, fill it to about 80% and then close the lid.
Keep the container in a cool, shaded area for about two months. After that, strain the liquid, dilute it with water, and use it to water your flowers and potted plants. This solution helps balance the pH of the soil, enhances its fertility, and loosens the soil, promoting better plant growth. Alternatively, you can dry cucumber peels, grind them into a powder, and mix them directly into the soil for similar benefits.
Repel Insects from Your Vegetable Garden
The refreshing scent of cucumbers can help repel a variety of pests. Simply scatter cucumber peels around your vegetable garden to keep away creatures such as ants, moths, bees, mice, and cockroaches. Placing cucumber peels in areas frequented by mice and cockroaches can also yield similar results.
Remove Ink Stains from Furniture and Walls
Cucumber peels can effectively erase ink stains from ballpoint pens, markers, or crayons on walls and furniture. If your children have drawn on the walls, you can use cucumber peels to scrub away the marks.
Polish Leather Shoes
Cucumbers can be used to bring a shine to your leather shoes. The compounds in cucumbers not only add a glossy finish but also create a water-resistant coating, protecting your shoes from water damage.
Silence Noisy Door Hinges
If your door hinges are squeaking, cucumber peels can come to the rescue. Rub the peels on the hinges, and the natural compounds in the cucumber will act as a lubricant, immediately eliminating the annoying noise.
Clean and Defog Bathroom Mirrors
Bathroom mirrors tend to get foggy due to steam and calcium buildup. To clean the mirror, simply rub a cucumber peel on its surface. The stains will disappear, and the cucumber peel will also help prevent steam from condensing on the mirror.
Clean Stainless Steel Surfaces
Cucumber peels are effective at removing stains and bringing back the shine to stainless steel surfaces. Try rubbing a cucumber peel on your stainless steel faucets and appliances to notice a remarkable difference.