Potatoes are not only nutritious but also delicious. Whether they are fried, boiled, or baked, potato dishes are always a treat. However, sprouted potatoes and those with a greenish tint contain a toxin called solanine, which can lead to poisoning if consumed in large quantities.
Potatoes Make Great Fertilizer
What you may not know is that potatoes are rich in natural starch. When exposed to high temperatures, the starch forms a sticky solution capable of absorbing stains and eliminating odors. Thus, potatoes can be used to clean household stains like tea, grease, and metal rust. Moreover, don’t discard sprouted potatoes; they can be used as fertilizer:
1. Use Potato Peels as Fertilizer
Potato peels contain vitamin C, starch, and potassium. Using this type of fertilizer regularly on your fruit trees can result in larger, more flavorful fruit with higher ascorbic acid content.
Potato Peels Contain Vitamin C, Starch, and Potassium
Potato waste can be utilized as a fertilizer for most garden and vegetable garden plants. It is essential for plants as they require starch and glucosides during their growth.
This type of fertilization is beneficial for grapes and berries such as raspberries, strawberries, melons, and squash. It is also useful for other types of plants and even indoor and outdoor flowers.
2. Additional Benefits of Potatoes
Potatoes Soften Leather
The wonders of potatoes are not limited to cooking and healthcare; they are also handy for household maintenance and daily necessities. One such trick is their ability to soften and rejuvenate leather.
For new or long-unused leather shoes, bags, or jackets that have become stiff, simply cut a potato in half and rub it on the leather surface. The starch in the potato will soften the leather. Wipe it clean and polish with shoe wax, and your leather goods will look brand new.
Potatoes Clean Metal Surfaces
Potatoes can also be used to polish metal items like pots and pans that have become rusty over time.
Potatoes Can Clean Metal Surfaces
Simply cut a potato in half, dip it in salt, and rub it on the rusty metal surface until the rust disappears. Rinse with clean water, and your cookware will be spotless and shiny. This is a handy household tip that many homemakers swear by.
Potatoes Clean Mirrors
Potatoes are not only great for metal surfaces but also for removing stains and cloudiness from mirrors and glass. If you notice that your mirrors or glass surfaces have become cloudy or stained due to water or dirt, simply rub a halved potato on the surface and then wipe it clean. Your mirrors will be left sparkling and clear as new.
