The Magic of Expired Milk: 7 Reasons to Keep it Around

Throwing away expired milk is wasteful. This ingredient can be utilized in a myriad of alternative ways.

16 December, 2024

Fresh milk is a nutrient-rich product, especially calcium, essential for physical development and strengthening bone joints. Families often buy a certain amount of milk to stock up and use gradually. However, in case you don’t pay attention to the expiration date, many people forget, which makes the milk expire and cannot be consumed, or the opened milk is not finished and spoils. Most people will choose to throw away this milk, but doing so is very wasteful.

You can take advantage of expired milk or leftover milk that cannot be consumed to solve many problems at home.

Watering plants and flowers

Milk contains many nutrients and is very good for plants. Milk provides moisture and calcium to strengthen plants. In addition, it is also effective in combating wood rot.

However, you should not pour expired milk directly into the soil but need to dilute it with water at a ratio of 1:1 and then pour it into a spray bottle, spraying it on the leaves. This solution can also be used to water around the roots of the plant to allow the roots to absorb more nutrients.

Expired milk can be used as water for plants.

Although milk is nutrient-rich, it should only be used a few times a month and not overused. Using too much milk to water plants can cause damage due to rapid bacterial growth and proliferation. The fat in the milk can also produce an unpleasant odor when it breaks down.

Skin Care

Although expired milk cannot be consumed directly, in a short period, the fat in the milk is still intact and can be used as a skincare product. In addition, fresh milk that has expired will produce lactic acid, which helps soften, brighten, and moisturize the skin.

You can combine fresh milk with other natural ingredients to make face masks suitable for your skin type. It is recommended to use unsweetened milk with low-fat content to avoid causing clogged pores or acne. The homemade masks should be applied for about 15-20 minutes and then rinsed off with clean water.

Mix unsweetened milk with honey and apply it to your skin. Honey has antibacterial, moisturizing, and skin-lightening properties, and when combined with milk, it will help achieve a smoother and more youthful complexion.

Milk mixed with cereal grains such as oatmeal, adzuki bean powder, or rice bran can be used to cleanse, exfoliate, and brighten the skin.

Milk blended with avocado creates a creamy mixture rich in nutrients that moisturize and provide antioxidants to the skin.

Conditioning Leather Shoes

Fresh milk helps clean and soften leather shoes. You can use a brush to remove dirt and stains from the shoes. Then, use a cloth dipped in milk to wipe the shoe’s surface. Wait a moment, and then wipe it again with a clean cloth. Doing so will make your shoes shine like new.

Expired milk can also be used to clean leather items and other household goods.

Cleaning Household Items

Metal items like spoons, knives, and scissors tend to rust and discolor over time. Soak them in a mixture of expired milk with a little lemon or vinegar for a few hours. Then, rinse them with clean water and dry them off. They will look as good as new.

You can also use milk to clean wooden surfaces, painted surfaces, and marble. Fermented milk will make your furniture shine.

Removing Ink Stains from Clothes

When clothes are stained with ink, pour expired milk over the stain and gently rub it. The ink will gradually fade. Repeat a few times until the ink is completely removed. If the ink is stubborn, pour milk over it and let it sit overnight, then rinse it with clean water the next day.