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But that’s not all it’s good for; in fact, the contents of your fruit bowl can be deployed to help with a myriad of problems, from household chores to common ailments.
Teeth whitening
Strawberries! Our favourite summer berries contain malic acid, which is a natural teeth whitener. Try mashing up a couple with some baking soda, before applying to your teeth with a soft toothbrush. After five minutes, rinse your teeth and flash those pearly whites.
Greasy countertops
Although not suitable for porous materials like marble, lemon and limes make nifty little natural cleaners when it comes to cutting through grease. Sprinkle some salt on the affected area, and then use half a lemon, flesh side down, to buff away grime.
Limescale
Sticking with the citrus family, try using grapefruit to clean built-up limescale. Again, sprinkle with salt and scrub away with half a fresh grapefruit, before wiping clean with a damp cloth.
Puffy eyes
It’s an oldie, but a goodie. Place cool-as-a-cucumber slices over your eyes and take a ten minute breather; the round shape fits perfectly around the area, giving the high water content in the fruit the chance to calm puffiness.
Verrucas
If you (or the little ones) regularly suffer from verrucas, using banana peels may prove an effective removal tactic. Cut a square of banana peel big enough to cover the affected area, and fix it, pith-side to wart, with a Band-Aid. Change two to three times during the day, or leave on overnight.
Scratched leather
Buff up your scratched leather with, once again, a banana peel. Rub with the peel, before wiping with a damp cloth; the potassium in the peel helps to plump up scratches.
Cramps
Be they PMS-related or a side-effect from today’s workout, tucking in to a banana will help to sort out those cramping muscles. It’s the potassium in this every day fruit that works its magic; if you regularly wake up in the middle of the night with cramps, a banana before bed may prove helpful.
Premature greys
Prematurely greying hair? Step up, blueberries. A deficiency of vitamin B12 can lead to a condition called “pernicious anaemia”, which can actually be reversed if you up your intake of B12 again. Luckily, blueberries are a great source of B12.
Dry skin
If you’ve got rough skin on the bottom of your feet, you may find papaya an easy-as at-home remedy. Give yourself a foot rub with the skins, and let the vitamin A and papain properties breakdown and remove dead skin cells.
Moisturise
For a rich moisturiser, look no further than avocado skins. Rubbing the flesh-side down on thirsty skin leaves behind a heavy, natural moisturiser; try it before bed, and rinse off in the morning for soft, supple skin.
Story by : Deirdre Fogarty.
Feature photograph by : Sevak Babakhani/bauersyndication.com.au
This article originally appeared on foodtolove.com.au
