15 Surprising Uses of Potatoes You Never Knew About

Potatoes are total multitaskers, and we are not just saying that because they can double up as fries and steak accompaniments, but potatoes can really be used for a ton of other purposes. The reason a lot of people don't know about this is because we almost never talk about it. But potato does not only belong on the dinner table. It is actually a must-have for every home.

Did you know can potatoes can be used for medicinal purposes? They can also be used as a skincare product and can act as a natural scrub. Potatoes can also be used for shining shoes, cleaning glasses and it has a number of other uses. So, let's have a look at how to make the most of the potatoes in your kitchen.

1In case of metal rusts

Did you know that you can totally fix rusty metals with potatoes? Interestingly, metal rust is one of the most stubborn household problems and is very difficult to deal with. We bet you have a number of rusty utensils in your kitchen which you don't know how to clean? You can always use potatoes for help. 

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Here's what you need to do. Cut the potato in half. Mix some table salt with detergent and baking soda. Take the cut potato and rub it on the mixture. Then apply it on the rust for a few minutes. You can repeat the process with new slices of potatoes. Don't overuse one piece. After you are done rinse off the utensils with water.

2Treating burns

Did you know potatoes can help you cure aggressive burns? It works wonders for minor rashes and sunburns. What you need to do is cut up the potatoes into slices. You can even grate it but slices will make your work easier. If you have a minor burn, dab the burn with dry cloth, and use the potato slices on your burnt area. The potato produces cooling juices which would soothe your skin. Repeat the process for 15 - 20 minutes, until the burn feels better. You might need to do think for two or three days.

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3For worse burns

If you have burnt yourself while cooking or boiling water, it is better to use potato juices as it works faster. You can also use finely mashed potatoes. Here's what you do: Apply the mashed potato or the juice on the affected area, and keep it there until the pain somewhat subsides, which can take a few minutes. Don't use the same mixture for hours, and switch it up after a few rounds.

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4Keeping it stain-free

Potatoes also help you to take out the greasiest stains, especially from expensive fabrics. If you have spilled some gravy or wine on the tablecloth or sheets, simply grate some potato in some water and apply the water on the stained areas, preferably with a sponge so it soaks gradually. Continue doing it until you see the stain getting lighter. After that, rinse the cloth with cool water. Did you know that you can even remove stains from your skin with potatoes? Vegetables like berries or beetroots can often leave stains on our skin, and you can just cut a potato in half and run it on your hands to clean them.

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5Potatoes - clean shoes

You've probably noticed that sometimes even shoe polish is not enough for cleaning shoes, especially the ones which have long-settled dust on them. Potatoes can be a miracle-worker here. Cut some potatoes in halves and use those pieces to clean the upper stubborn surface of the shoes. You'll notice the dust and the dirt comes off, but not entirely. After cleaning it with a potato, take a clean, dry tissue and rub it on the pointed surface.

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