20 Uses for Banana Peel You Might Not Have Known

Today, we're going to show you 20 things banana peels can do that you might never had heard of before. Some of them might surprise you! Find out more below.

Sure, you’ve head about the benefits of bananas or plantains. But did you know that there are over 20 uses for banana peel, not just the fruit itself? Not only can you use it for your health and skin, you can also use it in the home. This is all thanks to its antifungal, antibiotic, and enzymatic properties.

Uses for banana peel in the home

• Shine your shoes: rubbing a banana peel on your shoes can help instantly shine them.
• Polish silver: polish your forks, knives, and spoons till they sparkle
• Throw it in your compost pile: if you have an organic compost pile, bananas are great for it.

• Plant fertilizer: Put banana peels in a glass jar and add water. Place some aquatic plants in the jar: they’ll be very receptive to its nutrients. Some people slice the peels and place them on top of the dirt in a flower pot.
• Aphid repellent: cut small pieces of the peel and bury it near rosebushes and similar shrubs. It will help prevent common plant diseases.

• Attracts butterflies: if you love the beauty of butterflies in your garden, don’t hesitate to sprinkle bits of banana peel in it. They love the sweet smell!
• Cleans plant leaves: scrub plant leaves with the inside of a banana peel to keep them clean and beautiful.
• Trap moths: just like butterflies, moths are attracted to the sweet scent of the banana peels.

• Help keep meat juicy: this works best for chicken breast, before preparing it in a casserole or baking it.
• Purifying water: studies have shown that banana peels absorb toxins in rivers with contaminated waters, especially if they contain heavy metals.
• Attracting birds: birds love the sweet taste of bananas. Leave a peel on your windowsill, garden, balcony, or any other place the birds can land to have some of this treat.

Health and skin uses for banana peel

Teeth whitening

Rub the banana peel (the inside) on your teeth periodically to help whiten them.

Face mask

The nutrients in a banana peel have enzymes that help give you much healthier skin. Wash your face well with a neutral soap. Apply the peel over the whole face and let dry, then rinse with lukewarm water.

To lessen irritation and itching

If you get bitten by a mosquito or ant, leave a banana peel on the bite for several minutes. You can also use it for minor scrapes or poison ivy or poison oak.

As a food

In Asian and Indian cuisine, they’re eaten both raw and cooked. You can find some interesting, delicious recipes out there.

Natural wart remover

Place the banana peel tightly over the wart and secure it with something, changing it frequently over a few days’ time. The wart can fall off in just a week!

Extract splinters

Repeat the same steps as with the wart remedy. The enzymes in the peel can help extract things that don’t belong in the body.

Eliminate acne

Every night, rub your face with a banana peel. Don’t wash it off. Sleep with it just like that. In the morning, rinse it off. You can also use it as a weekly face mask.

Psoriasis treatment

This is one of the important uses for banana peel. Rub the inside of it on the affected area of the skin. At first, it might become redder. Don’t worry, that’s normal. You’ll notice a difference if you continue this treatment on a daily basis.

Healing bruises

If you don’t heal from bruises easily, banana peels can help. Just place a piece on them and let the nutrients work their magic.

Prevent wrinkles

Banana peels have high levels of potassium, iron, magnesium, and vitamins A, B, and E. Put pieces of the peel directly on the skin—under the eyes and on the forehead.

Damaged hair

Place pieces of banana peels in your shampoo or conditioner then wash as usual. You can also put the peels in the blender and use as a hair mask for about 30 minutes, then rinse and wash as usual.

Dry skin

Mix pieces of cut-up banana peel with a tablespoon of baking soda. Place in the blender with a little bit of water and apply to the face and neck. Let sit for 20 minutes, then rinse with cold water.

To hydrate the skin

Mash the peel with 1/2 a cucumber and the pulp of one mango. Apply to the areas in need of hydration then wash off after 30 minutes with lukewarm water.

So, now that you’ve learned about so many uses for banana peel, how about giving them a try? It’s more than worth it!