While onions add incredible flavor to a dish, they are pretty useful outside the kitchen too. From soothing a bee sting to polishing metal, we've rounded up 15 unusual uses for onions: |
|
1. Repel insects: For a natural alternative to bug spray, rub a halved onion on your skin or clothes. 2. Soothe an insect bite or a bee sting: If you've got an itchy mosquito bite or a painful bee sting, try rubbing a raw onion over the affected area to ease the pain or irritation. 3. Prepare some onion tea to soothe a sore throat: To soothe a sore throat, boil a cup of water with the peels of half an onion. 4. Remove splinters: Lay a halved raw onion on top of a splinter and cover it with a piece of tape or adhesive bandage. Keep the onion there for about an hour and once you remove it, the splinter should have loosened and be easier to pull out. 5. Polish metal: Prepare a mix of crushed onion and one part water. Then, using a damp cloth, rub the mixture on a metal surface, until it appears shiny and clean. |
|
6. Clean the grill: First scrub the grill with a wire brush to remove gunk. Switch on the grill. Use a halved onion, speared through a fork and run the onion over the grill until all of the dirt is gone. 7. Ward off ants: If ants are a problem you face at home, leave a bowl of raw onion slices out. The scent should ward them off. 8. Create a DIY dye: While onions appear translucent in color, they make a beautiful vibrant red or orange dye. Just gather the skins and place them in a pair of nylon pantyhose or a nut milk bag and tie a knot at the end. Boil them in a pot for about 20 minutes. The liquid should be a bright dye, perfect for paper, yarn or fabric. 9. Soak up the smell of burnt rice: A great way to get rid of that smoky smell from burnt rice is to place half an onion next to the stove to absorb the smell. 10. Prevent your windshield from frosting up: Slice a raw onion in half and rub it on your windshield at night. This technique will help prevent frost from forming overnight. |
11. Keep avocados from turning brown: A slice of red onion can be placed alongside an avocado in an airtight container to prevent it from browning. You may also add slices of red onion on top of guacamole. 12. Get rid of that 'new paint' smell: Place a couple of slices of onion in a bowl of water and leave the bowl in the newly painted room overnight to absorb the strong smell of paint fumes.
13. Clean rusty knives: If your knives are rusting, jab them into a large, raw onion. 14. Soothe a burn: Rub an onion on top of a burn to temporarily relieve the pain. Onions also have antibacterial properties to keep the wound from becoming infected. 15. Keep unwanted animals out of your yard: If you often have a problem with raccoons, chipmunks or your neighbor's cat, sprinkle a couple of onion slices around the yard or garden to keep them away. |
15 Smart Alternative Uses for Bubble Wrap No One Told You
Bubble wrap can do much more than help you move!
12 Surprising Ways to Use Your Box Grater
Did you know your box grater had such unique uses?
WOW! Genius Foot Care Hacks That’ll Change Your Life
Take care of your feet with these simple and effective tips and hacks.
More Seniors Should Wear Smartwatches, Here's Why
Smartwatches aren’t just for fitness enthusiasts; it can make for the perfect gift for seniors. Here’s why…
Seniors Living Alone Should Always Have These Items
Want to make life easier on your elderly loved one who lives alone? Check this list.
9 Underrated Free Websites That Will Make Your Life Easier
Yes, there are still many more useful websites you don’t know about!
Using Vinegar to Clean These Items Can Really Damage Them
Cleaning these common home surfaces and other items with vinegar can seriously damage them...
11 Natural Ingredients That'll Help You Get Rid of Odor
Suffer from unpleasant odors? Here's what to do about it.
A Better Kitchen: 20 Tips You Can't Afford to Miss
How to make your kitchen one of the EASIER rooms in the house? Just check out these 20 tips that'll make your kitchen a much nicer place
The Ownership Effect: Have YOU Fallen Prey to It?
An article about the ownership effect, a psychological effect that causes us to overvalue the things we've owned.
Tired of Feeling Angry? Use the Following Pressure Points
Learn the pressure points that help relieve feelings of frustration, anger, and worry.
These Tips Will Help You Keep Your Car In Order
These hacks will help you get shinier headlights, organize your interior, and provide a nifty hack to help you remove a small car dent and lots more.
9 Ways to Keep Your House Clean Using Just a Simple Lime
Limes are just as good as lemons when it comes to cleaning. Here are 9 great ways to clean with them.
Loop, Knot, Drape: Fall Scarf Tying 101
This lovely woman demonstrates the better versions of how to wear a scarf, what not to do and how to easily make beautiful fashion choices.
Smart! This Is How to Peel a Hard Boiled Egg
You can actually peel a boiled egg without even touching it! That's incredible.
Extend the Shelf Life of Your Groceries with These Hacks!
Here are 12 super useful grocery life hacks that will make your groceries last longer and ensure no food is wasted!
Vintage Beauty and Self-Care Tips We Should All Be Using
Here we feature 14 really effective, but often forgotten vintage beauty. Best of all, nearly all of these tips use items you have at home
12 Fabulous Uses for Socks That Have Lost Their Mate
Here is a terrifically useful list of 12 handy ways that your odd sock or stocking can regain her purpose, get ‘out there’ and reinvent herself.
The Best Natural Methods to Controlling Excess Sweat
While sweating can be good for you, sometimes it can be embarrassing and cause a foul odor. Discover natural ways to prevent excess sweating.
Practical Tips on Adjusting a Home to be Senior-Friendly
Take note of these useful tips that will help you make your home more accessible and safe for your life ahead.
Don't Throw Out Old Makeup! Here's What You Can Do...
12 helpful uses you can put your expired or unsuitable makeup items
Easily Create These 8 Natural Sprays
Eight wonderful recipes to make eight natural sprays that can make your life easier and healthier.
Discover 7 Ways to Make Your Home Smell Great
Check out these seven wonderful ways to keep your home smelling clean and fresh without breaking the bank!
If You Defrost Your Meat Like This, Stop Right Now!
Here are eight common defrosting mistakes that you really need to stop making right now!
7 Myths About Burning Calories
Burning calories is something we all want, but we need to know what we're doing first, and that means disproving these 7 common but misguided myths about calorie burning.
15 Differences between Men and Women That Explain a Lot
Discover surprising biological differences between men and women, which can explain many things you thought about both sexes.
13 Daily Objects We Could Be Using Better
You probably think you know how to use most of these objects already. Don't worry, all of us thought the same...
Discover the Most Spoken Languages in One Incredible Map!
This map is simply amazing, both informative and a work of art!
10 Great Survival Tips That We All Need to Know!
If you find yourself in a life or death situation it's important you know what to do. These 10 tips could save your life!
31 Genius Uses for Lemon That Are Worth Knowing
Did you know that lemons could help you clean, cultivate, and even give first aid? Discover 31 brilliant uses of lemon....
Step-by-step Guide for Removing Scratches from Wood
Use this handy guide to restore hardwood floors and wooden furniture to their former glory.
These 15 Surprising Cucumber Uses Will Come in Handy
Cucumbers are a very healthy addition to any diet, but they also have many other great uses that you should know about. Here's 15...
Before You Buy: 8 Important Tips When Buying New Clothes
In this article, we'll discuss the difference between natural and synthetic fabrics as well as 9 essential tips for evaluating the quality and comfort of fabrics.
Get Wax Out of Your Clothes Easily with This Guide
If you've got wax stuck on your fabrics, this is the best way to go about removing it.
Need a Quick Fix for Your Clothes? Keep These Tips in Mind..
Got a clothing mishap? Fix your clothes easily with these awesome tips.
Can't Fall Back Asleep? Try These 8 Genius Tricks
Do you wake up in the middle of the night? Thankfully, there are some natural remedies you can try, that will get you back to falling asleep quickly, making any unwelcome moments of wakefulness seem like nothing more than a fleeting dream.
FINALLY I Get to Use My Leftover Butter!
The butter you have left in your fridge finally has some great uses for you.
With Age Comes Wisdom! Great Advice From People Over 50
Why get advice from a book when you can get great advice from a person over 50?
This is the Right Way to Load a Dishwasher For Best Results
What's the best way to load your dishwasher? Find out in this guide.
This Is Why You Should Never Throw Away Your Lemon Peels
25 reasons why you should definitely keep your lemon peels.
I Use Grandma's Old Trick for Cleaning Copper Pots
This is how to easily clean your copper pots.
One of These Facts May Save Your Life One Day
10 simple facts that we should all know, because they may save us some day.
9 Smart Ways to Store Your Clothes Without a Closet!
Don’t have a closet? No problem. Store your clothes using these handy tips.
When Out Shopping, Avoid These 8 Generic Foods!
Generic foods are becoming more and more popular, but are they always a bargain? Here are 8 foods you should never buy generic.
Here’s Why You Should Start Saving Pasta Water
What if we told you that you have been flushing something many chefs call ‘liquid gold’ down the drain all these years?
Wow! Even We Were Amazed At These 11 Ingenious Tips
Everyone needs some tips in life, and these 11 are worth remembering because they'll help you solve a variety of problems, make life easier and save money!
Do This to Revive a Drying Houseplant
Whenever one of your houseplants suddenly looks ill, do this trick.