Kristine
Frequently used in both salons and salads, cucumbers are known for being a pretty versatile fruit. They’re hydrating, refreshing, low-calorie, and high in several vitamins and minerals, making them an ideal choice for a healthy snack or a soothing face mask. Cucumbers are also surprisingly easy to grow in a container or your garden, even if you don’t have a green thumb.
However, did you know the versatility of cucumbers can extend beyond the kitchen and your skincare routine? Here are 7 lesser-known ways you can start using them in your daily life:
1. Keep pests away.
Common household and garden pests—including slugs, moths, wasps, and ants—don’t like the bitter smell of cucumber peels. Placing a few slices of raw cucumber in areas where you have minor pest control problems is an eco-friendly and inexpensive way to rid your home of these annoying bugs.
2. Scrub marks off your walls.
Cucumbers can magically erase pen, marker, or crayon marks from your walls. If your child decided to use your living room wall as their personal canvas, simply scrub the drawings off with a cucumber peel to return your wall to its former glory.
3. Relieve sunburn.
Like aloe, cucumbers can cool and soothe burned skin. Dermatologist Dr. Jessica Krant recommends, “Slice cold cucumber onto your shoulders or infuse cold water with cucumber to soak into soft washcloths, and change when they get warm.” However, this remedy is best for smaller affected areas; if your entire body is burned, it would take an awful lot of cucumbers to effectively treat your skin.
4. Make refreshing summer cocktails.
You’ve likely had cucumber-infused water, now get ready to take it up a notch with a crisp summer cocktail! Try whisking up a cucumber martini, a watermelon cucumber cooler, or a sparkling shamrock (made of lemonade, pear vodka, elderflower, mint, and cucumber) to sip on while you’re enjoying the sunshine.
5. Clean stainless steel.
A fresh cucumber slice is surprisingly effective at lifting tarnish off stainless steel. Try rubbing fresh cucumber on your faucets and appliances to immediately see a difference.
6. Shine your shoes.
If your shoes are looking a little rough, a cucumber slice can give your leather shoes a quick shine. The chemicals of the cucumber also create a water-repellent barrier to prevent your shoes from getting damaged by any puddles or sudden rain showers.
7. Write high-quality blogs.
Turns out that some types of cucumbers write some pretty awesome blogs, too! Our Content Cucumber writers can keep your audience entertained with refreshing content without making you lose your cool. To learn more, or to sign up for your free trial blog, simply click here to get started!
