1. Gets Rid of Acne

Did you know that a banana peel can actually help clear up your skin of acne and zits? This is due to the exfoliating agents found naturally in the juicy inner skin. Putting a dab of this stuff on a stubborn acne bump can reduce inflammation and get rid of germs that cause acne to grow.

2. Whitens Teeth

No longer will you need to make expensive dates with the dentist.

Instead, rub a banana peel against your teeth and leave it for 60 seconds before rinsing it off.

The potassium, manganese, and magnesium found on the peel are what give the peel the ability to make your teeth shine.

3. Treats Itchiness

There’s nothing better than basking in the open, soaking up the rays, and enjoying the lazy summertime afternoons slowly pass by.

Except, of course, for the darned mosquitoes that buzz and bite, leaving red, itchy spots in their wake. Instead of digging into your skin with your nails, get a banana peel and place it on the bite for 10 minutes.

Rub it against your skin to help soothe the itch.

4. Feeds Plants

The most common use for natural waste is turning it into compost.

Banana peels are extremely beneficial since they decompose quickly, becoming food for their plant brethren.

This means quicker food for your plants, allowing them to grow and produce.

5. Polishes Shoes

Polishing shoes with banana peels might sound counterproductive, especially since you’re potentially leaving a slimy film of banana juice on your leather.

Did you know that the main active ingredient in shoe polish is actually potassium and that bananas are chock full of the mineral?

Rub the outer layer of the peel onto your shoes’ surface and let it sit for 60 seconds before wiping off with a clean towel.

6. Gives an Asian Twist to Your Home-Cooked Meals

Many vegetables and meats in Asian cuisine are wrapped in banana leaves before being steamed, boiled, roasted, or barbecued.

If you can’t get your homes on a few banana leaves, then the next best thing would be to wrap them in banana peels.

It perfumes and gives a hint of sweetness to your meats and veggies.

7. Reduces Wrinkles and Lines

Banana peels also contain trace amounts of  a type of antioxidant that keeps signs of aging away.

To get the full effects of the antioxidant, simply rub the inner banana peel on your face and leave the film there for 20 to 30 minutes every day.

Rinse it off with warm water afterward.

8. Reduces Puffiness Under Your Eyes

The potassium found in banana peels can also be used to get rid of the under-eye bags that form from age.

You can leave a patch of a banana peel on your face or scrape off the inner peel with a spoon and mixing it with aloe vera gel.

Dab a bit of the resulting paste gently under and around your eyes.

9. Removes Cigarette Odors

The leftover smell of cigarette smoke in cars is extremely hard to get rid of.

More often than not, people will try and mask the odor with a freshener, creating a confusing scent of disgusting tobacco and pleasant lilac.

Instead of trying to conceal the smell, you can eliminate it completely by leaving a plate of banana peels in your car.

Do this repeatedly for a week or until the smell is gone.