Don't Toss Sprouted Potatoes – Use Them for These Surprisingly Effective Hacks

Potatoes are a nutritious food favored by many. However, if you end up with sprouted potatoes that are no longer suitable for eating, you can still put them to good use in a variety of ways.

1. Cleaning Your Kitchen and Range Hood

After cooking, grease and oil can easily cling to your stove surfaces, kitchen walls, and range hood. Without regular cleaning, these stains become stubborn, unsightly, and unhygienic.

If you have sprouted potatoes at home, you can use them to tackle this problem. Simply slice the potato, sprinkle a little salt on the slices, and gently scrub the affected surfaces. The starch in the potato quickly breaks down the stubborn grease. After scrubbing, wipe the area with a clean cloth, and you'll be left with a sparkling surface.

2. Making Glass Shine

Glass items look elegant but are prone to water spots and stains that detract from their appearance. To restore their shine, take a sprouted potato and use it to rub the glass surface. Then, wipe the glass with a clean, dry cloth—the result will be clear, gleaming glass.

3. Softening Leather Shoes

New leather shoes can be quite stiff and uncomfortable. To soften them, simply take a slice of sprouted potato and gently rub it over the leather. The natural resin in the potato helps to soften the leather, making your shoes more comfortable to wear.

4. Removing Rust from Pans

Over time, pans can develop rust spots. The starch in potatoes can help remove these blemishes. Start by pouring a little vinegar into the pan to soften the rust. Next, slice the potato, coat the slices with salt, and scrub the rusted areas. As you scrub, you’ll notice the rust flaking away. Rinse the pan with clean water, and it will shine like new.

5. Grafting Roses

Potatoes provide nutrients and moisture that increase the success rate of grafting, helping a rose cutting to develop a healthy root system. Moreover, as the potato gradually decays, it acts as an excellent fertilizer for the plant. So instead of discarding a sprouted potato, consider using it for rose grafting.

Here's how:

• Select a Healthy Rose Stem: Use clean scissors to cut the stem at a 45-degree angle, removing any wilted buds, leaves, and thorns.
• Prepare the Potato: Using a pointed tool, carve a hole into the potato that fits the diameter of your rose stem. (Make sure all tools are thoroughly cleaned before use.)
• Graft the Stem: Apply rooting hormone to the rose stem and insert it into the hole in the potato.
• Plant and Care: Bury the potato in a pot with prepared soil, water it adequately every day, and in about a week, you should see roots forming.

Alternatively, you can plant the sprouted potato as an ornamental plant or harvest its tuber later.

These creative uses not only help you reduce waste but also provide practical solutions for everyday household issues.