Garlic isn’t just for adding flavor to your meals or keeping vampires at bay. Its natural properties make it useful for remedies, repairs, and even pest control. Here are ten surprising ways garlic can be used in your daily life and emergencies. Share your tips in the comments below!
10. Mosquito Repellent
Garlic's strong scent and compounds make it an effective natural mosquito repellent. Hang garlic cloves around your deck or campsite, or apply garlic extract to your skin to keep mosquitoes at bay.
9. Garden Pesticide
Avoid harmful chemicals by using garlic as a natural pesticide. Mix minced garlic cloves with mineral oil, let it sit for 24 hours, strain, and mix with water and dish soap. Spray it on plants to keep pests away.
8. Fish Bait
Attract fish like bass and trout by coating marshmallows with garlic powder or crushed garlic. Allow them to sit in a covered bowl before using them as bait on your next fishing trip.
7. Glue
Crushed garlic can act as a natural adhesive. Its juices can bind paper or fill hairline cracks in glass. This method has been used in traditional Chinese repairs for centuries.
6. Cough Syrup
Garlic’s potent properties help soothe coughs and sore throats. Boil garlic cloves in water, then mix with honey and sugar for a natural syrup. Alternatively, make garlic tea by soaking a clove in hot water.
5. De-icer
In 2008, a town in Iowa used garlic salt as a road de-icer. If you have garlic salt unfit for consumption, consider using it for similar purposes in icy conditions.
4. Athlete's Foot
Garlic's antifungal properties make it a natural remedy for athlete's foot. Add crushed garlic cloves to a warm foot bath and soak your feet for 30 minutes to reduce itching and infection.
3. Cuts and Abrasions
Garlic contains allicin, which inhibits bacteria growth and protects against infection. After cleaning the wound, gently apply bruised garlic to the area for 5–10 minutes. If it stings, remove it immediately.
2. Ear Infections
Garlic's antibacterial properties can help fight ear infections. Heat crushed garlic cloves in olive oil, strain, and let cool. Apply a few drops into the ear canal carefully, or use store-bought garlic oil.
1. Splinter Removal
Place a thin slice of garlic over a splinter and secure it with a bandage. The garlic will help draw the splinter out naturally within a few hours.
