Unconventional Uses for Milk

If you’re like most people, your number one usage for milk is… (no need for a drum roll here)… drinking it.

A big old glass of fresh, cold milk tastes great with cookies, cake and a few other foods. Most of which are not particularly good for you. But you only live once, right? 

While drinking it is the way most people use milk, there are plenty of other things you can do with this beverage. Including cleaning, shaving and first-aid usages. 

Let’s take a look at 11 of those things. You’ve probably heard of some of these, but maybe a few will be new to you. And you might want to give some of them a try. 

1. Freshening frozen fish. If your frozen fish is beginning to lose some of its flavor, let it thaw in a bowl of cold milk for 24 hours. That should freshen it up by restoring hydration and improving the taste. 

2. Silverware polisher. You can make tarnished silverware look brighter by soaking it in sour milk for 30 minutes. Adding vinegar to fresh milk will sour it. Then wash your silverware in warm, soapy water and buff with a soft cloth. 

3. Leather cleaning. Shoes, purses, jackets and other leather items can be cleaned with a small amount of milk dabbed on them. Let them dry and then buff with a soft cloth. 

4. Callus soother. Rub milk onto calloused hands and feet several times a day until the calluses disappear. Even if you don’t have calluses, this process will soften your skin. 

5. Corn flavor enhancer. Next time you’re boiling water for corn on the cob, pour one-fourth cup of powdered milk in the pot. Your corn should taste richer and fuller. 

6. China repair. Instead of tossing out that cracked china, try this. Place it in a pan and cover it with milk. Bring the milk to a boil, then let it simmer for 45 minutes. Hairline cracks should be mended by the milk’s protein bonding with the china’s clay. 

7. Burn and bite relief. Mix two parts of water with one part of powdered milk, then add a pinch or two of salt. Rub the mixture on your sunburn or bug bite. The milk’s enzymes should neutralize venom and provide sunburn relief. Milk also reduces itching from poison ivy. 

8. Ink stain remover. Allow your ink-stained, colored clothing items to soak in milk overnight. Then wash them per usual the next day. 

9. Shaving cream substitute. Mix plenty of powdered milk with a small amount of water to form a paste. Use it in place of shaving cream. 

10. Grit remover. When your hands are particularly dirty, such as from gardening, wash them vigorously in a paste formed from oatmeal and milk to remove the grime. If your hands are also greasy, add a little lemon juice to the mix. 

11. Pill swallowing. If you have to take large pills, you can ease the process by taking them with milk, which coats the throat and protects the stomach lining as the pills break down. Just make sure your medication does not react badly with milk.

Do you know of other usages for milk, other than drinking it? I'd love to hear them - share yours in the comments section.