When one mentions potatoes a numerous recipes come to your mind – fried, boiled or baked they are used in numerous meals. People simply can hardly have a meal without potatoes. They are used in everything. There is a reason to this. Potatoes are rich in proteins, potassium and carbohydrates. Not to mention vital vitamins and nutrients like B6, C and magnesium. But have you ever suspected that potatoes have other useful purposes?

Surprisingly enough, potatoes can be used in cleaning, too. Yes, that is right. You read it correctly the first time. Besides being able to cook potatoes in almost any way known to mankind, you can also use these vegetable to clean your home. Below you can find a few surprising cleaning uses of potatoes.

5 Amazing Uses of Potatoes

1. Clean glass – Most of us have those moments of weakness to drop a glass or other object on the floor where it smashes with a loud bang. The shattered pieces are really difficult to pick up, especially if they are on your carpet or rug. Usually you are down on your knees picking glass particles and quite often you get cut. Forget about it. When you break something next time use a potato. Cut it lengthwise and use the slices to rub the area where the glass was broken. Soon you will notice glass embedding in the potato. When you are done vacuum clean the area just in case you have missed a particle or two.

2. Flower holder – You like to have fresh flowers in your home, but how to make them stand straight without using flower foam? Simple enough. Take a raw potato and cut small holes with a knife. Fix flower stems into the holes and insert into the vase.

3. Clean favourite silverware – just like baking soda potatoes are excellent substitute for expensive commercial cleaner. Don't allow your valuable silverware look tarnished. Pick a potato and slice it in half. Then rub each piece thoroughly. Alternatively, when you boil potatoes use the water to soak silver in it. Let it sit for 20 minutes and have your silverware shining again.

4. Remove rust – Works great on iron cast pieces used for decoration or knifes used in your daily routine alike. Potatoes contain oxalic acid that cuts through rust.

5. Clean glass – Glass and mirrors are difficult to clean without leaving smudges. Luckily, now you have discovered the cleaning power of potatoes. Pick and slice one before you rub it on the surface to be cleaned. Then use dry cloth to wipe it down.

All in all, potatoes are an excellent cleaning alternative to expensive in-store products. However, it's best to leave potatoes for eating. For your cleaning needs hire professionals. If you are not sure why, other article will give you seven reasons to call one.