People Swear By These 40 Clever And Quirky Uses For Garlic

Garlic can be a pretty divisive ingredient. Not everyone is a fan of its pungent smell. But your opinion of it will almost certainly change after reading this. As it turns out, garlic cloves have some surprising uses outside your kitchen. And we’ve got 40 examples right here. It won’t take you long to realize that it really is a wonder vegetable!

40. Fighting acne

Struggling to deal with acne? Well, before you rush out to buy the latest skin treatments, why not give garlic a try? We’re serious! All you’ve got to do is slice a bulb in two, then wipe it across the affected spot. It’ll ease the soreness and clear out the germs that spark flare-ups thanks to its anti-inflammation and allicin contents.

39. Toenail trick

If your toenails become discolored, don’t fret. There’s a simple trick to get them looking right as rain again. First things first: take a Q-tip out of your bathroom cabinet. After that, cover the end in garlic oil. Now you just need to rub it into each nail. According to the Expert Home Tips website, you’ll start to notice the results in a few days.

38. Disinfecting spray

The next time you’re looking to give your counters a scrub, it might be an idea to try this hack. All you’ll require is a handful of delicately cut garlic, white vinegar and an empty spray container. Pour the liquid into the latter, ahead of dropping the vegetable in there, too. Then, leave it alone for roughly 60 minutes. And that’s it! Say hello to your new homemade disinfectant.

37. Catching fish

Are you a fishing enthusiast? If so, listen up. This next hack could blow your mind. Before you head out to your boat, grab some crackers and cat food from the cupboard. Use those two items to create a few tiny balls. Then, dust each one in garlic. The website Wise Bread notes that certain fishers believe this is the perfect bait to draw in catfish, trout and bass.

36. Relieving athlete’s foot

We hate athlete’s foot. It’s such an irritating condition! Mind you, a little bit of garlic could ease the discomfort. All you need to do is drop a few bulbs into a pan of warm water. Once they’ve been boiled, leave the mixture until it cools down. From there, stick it in a container and bathe your tootsies. An expert told Health.com that the vegetable’s anti-fungal properties will help.

35. It can fix glass

If a pane of glass in your house starts to develop a tiny crack, try not to panic. As it turns out, you might be able to fix it yourself. According to Expert Home Tips, you just need a little bit of garlic juice. By wiping it across the damage, you can seal everything up. Pretty cool, right?

34. Fighting gas

To any of you who suffer from excess gas, this bit of news could brighten your day. Apparently, if you add more garlic to your diets, the problem might start to go away. You see, the vegetable can take out detrimental germs in your intestines once it enters your system, eliminating the gas.

33. De-icing roads

Icy roads are no joke, so it’s imperative that you find a way to clear them. Surprisingly, garlic salt could be the answer. Yes, you’re reading that correctly! Expert Home Tips reported that a neighborhood in Des Moines, Iowa, spread this mixture across a slippery street in 2008. The ice disappeared in no time.

32. Shield your dog from fleas

Is your dog prone to picking up fleas? Well, you might be able to help them out with this simple trick. Just add a little bit of crushed garlic into their food bowl. As per the website Farm Dog Naturals, the insects absolutely hate the vegetable’s scent, so they’ll avoid your pooch like the plague.

31. Garlic chocolate truffles

Garlic and chocolate – that doesn’t sound like the most appetizing combination, right? Shockingly, though, it can actually produce some tasty results. For instance, by adding black garlic to a chocolate truffle recipe, you’ll be left with an intriguing dish that boasts a surprising taste. Apparently, you won’t be able to tell that the vegetable’s in there.

30. Cleaning your toilet

Be honest with us, folks. Does anyone like cleaning their toilet? It’s a horrible job! Then again, with a bit of creative thinking, the task can be made a lot easier. To start with, squash some garlic in your kitchen, before dropping it into the bowl. Then, you should let it sit until the following morning, by which time you can pull the flush. Thanks to garlic’s allicin contents, you can say goodbye to the germs.

29. Preventing blood clots

How about this for a surprise? Due to the ajoene contents found in garlic, the vegetable can act as a blood thinner. In turn, that’ll lessen your chances of developing any clots. To feel those effects, all you’ve got to do is ensure that it’s part of your eating regimen.

28. Getting rid of splinters

It’s hard to describe how painful a splinter can be, especially if you’re struggling to dig the thing out. But there may be a solution for dealing with that problem. According to Wise Bread, you just need to stick a segment of garlic over the area in question, covering it up. The vegetable’s “healing powers” will entice the object to leave your skin.

27. Treating warts

Should you ever discover a wart on your body, don’t head over to the local drugstore straight away. The ideal tool for fighting it might already be in your kitchen cupboard. Yes, Wise Bread reports that garlic can help treat warts thanks to its antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral contents. Who knew?!

26. Dealing with allergies

Unfortunately, not everyone gets to enjoy the spring and summer months, as they may be susceptible to allergies. Mind you, garlic could ease that issue, too. You see, the vegetable has the ability to aid your body in fighting an allergic reaction. So, any ill effects you’re feeling on your skin or nose won’t be quite as bothersome as before.

25. It’s an aphrodisiac

If your love life’s in need of a boost, a helping of garlic might be the answer. The pungent cloves aid blood circulation in your body, meaning you’re more likely to be up for some fun with your partner after eating it. In simple terms, it’s a surprising aphrodisiac.

24. Black garlic chocolate donuts

You can’t beat a chocolate donut. Just ask Homer Simpson! But there’s a unique recipe out there that adds a surprising item to the mix: black garlic. Now, don’t be too quick to dismiss it. According to the website Savory Spice, these donuts have a compelling taste that’ll leave you wanting more.

23. It can stave off diabetes

Worried about developing diabetes? Well, it could be a good idea to give this a try. Yep, by adding garlic to your diet, there’s a chance you can stave off the condition. The vegetable ensures that your body produces a decent amount of insulin, which keeps blood-sugar readings in check.

22. Getting rid of moles...the animals!

Moles can wreak havoc in your yard if you aren’t too careful. Trust us on this one! So, how can you deal with them? There’s a pretty simple solution, actually. All you’ve got to do is stick garlic around the animal’s burrow. According to the website Balcony Garden Web, the smell will put them off coming back.

21. Put it under your pillow

Okay, this is going to sound a little weird, but bear with us. If you’re struggling to sleep at night, you might want to think about putting garlic under your pillow. The Garlic Farm website notes that the vegetable’s sulfur contents can settle your nervous system down. As a result of that, you can finally head to the land of nod.

20. Protect your carrots

For those of you who grow your own vegetables, this trick will be right up your alley. To help fend off hungry critters such as grasshoppers from your carrot crop, grab a garlic clove out of your kitchen cupboard. Then, after slicing one of the pieces, add some steaming hot water to it. Leave it alone for a day, before sprinkling the liquid over the carrots. And that’s it!

19. Garlic glue

Delicately cut garlic can stick to your hands as soon as you touch it. Which isn’t ideal when you’re quickly trying to put a dish together, of course. Yet looked at from a different angle, that same issue could come in handy. Because thanks to its adhesiveness, you might be able to use garlic as a type of glue around the house.

18. Soothing a sore throat

Have you run out of cough syrup at home? Well, we’ve got just the hack for you. When the evening starts to draw in, fill up a container of water and drop some garlic into it. From there, let the mixture sit until the morning, by which time your garlic tea will be ready to go. As per Wise Bread, this will ease sore throats.

17. Rose plant trick

While roses and garlic have very different scents, the latter can actually help the flower produce an even nicer smell. No joke! The Herb Society of America claims you’ll get that result by sowing the bulbs near the eye-catching flowers. On top of that, germs and critters will be kept at bay, too.

16. Treating ear infections

Ear infections can be incredibly painful – but one simple move might alleviate the discomfort. Expert Home Tips reports that you just need a sliced end of garlic and a thin bit of material. Cloak the latter over the vegetable, and then carefully place the lacerated side into your ear. At that point, drape a heated piece of fabric on top of your lug. The ache should eventually go away.

15. Fighting cold sores

If you suffer from cold sores across the year, here’s something to keep in mind. Instead of opting for an ointment, cut a bulb of garlic in two and stick that on the spot for around ten minutes. Wise Bread notes that you should do this frequently every day. It won’t feel great, yet the contents will help fight off the infection.

14. Promoting hair growth

There are many different tips available to people who’re trying to grow their hair more quickly. This one might be the smelliest, but it should garner positive results. Yep, Expert Home Tips suggests that you can mix some garlic in with your chosen shampoo while you’re washing your mane. The scent will go away quickly!

13. Dealing with powdery mildew

Powdery mildew’s a horrible disease that can ruin the appearance of any plant. Don’t throw them out, though – you can fight off the condition with a homemade remedy. First, grab five pieces of garlic from the kitchen and soak them in hot water. Let them sit for a day, before pouring the liquid away. Then, add three more liters to the mix and stick it in a spray bottle.

12. It lowers your blood pressure

It’s vitally important for you to keep your blood pressure in check as you get older. And the job can be made easier if garlic’s part of your diet. You see, the vegetable’s allicin content stops blood vessels from shrinking, which in turn prevents your levels from getting too high.

11. Clearing dandruff

Ridding yourself of dandruff is easier said than done. After all, certain treatments simply won’t work. But don’t lose faith. You could create your own mixture that’ll solve the problem. As per Expert Home Tips, you’ve just got to stir some garlic and honey together. Slap that on your head, and the flakes will soon disappear.

10. Deterring pests

Want to hear about a surefire way to rid your plants of pests? Okay then – grab a pen! You’ll require up to four pieces of garlic, four teaspoons of dish soap, a quartet of hot green peppers and a teaspoon of vegetable oil. Blend those items together with some water, and leave the mixture for a day. After that, dump the mushy bits and put the rest into a spray bottle. Finally, shower your flowers in it.

9. Improving the health of chickens

For those of you who tend your own chickens at home, this tip could prove to be very helpful. According to Balcony Garden Web, by dropping a little garlic into their water, they’ll develop a greater hunger. Plus, the vegetable’s contents will aid their internal defenses as well. So you’ll be left with healthier poultry.

8. Dealing with congestion

Nothing can ruin your day more quickly than a stuffy nose. Yet don’t throw your hands up in despair when the sniffles strike. Instead, fill a saucepan with water and get it boiling. Then, after squashing some garlic bulbs, throw them into the simmering liquid. Move the pan off the hob, before positioning your head above it along with a towel. Now, breathe in. The scent should clear your nostrils.

7. Losing weight

When all else fails, try adding some garlic to your diet if you’re looking to shed some pounds. As per Expert Home Tips, it’ll have an effect – but not in the way you might think. Yes, the vegetable has an uncanny knack of making your stomach feel stuffed after a few bites. Due to that, you’ll probably eat less at the table.

6. Clear fungal diseases from plants

Garlic’s the perfect tool for battling fungal issues in your yard, with Balcony Garden Web offering up an intriguing suggestion. After stirring a teaspoon of washing-up liquid and two cloves into some water, you can create your own fungicide. Just crush it into a puree and stick the results on a cheesecloth. Now, when you run water into that, the liquid that drains out can be applied to the affected flowers.

5. Cleanse your face

We don’t know about you, but we’re big on face creams. Those products can leave your skin feeling fantastic! Then again, garlic may have the same effect as well, providing that it’s mixed with the right ingredients. Wise Bread notes that you need to stir sugar and olive oil in with a crushed bulb to create a puree for your face.

4. Protecting fruit trees

Got any fruit trees in your yard? You do? Awesome! This trick from Balcony Garden Web’s perfect for you. To ward off hungry insects and animals, plant some garlic close to the produce. That’ll keep them away. Plus, ailments such as leaf curls and apple scab won’t crop up either thanks to its presence.

3. Treating psoriasis

Psoriasis is a really irritating skin condition, and it can attack various parts of your body. You’ll be desperate to scratch those spots. Mind you, you’ll be better served adding garlic oil to the patches. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory contents, it’ll make the discomfort a lot more tolerable. Give it a go.

2. Mosquito repellent

The next time a swarm of mosquitoes decide to descend upon your house, you can be ready for them. Yep, Wise Bread reports that a homemade repellent will protect you. To start with, place some chopped garlic into a tablespoon-sized measurement of oil. Return to it the next day, and add a bit of lemon juice and water. From there, pour the liquid inside a spray container. Job done.

1. Easing toothache

Okay, this is more of a short-term solution, but still well worth it if your dentist isn’t available for a few days. When toothache strikes, slice a piece of garlic and wipe it across the area surrounding your tooth. You can also dab it against the troublesome area, too. The discomfort should subside, for a time at least.