Milk is primarily used as food, right from infancy to adulthood that many of us will be shocked to learn that there are other uses of milk.
Apart from being a tasty health drink on its own, milk is added to tea and is used for cooking. Hot chocolate, coffee, and milkshakes are incomplete without milk. Cakes, pastries and cookies turn out perfect with the use of milk. You probably don’t know that milk can also be used in many other different ways that don’t involve ingesting it into the body.
The following are just some of the amazing uses of milk;
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Milk Baths
When you think about the health benefits of drinking milk, it is not entirely unthinkable to consider that bathing in it should also do you just as much good. Milk typically contains vitamins A, D and E, which are great for the body if you consume them. However, many skin care products include these vitamins as key ingredients too, but they’re often used in a different form. Unfortunately, though, the skin won’t be able to really absorb these vitamins in a milk bath and get these same benefits. This doesn’t necessarily mean bathing in milk doesn’t do your body any good. Historical beauties Cleopatra of Ancient Egypt and Queen Elizabeth I of England were both known to indulge in the occasional milk bath.
To try it, pour 1-2 cups of powdered milk into the bath as it fills, soak in it for 15-20 minutes and emerge with softer skin afterward. A possible advantage to milk baths is that they may help to moisturize your skin. The fats and proteins found in milk, particularly whole milk, may help to hydrate skin and retain moisture after you step out. Just ensure you rinse your body in clean water after the soak so that you’re left with a soft, milky glow instead of a sticky milk residue.
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Facial Masks
Just as Cleopatra and Queen Elizabeth have bathed in milk to ensure well moisturized and glowing skin, many beauticians have noticed the other benefits of milk and considered a facial mask consisting of milk a great option to ensure clear skin too. You don’t necessarily need as much milk as you would need when bathing with milk, but that does not reduce the potential benefits.
To make a milk facial mask, you only need brown sugar, milk, cucumber and natural honey. To create the mask, you place the brown sugar in a small bowl. Brown sugar is made with some of the world’s finest oils and is used in many skin care products. It not only tastes and smells great, but it moisturizes and rejuvenates skin while gently exfoliating and removing dead skin cells. Then you add 3 tbsp. of 2% milk. The lactic acid in milk soothes and softens dry, itchy skin. Milk will help moisturize, while at the same time tightening wrinkles and refining pores. Stir in 1 tbsp. Natural honey. Honey has been used for centuries in many natural remedies. Honey is known to kill bacteria and germs on the skin, and it also reduces inflammation and swelling, giving the face a youthful appearance. Peel and slice two pieces of cucumber to place over the eyes. Cucumber is a natural astringent and has the same pH as skin. It prevents and eliminates acne while restoring the skin’s own natural protective layer. Wash your face gently with warm water and pat dry. Apply the milk face mask to your face and neck, massaging gently for a few minutes. Place the cucumber over your eyes and relax for 20 minutes. Then, wash your face with warm water and gently pat dry. The milk facial mask can be stored for up to a week in the fridge.
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Fixing Fine China
If your china has started to show signs of wear or cracks over the years, there may be a way to repair fine cracks before tossing them. Fill a pan with powdered milk and submerge the plate. Bring to a boil, and then lower the heat and let it simmer for forty-five minutes. When you remove the plate, fine cracks will have disappeared. Proteins in the milk can bond with the clay in the china, sealing the crack. Like magic, huh?
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Shine Leather
To recreate the brand-new look/shine of your favourite leather accessories, moisten a cloth with milk and gently wipe down your leather. Let the milk dry and then buff with a soft washcloth, and watch scuffmarks and stains disappear, leaving an almost new shine.
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Making Hand Cleanser
Your hands might be dirty from working on a car or spending some time in the garden. Mix oatmeal and milk to create a thick paste, and rub it all over your hands. The paste will lift the dirt while also moisturizing your hands, leaving them feeling soft, fresh, and clean. Better yet, the small cracks and fissures that tend to develop if you work with your hands a lot will be less likely to appear.
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Stain Remover
If you have clothes stained with ink, soak them in milk overnight (or dab at ink stains with milk), and rinse well before tossing in the washing machine or putting in detergent. Milk can help lift ink stains, although your clothes may need a second rinse to ensure they don’t end up smelling like milk later.
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Removing Makeup
Powdered milk and warm water can gently lift makeup from your face without leaving residue behind, and they moisturize your skin in the process. If you have problems removing makeup completely, you might want to consider this trick for getting your makeup all the way off.
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Polish Silverware
Sour milk (or milk that’s been soured with the addition of a splash of citrus or vinegar) can be used to soak silverware to remove tarnish; you only need to soak, wash, rinse, and wipe dry.
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Thaw Frozen Fish
Frozen fish sometimes feels dry and irritating. It can acquire a metallic, frozen flavour that isn’t very nice, and it’s hard to cook with. If you thaw it in a milk bath, though, this natural moisturizer will bring hydration and flavour back to the fish, making it much tastier. Try it!
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Sooth Burned Skin
For minor burns, apply a washcloth soaked in whole milk to the affected area for 15 minutes, or submerge the burn in a bowl of milk for the same period. Repeat this every few hours to treat the burn and reduce pain. The high fat and protein content in whole milk promotes healing, as well as cools skin to reduce pain.
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Shaving Cream Substitute
Milk is a great substitute for shaving cream because its creamy base makes it a great moisturizer. This alternative is also soothing to skin, which can be helpful to areas often irritated by shaving. Create a paste of your chosen consistency using milk and water, then apply and use as needed.
Milk is quite the multipurpose agent, don’t u think? Even if you don’t like ingesting milk by itself, knowing all these wonderful alternative uses for milk should ensure it is a must have in every home. In Nigeria, Hollandia milk is the go to milk for all these other uses and more. It comes in liquid whole milk and powdered forms for whichever use you desire.