Rub banana peel on your shoe for this nifty reason

A banana to shine your shoes? Olive oil to polish your furniture? And an orange as a romantic dinner table candle? Seriously?

Yes. It turns out that some of the most common items in our kitchens can perform other household tasks that make everyday life just a little bit easier, healthier, and less expensive.

Banana Shoe Polish
After you've enjoyed its lovely yellow fruit, use a banana's skin to bring your shoes to a high shine. HouseholdHacker shows how it's done in the video below; just rub the inside of the banana peel over the shoe, then gently wipe away any leftover residue. (Tip: the greener the banana, the less residue will be left behind.)

Why does this work? According to Yuppiechef, manufactured shoe polish often has potassium in it, so it's likely the natural potassium in banana peels that does the job. Yuppiechef actually did a comparison test of banana peels versus canned shoe polish, with amazing results.

Hair Clarifier
Too much product in the hair will eventually wear it down, making it appear limp and lifeless. Easily remedy this problem with this tip from Food.com: add baking soda the next time you shampoo. Mix a ratio of two parts shampoo to one part baking soda in your palm, then lather and rinse normally -- your hair will thank you for it. (Tip: rinse with a vinegar and cold water mixture for added shine.)

Furniture Polish
For furniture that needs sprucing up, Food.com has another eco-friendly remedy: mix equal parts olive oil and lime juice and apply to furniture with a clean, soft cloth. Use a second clean, soft cloth to wipe and buff, then enjoy the shine.

Scented Citrus Candle
Set the mood with a beautiful scented candle made from an orange. First, cut an orange in half horizontally, leaving the stem area intact. Remove the flesh from the stem half, leaving the pulpy part at the stem sticking up -- this is your wick!

Pour olive oil into the peel without completely covering the wick. Light the wick and enjoy the romantic orange glow. See DIY & Crafts for suggestions on cutting the peel into pretty shapes.

Muffin Tin Condiment Tray
Hosting a barbecue is fun, but ending up with a bunch of messy, half-empty bottles of condiments that have been outside too long isn't part of that picture, especially if they're condiments that you don't even like.

Put an end to that hassle with this tip from chef Billy Parisi: fill muffin tin cups with various condiments and put a small plastic spoon in each. No more wasted food and there is only one dish to wash!

What are the ways that you use food for non-food purposes around the house? Please SHARE these tips and tell us your own in the comments below!