One day, you think to yourself, “I could go for a nice tropical fruit right about now,” as you walk along the grocery aisles. You see all sorts of tropical fruits, but none of them seem to do it for you. As you are about to reach the end, you notice a peculiar, pungent, yet familiar smell that you know to have a great taste underneath that repulsive smell: the durian fruit.
You grab a few and make your way home to make yourself a nice Durian Crepe, only to find yourself with a conundrum: what to do with all of the durian husks left over? While the majority of people would understandably throw the husks away, there are more than enough reasons to skip throwing these useful husks and instead find alternative uses for them. Let’s put on our thinking caps, examine the husks, and find out what are some other uses we can come up with for these items.
Low-cost Bandages
According to a research paper presented in the ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, scientists have found a way to make a low-cost, wound-healing bandage that is made from the husks of durian fruit. According to Professor William Chen, the lead researcher at Nanyang Technical University, when the material was used in an experiment, it showed promise as it had good antimicrobial effects that lasted up to 48 hours.
The material is rather cheap and costs a lot less than conventional materials like hydrogel and can simply biodegrade after use. In the realm of conventional use, it can be a great alternative to what many would use today if the durian bandages were to become commercially available.
Turn husks into compost
Instead of throwing the husks into the garbage bin, why not let nature take its natural course with it and make it a part of your gardening hobby? The husks themselves can be turned into compost, just as with any other natural product of nature, and make for a great source of nutrients for your plant babies. Because it is au naturalle, the plants you have nurtured will not be damaged in any way, shape, or form.
In order to get started with it, you first need to gather the husks you’ve collected and cut them into smaller pieces. Add the durian husks to your compost along with other materials (dead leaves, food scraps, dirt, manure, etc.). Turning durian husks into compost is a much better solution than throwing it into the bin and discarding it because it will cause significant harm to the environment and may even cause pathogens.
Removes bad breath
It is a bit ironic how the very fruit that is known for its notoriously hideous smell yet tasty insides can actually help individuals with bad breath issues. The compounds in the durian husk act as a deodorizer and eliminate foul smells, as well as preventing the cause of tooth decay.
In order for you to get these wondrous effects, you will need some salt water, a fork, and the durian husk. After gathering the materials, pour the salt water into the durian husk and let it soak for a bit. Grab your fork and scrape the interior of the husk, and gargle the mixture for the same length of time you gargle with mouthwash. Once you are done, simply spit out the mixture and notice the change in your breath’s smell.
Cat litter and pet bedding
Have we mentioned about the wondrous odor-eliminating powers of durian husks? This is where the dried husks come to save the day again for our fur babies. Due to their biodegradable nature, they make for some excellent natural products in case you are looking to save up. The dry husks make for the perfect “sponge” to absorb and eliminate foul smell, making your pet litters seem newly cleaned or empty.
Dry the durian husks thoroughly before cutting them into smaller pieces. place them on the location where they will become pet litter or bedding and spread them apart evenly. Make sure always to replace them as needed in order for you to maintain cleanliness in your home.
Durian husk paper
Do you want to have some fun and creative time with the kiddies at home after eating durians? A neat little project that you can do with them is to teach them how paper is made and what better material to use other than newspapers than durian husks. As the adult in the group, you will be needing to oversee the project as you will be handling equipment such as blenders, stoves, and possibly sharp objects.
In order to create durian husk paper, you first need to split the husks into smaller pieces and dry them thoroughly. Once they are dry, soak the dried husk pieces in water for a few hours or do so overnight to soften them up and prepare them to be mashed. Blend or mash the husk pieces inside a blender until it has turned to pulp. Pour this pulpy mixture inside a DIY paper mold or a flat container and press-dry the sheets. Take the sheets out of the mold and enjoy your new sheets of durian husk paper with the kids. It can even be used for wedding invitations, RSVPs, or such. It is an elegant way to help the environment while making use of what you may think is useless at first.
Durian husk hand and body scrub
Did you know that durian husks can make for an excellent hand (or body) scrub? Its natural abrasiveness lends itself to eliminating dirt and grime and exfoliates your skin. As this is an all-natural product, it is great for individuals looking for better alternatives to commercial brands out there.
Get things started by first drying the husks you gathered thoroughly as we will be preparing them to be ground into a fine powder. Once the husks have dried, take them and cut them into smaller, more manageable sizes. Take the husk chunks and pulverize them inside a blender, as you will need to make sure the end product is a coarse powder. Mix the coarse powder with some natural and essential oils to make your hand and body scrub solution.
In order for you to test it out, apply some of the hand and body scrub while you take a nice bath and apply a generous amount on your body. Make sure to massage the area well to exfoliate the skin and wash it all off thoroughly once you are finished. Use a few times a week for that exfoliated and clean feeling.
Closing Thoughts
There are many more ways you can use the husk of durians, but are simply too many to list down. The ones mentioned have been used by lots of individuals looking for an alternative use for the waste product. After all, necessity was said to be the mother of invention, and looking for new uses for the durian husks counts as some of the best inventions. If it can help lessen our waste production, it will make for a much brighter and cleaner tomorrow and give another notch in the belt for the “King of Fruits.”