My grandma puts her jewelry in a bowl of water with cloves — and I finally asked her why 💍🧂 Turns out, cloves do way more than just smell nice. From banishing bugs to freshening shoes and even cleaning gold, this humble spice is a household superhero. Full list of clever uses in this article 👇
Cloves are known for their strong, spicy smell, but they’re useful for much more than just flavoring food. Their scent and natural antiseptic properties make them a simple, effective way to handle many everyday problems at home.
1. Getting Rid of Insects
If bugs are bothering you, cloves can help you deal with them in a natural way:
Moths: Place a few whole cloves in your closet or dresser drawers. Their strong smell will keep moths away.
Ants: Sprinkle ground cloves where you see ants. The smell will drive them away.
Fruit flies: Mix some cloves with apple cider vinegar in a small bowl and leave it on the counter. The smell will attract the flies, but they won’t be able to escape.
2. Removing Bad Smells
Cloves can also help make your home smell fresher:
In the fridge: Put a small dish of whole cloves inside the fridge to soak up unpleasant odors.
In the trash can: Drop a few cloves into the bottom of the bin before putting in a new bag.
In shoes: Sprinkle ground cloves into shoes and leave overnight. It helps remove bad smells.
3. Natural Home Fragrance
If you want your home to smell warm and cozy, cloves can help:
Aroma lamp: Add a few drops of clove essential oil to the water in your aroma lamp. It will fill the room with a soft, spicy scent.
Sachets: Fill small cloth bags with cloves, cinnamon sticks, and lavender. Place them in drawers, closets, or around your home.
4. Cleaning Jewelry
Cloves can gently clean and brighten jewelry:
Crush a few clove buds and add them to warm water.
Soak your jewelry in the water for 5–10 minutes.
Rinse with clean water and dry with a soft cloth.
5. Strengthening Nails
Clove oil can help your nails look healthier and grow stronger:
Add a few drops of clove essential oil to a bowl of warm water.
Soak your nails in it for 10–15 minutes. It helps prevent breakage and keeps them strong.
