Clever uses for oats
Oatmeal is so much more than just a hearty breakfast dish.
There are dozens of clever uses for oats to try around the home. Here’s some of our favourites.
Absorb smells
Oatmeal can help absorb unwelcome smells from your fridge or freezer. Blitz oats in your food processor into a fine powder, then place in an open bowl in your fridge. You can also use it to line an ashtray and absorb the smell of smoke.
Thicken soups
Oats make a great alternative for flour when ground finely in a food processor, and can be used to thicken soups or as an alternative to traditional breadcrumbs.
Soothe sunburn
Oats are great for soothing irritated skin from sunburns or even chicken box. Ground oats into a flour, then fill a sock, cheesecloth or old pair of tights and fasten tightly. Tie to your bath tap, fill the tub, and soak.
Make a heat pad
An old sock filled with oats also make a brilliant heat pad that can be warmed in the microwave. It works just as well as rice, and smells better, too.
Soothe your dog’s itching skin
An oatmeal bath is also a gentle and effective way to help sooth itching skin for your pet. Blend oatmeal into a powder and dissolve into warm water. If your dog doesn’t like the bath, you can also mix equal parts water and oats into a paste and rub it into the skin, then rinse.
Make a draft stopper
Sew a piece of fabric into a tube – an old sock or stocking works if you aren’t handy with sewing needles – and then pack tightly with oats.
Mix into plant soil
Oats are filled with minerals and nutrients that can act as food for your plants. Mix in a scoop of dry oats into your potting mixture to help give your potted plants a boost.
Alternatively, if you prefer to eat oats and would like some recipes using oats here are a few of our favourites –
Sticky Blueberry and Banana Flapjack
Wholemeal muffins with oats, cream cheese and green kiwifruit
Pink Lady Apple Bircher Muesli
Do you know any clever uses for oats and oatmeal? Share you wisdom in the comments below
Rachel - Silversurfers Assistant Editor
Latest posts by Rachel - Silversurfers Assistant Editor (see all)
- Clever uses for rubber bands - January 20, 2021
- Alan Rickman’s best movies - January 14, 2021
- Clever uses for rice - January 10, 2021
- Are you affected by SAD? - January 10, 2021
- The best of Sir Rod Stewart playlist - January 9, 2021
Next up...
Leave a Comment!
Community Terms & Conditions
Content standards
These content standards apply to any and all material which you contribute to our site (contributions), and to any interactive services associated with it.
You must comply with the spirit of the following standards as well as the letter. The standards apply to each part of any contribution as well as to its whole.
Contributions must:
be accurate (where they state facts); be genuinely held (where they state opinions); and comply with applicable law in the UK and in any country from which they are posted.
Contributions must not:
contain any material which is defamatory of any person; or contain any material which is obscene, offensive, hateful or inflammatory; or promote sexually explicit material; or promote violence; promote discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age; or infringe any copyright, database right or trade mark of any other person; or be likely to deceive any person; or be made in breach of any legal duty owed to a third party, such as a contractual duty or a duty of confidence; or promote any illegal activity; or be threatening, abuse or invade another’s privacy, or cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety; or be likely to harass, upset, embarrass, alarm or annoy any other person; or be used to impersonate any person, or to misrepresent your identity or affiliation with any person; or give the impression that they emanate from us, if this is not the case; or advocate, promote or assist any unlawful act such as (by way of example only) copyright infringement or computer misuse.
Nurturing a safe environment
Our Silversurfers community is designed to foster friendships, based on trust, honesty, integrity and loyalty and is underpinned by these values.
We don't tolerate swearing, and reserve the right to remove any posts which we feel may offend others... let's keep it friendly!
Log in to comment
You need to be logged in to interact with Silversurfers. Please use the button below if you already have an account.
LoginNot a member?
You need to be a member to interact with Silversurfers. Joining is free and simple to do. Click the button below to join today!
Join