It’s not news that oats are incredibly good for you. The humble little grain is packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals and is known to be good for heart health and blood sugar regulation, amongst other things.

There won’t be many kitchens around that don’t have some oats squirreled away in some form or another. They make a quick and easy breakfast, healthy cookies, and even bread. Oats can be whizzed up into flour, blended into milk, and used in a plethora of imaginative recipes.

It should be clear by this point that oats are incredibly versatile in recipes, but our friend, the oat, doesn’t stop there. There are a few ways that oats can be used in other areas of your home, from the bathroom to the kids’ playroom!

1. Playdough

This is a great way to use up oats that have perhaps been hanging around in your cupboard a little too long. You can please the kids, and maybe yourself, by whipping up a batch of non-toxic playdough. You can even get the kids involved in making the playdough in the first, as there is no cooking required. Sure, there are lots of playdough recipes out there, but this one is really quick and easy, requires only three ingredients, and won’t stain tiny hands, countertops, or carpets.

Mix 2 cups of raw oats, one cup of regular flour, and one cup of water. These ratios can be scaled up or down depending on your needs. Mix the ingredients until they are combined, then knead the mixture together until it forms workable playdough.

When not in use, keep your play dough in a sealed container in the fridge for up to a week. This playdough can be composted once the kids are done.

2. Dry Shampoo

Dry shampoo can be quite the savior on days when you have woken up late and have no time for a shower or if you are opting to go for a stint without shampoo. Whatever the reason, having some dry shampoo on hand can be pretty useful. Oats do a fine job. This simple recipe can be made with just a food processor and a jar.

Take 2 tablespoons of dry oats and blend them until they are a fine powder. Mix this with 1/2 cup of cornstarch. If you have dark-colored hair, you can add some cocoa powder, too. Store your dry shampoo in a jar with a lid.

On days when your hair is feeling a little limp, lank, and greasy, massage a little dry shampoo into your roots. Be sure to brush out excess dust!

3. Fridge Deodorizer

Lots of people use baking soda as a fridge deodorizer, and for good reason. It does great work. However, oats do just as good a job. If you have run out of baking soda, place a jar of oats at the back of your fridge and smell the difference. Oats are very absorbent and work in the same way as baking soda to absorb foul food smells. Change your oats out, just as you would baking soda.

Also, leave a jar of oats in other stinky areas of the house to help get rid of unwanted smells.

4. Bathtub Teabags

Source: Kin/YouTube

Oats have all kinds of health properties that work topically and well as internally. Oats are known to help treat and soothe the effects of eczema, itchy or dry skin, stings and bites, mild sunburns, and cases of poison ivy.

One easy way to use oats for your skin is to add them to your bathwater. If you are not keen on the thought of bathing in a tub of oatmeal, one lovely solution is to make up some bathtub teabags. Simply fill a small pouch with some oats and other nourishing ingredients, such as essential oils, dried flowers, and Epsom salts, and seal it up. Then, hang your teabag over your faucet and let the hot water run through it. Have a nice long soak in a healing bath.

5. Face Mask

Source: Marco Verch Professional Photographer/Flickr

Another way to use oats topically is to make up a face mask. Oats are very soothing for the skin, can help lock in moisture, and reduce inflammation and redness. In this recipe for a soothing face mask, you need one banana, 2 tablespoons of oats, and a few squeezes of lemon juice. Blend or mix all of the ingredients until you have a paste, and apply this to your face. You can sit with this on for 10-15 minutes.

Oats are cost-effective, easy to work with, delicious, healthy, and, as we can see here, versatile. Next time you find yourself with some expired oats, think about some of the ways you and give them extra life around your home while keeping them out of the bin a little longer.

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