or the longest time growing up, I would eat anything EXCEPT for condiments on my sandwiches, hotdogs, or other foods similar. I guess my thought was I wanted to  taste  the bread, meat, and cheese concoction I was about to enjoy…or you could call me weird. As I’ve grown into adult world, the pallet has changed, and a condiment here and there is yummy. One that goes great always on burgers and in tuna sandwiches is Mayonnaise! The funny thing is that you can do more with mayo then just eat it:

 

1. Condition your hair with it

For soft, shiny hair, take about a cup of mayo and slather it on your hair. Leave it in for about 15 minutes, then shampoo it out.

 

2. Clean your plants

If your plants are looking a little dull and dingy, you can make those leaves shiny and bright with a little mayonnaise. Here’s a great how-to from Apartment Therapy:

Equipment
Lukewarm water
Mild dishwashing soap (sans degreaser) or insecticidal soap
Paper towel or reusable cloth
Spray bottle or bowl
Mayonnaise
Duster/Swiffer cloths (optional)

 

Instructions

1. Begin by trimming any dead or decaying leaves. Now’s an excellent time to give your houseplant the equivalent of a haircut. Just a trim, nothing drastic.
2. We like to begin by simply dusting or using a Swiffer sheet gently across the leaves of our plants to remove as much dust before moving onto using the liquid solution. This will make cleaning easier, since you’ll have less filth to deal with when mixing a moist surface with a dusty one.
3. Mix in just ¼ teaspoon of dishwashing soap with lukewarm water in a bowl or mix inside spray bottle. You want et mixture to be slightly sudsy, but not a bubble bath. Be sure not to use a soap with a degreaser in it; degreasers can harm the leaf cuticle.
4. For plants with smaller, multiple leaves, wrap the top of the soil with aluminum foil, flip the potted plant over and swish them in a bucket of warm water with a little mild soap, then rinse with clean water.
5. Using a spray bottle or moistened towel, gently brush across leaves to remove accumulated dirt. Do not oversoak or go over leaves too many times (you risk bruising).
6. A great tip noted by one of our readers is to add a bit of shine afterward is to add a tiny dollop of mayonnaise (just a little, Dagwood, you’re not making a snack) onto a moistened cloth and wipe across the most visible leaves. The oil in the mayo will leave your plants shiny…will instill a strong desire to make yourself a sandwich and some potato salad.

 

3. Remove crayon marks

Kids get a little creative on the walls? Mayo to the rescue. Just spread a little on the marks, let it sit a few minutes, then wipe clean.

 

4. Make a mayo face mask

Dry skin can get a real boost of moisture from mayo, and the vinegar in it removes dead skin cells. Simply wash your face, apply mayo, and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Rub into skin before washing it off it with warm water.

 

5. Dip French fries in it

This makes some people gag, but it’s oh so much better than ketchup. If you want to be fancy, you can call it aioli.

 

6. Treat a sunburn

Some swear that applying mayo after getting too much sun provides some relief.

 

7. Get moist chicken

Dredging chicken breasts in mayo before coating it in breadcrumbs makes from some delicious baked chicken. This recipe for parmesan crusted chicken is fantastic and serves 4:

 Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Hellmann’s or Best Food’s Real Mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breast cutlets, about 1 1/4 lbs. total weight or about 5 ounces per breast
• 4 teaspoons Italian seasoned dry bread crumbs

 Directions

• ~ Set Oven to 425 degrees F
• ~Place mayo and cheese in a small bowl and mix.
•  ~Lay chicken breasts on baking sheet (I line my baking sheet with parchment paper to make clean up easy) and spread mayo mixture evenly atop each.
• ~Next evenly sprinkle bread crumbs atop each.
• ~Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked thoroughly and juices run clear. Tops will be browned and chicken will be incredibly juicy. You can also finish them off under the broiler for a minute or two to get them extra browned on top. Season with a dash of fresh cracked pepper and sea salt, if desired.

 

8. Flavor it

It’s such a great base that can be seasoned in a variety of ways. Here’s a Chipotle Mayo Recipe:

Ingredients 

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 chipotle chilies in adobo sauce
• 1 tablespoon adobo sauce from chipotle peppers

 

Directions

1. Original recipe makes 8 servings
2. In a food processor, combine the mayonnaise, chipotle chilies, and adobo sauce.
3. Pulse until smooth and well blended.