When washing rice, people often discard the water, believing it has no use. In fact, in daily life, rice washing water has many uses and can play "multiple roles."
Rice washing water contains certain proteins, vitamins, and trace elements. The first or two washes, in particular, contain potassium, and the water has a weak acidity with a pH of about 5.5. When salt is added for medicinal purposes, it has the effects of clearing heat, cooling the blood, and detoxifying.
Research has found that rice washing water contains nutrients such as protein, starch, and minerals. It can be used to wash the face and moisturize the skin. When boiled and drunk, it helps protect the gastric mucosa, relieve indigestion, and improve poor digestion. Traditional Chinese medicine also attempts to stir-fry Chinese herbs with rice washing water as a prescription for nourishing the spleen and stomach.
Boiling rice washing water with salt and using it to wash or wipe the skin has a gentle cleansing effect. It can maintain the skin's normal pH balance, inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms, and prevent skin itching.
Additionally, the first or two washes of rice water will have a weak acidity with a pH of about 5.5. After washing twice, the pH is around 7.2. This weakly alkaline rice water is very suitable for washing items. It can replace soapy water to remove sebum, and compared to general industrial detergents, its cleaning power is moderate, its texture is gentle, and it has no side effects.
1. Use rice washing water to wash your hands. It not only removes dirt but also makes the skin moist and smooth.
2. Use rice washing water to scrub dishes. It has strong degreasing power, contains no chemicals, and is better than dishwashing detergent.
3. Before using a new clay pot, scrub it several times with rice washing water, then fill it with rice gruel and simmer it over a fire for half an hour. After this treatment, the clay pot will not leak.
4. A cutting board that has been used for a long time will develop a fishy smell. Soak it in rice washing water for a while, then scrub it with salt to remove the odor.
5. Iron cookware such as knives, spatulas, and spoons can be prevented from rusting by soaking them in relatively concentrated rice washing water. If they are already rusty, soak them in water for several hours first, which will make it easier to wipe off the rust spots.
6. For vegetables with a fishy smell, rub them in salted rice washing water, then rinse with clean water to remove the odor.
7. Meat bought from the market sometimes has dust and dirt on it, which is difficult to wash off with tap water. If you wash it twice with hot rice washing water, the dirt can be easily removed.
8. Newly painted furniture has a strong paint smell. Wiping it repeatedly with a soft cloth dipped in rice washing water can remove the paint smell.
9. Soak white clothes in rice washing water for 10 minutes, then wash with soap to make them look as white as new.
10. If a towel is stained with fruit juice, sweat, etc., it will have an odor and become hard. Soak it in rice washing water and steam it for more than ten minutes, and it will become white and soft again.