Cloves are often used as a whole spice in cooking or added to tea to enhance flavor and boost the health benefits of herbal decoctions (*kadha*). However, cloves possess numerous medicinal properties that make them useful for everyday household tasks beyond just cooking.

Here is how you can use cloves for purposes other than cooking:
Cloves are rich in antiseptic properties, making them useful for various household chores:

**Use as a Room Freshener**
Place a small bowl containing orange peels, rose petals, 7–8 cloves, and cinnamon in your living room or bedroom. This acts as a natural room freshener.

**Use in Skincare**
Cloves can help prevent acne from worsening and also offer anti-aging benefits. To treat acne, crush 2–3 cloves and apply the paste to the pimple before going to bed; wash it off with plain water the next morning.

For anti-aging purposes, crush one clove, mix it with honey, apply the mixture to your face for 15 minutes, and then wash it off. Just remember to perform a patch test before applying it to your skin.

**Use for Household Cleaning**
First, boil 10–20 cloves in 5–6 cups of water. Remove the mixture from the heat and let it cool down. Once cooled, use this water for cleaning your home; its mild, spicy aroma will leave the house smelling fresh.

**Relief from Toothache**
The eugenol present in cloves can provide relief from toothaches. Upon a dentist's advice, you can find relief from pain by applying clove oil or a clove directly to the affected area.

**Repel Insects**
The strong aroma of cloves can help drive away insects from the house, especially the kitchen. Cloves contain a compound called eugenol, which acts as a natural insecticide. To use this method, boil 15–20 cloves in a cup of water. Once the water cools, pour it into a spray bottle and spray it in the corners of your home.

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