Weird Uses for Food Around the House
Weird Household Uses for Food
Peanut Butter
We were so inspired by the peanut butter carpet cleaning tip* and the bonanza of baking soda uses, that we went digging through our kitchens to seek out other tasty multi-taskers. Read on to find out how milk and vinegar nix stains, butter can save your precious baubles, and corn starch gets you and your kids out of knotty problems.
* The Peanut Butter Tip: To get gum out of a carpet, scrape up what you can, using an ice cub to stiffen it if necessary. Then rub a small glob of peanut butter into the fibers, and wipe up the whole mess with a cloth. To get rid of any left-behind PB, just dab it up with a mixture of 1 tsp of dishwashing liquid in 1 cup of lukewarm water. (Thanks to DIY Life for the tip!) It's also great to get gum out of your hair with!
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Rachel Been
Corn Starch
If your tiny tot has diaper rash, sprinkle the area with corn starch -- it's a tushy saver!
Your child just learned how to tie their shoes and the knots are impossible to undo. Stay calm and sprinkle a little cornstarch on the laces to help you work out the knot.
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Vanilla Bean
Don't just throw out the whole bean after you've scraped out the inside -- it's still fragrant with vanilla flavor. Stick it in the filter of the coffeemaker and enjoy the vanilla-flavor of your next brew.
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Vinegar
Most people know that vinegar is a great way to clean a coffee pot. What to do with the hot vinegar afterward? Pour it on weeds. White vinegar is an herbicide, while boiling water also kills weeds.
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Worcestershire Sauce
Use a soft cloth to rub Worcestershire sauce on silverware (or any silver for that matter), then rinse and dry. They will look brand new!
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Bread
Put slices of bread in the bags and jars of cookies and other baked goods to keep the goodies fresh. Great for holiday baking and shipping.
Next time you drop a wine glass or break a plate, grab a slice of bread to help you clean up. After you pick up the larger pieces, press the bread over the area and it will pick up all the itty bitty pieces you can't see. Bread can also help clean fingerprints off walls and wallpaper. Just rub and voila!
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Beer
Soak your hair in beer, and go lay out in the sun to pull out some great highlights. Make sure to shampoo afterwards, or you'll end up smelling like a brewery!
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Garlic
If you get a splinter, rub some garlic on it -- the splinter will almost jump out for you! In the old days, carpenters used to always carry garlic in their pouches for this reason.
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Bay Leaf
The fragrant leaves can be spread around in garden beds to deter insects, including those cute but pesky ladybugs.
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EyeWire
Coca-Cola
Pour Coca-Cola over corrosion on car battery and it will eat right through it.
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