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!)
Got a tip on a multi-tasking food? Share it in the blog.
Rachel Been
Milk
Oh no! You forgot to put the cap on your pen and now there is ink seeping into your shirt. No worries -- just grab some milk and soak the area. Depending on the type of ink, this process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours. Patience is a virtue.
Got a tip on a multi-tasking food? Share it in the blog.
Pepper
Everyone knows Clorox's catchy ditty about keeping clothes bright, but all you need is pepper. Add a teaspoon of pepper to the wash before you add in your clothes and it will keep the colors from fading.
Got a tip on a multi-tasking food? Share it in the blog.
Sugar
At your next BBQ don't spend money on anti-pest candles that never work. Simmer 2 cups of milk, a 1/4 pound of sugar and 2 oz. of ground black pepper for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour the mixture into bowls and put them where the flies will be attracted to them and then drown. You can also place around the house. No more buzzzzzing at the windows.
Got a tip on a multi-tasking food? Share it in the blog.
Sugar
At your next BBQ don't spend money on anti-pest candles that never work. Simmer 2 cups of milk, a 1/4 pound of sugar and 2 oz. of ground black pepper for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour the mixture into bowls and put them where the flies will be attracted to them and then drown. You can also place around the house. No more buzzzzzing at the windows.
Got a tip on a multi-tasking food? Share it in the blog.
Soda
Next time your drain is clogged and you don't have time to run to the store for some Drain-O just look in your fridge! A 2-liter bottle of soda will do the trick. Just pour it down to clobber the clog.
Got a tip on a multi-tasking food? Share it in the blog.
Shortening
For a natural solution to diaper rash, try coating the area with a thin layer of shortening. It will act as a moisturizer.
Got a tip on a multi-tasking food? Share it in the blog.
Salt
Grease stains can be a huge pain when it comes to doing laundry. Before you wash, work a generous amount of table salt into the stain and then launder as usual.
Got a tip on a multi-tasking food? Share it in the blog.
Potatoes
Too much to drink last night and now you have puffy eyes? Apply a thin slice of cold potato to your eyes and leave on for five minutes. Then splash with cool water, put on your makeup (or just some moisturizer -- this means you, too, guys!) and head to work!
Got a tip on a multi-tasking food? Share it in the blog.
Oranges
Don't you hate it when you have to start a fire and little bits of newspaper are flying everywhere? Next time, air-dry orange peels, which contain flammable oils that burn longer, and use those instead of the paper. The delicious smell is a bonus.
Got a tip on a multi-tasking food? Share it in the blog.
