You’d probably be surprised to find out that Coca-Cola works rather well as a pesticide, especially in India. This isn’t the kind of thing you’re going to hear from the company itself (they don’t want people to think they’re drinking anything dangerous) but it has to do with the drink’s high sugar content.
There are a number of ways this works, such as attracting ants, which don’t bother plants but do keep other bugs away by devouring their larvae. Real pesticides might work better, but using Coke can work in a pinch. You can also set out a small cup of the drink away from your picnic to stay pest-free.
It Might Cure a Sore Throat
There are two camps when it comes to drinking Coke – or any soda – when you have a sore throat. Some say that mixing it with a little lemon and ginger will soothe the pain and help your throat heal, while others argue that soda, especially if it has caffeine, will dry you out and make the pain worse.
If you weren't aware, staying hydrated is one of the easiest ways to combat sickness and speed up healing. Lemon and ginger are both known to reduce pain, but if you decide to take this track, chase that Coke with a glass of water for best results.
Activate Your Compost
Composting is to break down natural items into fertilizer and non-damaging chemicals, but sometimes it can take a while. Weirdly, if you pour in a can of Coke and shake the compost up, it will jumpstart the decomposition process to get the good stuff going quicker.
The carbonation of Coke also speeds up the process, so you'll be ready by the next planting season. You won't even have to do any extra work, other than taking the can to the composter. Who said that Coca-Cola wasn't good for the environment? And all the while, here it is doing good work to grow healthy plants.
Get a Greener Lawn
Mix a few unusual ingredients and you'll have a concoction that will keep your lawn healthy and green. Take a can of Coke, a can of beer, half a cup of liquid dishwashing soap, half a cup of household ammonia, and half a cup of mouthwash and spray it in areas where your lawn is looking brown and dying.
The soap helps the mix penetrate down to the roots, and the ammonia is healthy food for the grass. We're not sure exactly what the Coke itself does, but we're sure it has something to do with the certain chemical compounds that plants like to snack on.
Polish Old Jewelry
If you have a few small items that have lost their luster over the years, Coke can help. Just like it revitalizes chrome, copper, and pennies, this drink can take jewelry and make it like new again.
This technique is best used on smaller items that don't weigh too much. Be sure NOT to do this with any gold items, since the acid could damage the color. For best results, leave the items in Coke for ten minutes before gently rinsing under warm water and wiping with a clean cloth. You'll be able to add a little bit of sparkle back to your outfits.
Coca-Cola Cake
Take a look online and you'll find hundreds of ways to introduce your favorite soft drink into your bakes. However, just adding some of it to regular bakes can make the dough moist and fluffy thanks to the chemical components of Coke.
Next time you're whipping up a chocolate cake or something similar, add some soda for a dash of extra flavor and spongy feeling. The amount you should include will differ with each recipe, so take care not to ruin all your tasty hard work. You can also try other sodas to vary the tastes of your bakes for a surprise!
Tenderize Your Meats
Coke goes great with lots of meals, but it does more than linger on the tongue. The acidic properties of this and many other soft drinks tenderize your food and give it a deep, rich flavor. There's a good chance that it will beat store-bought marinades and sauces if you like Coke enough.
You'll just need to put your meat inside a plastic bag, with enough coke to cover all the sides. Put it together two or three hours before cooking for tender, juicy, tasty meat. We've heard the flavor works best with pork, but almost anything will do.
Remove Stains From China
Whip up a mixture of Coke, soda water, and lemon juice until it has a paste-like consistency, and apply the mixture to china like the inside of your sink to break up tough stains that normal scrubbing just can't handle.
Let it sit for five minutes before you rinse it off thoroughly. Really thoroughly, as letting it sit too long could permanently discolor the china. You can also use this on china dishes or settings, and it will leave them sparkling just like new. Coke seems to be in charge of the entire life of stains, from their creation to their destruction.
Create Dynamite Curls
It's been a big surprise how many uses Coke has for your personal beauty regimen. From dying, to washing, to now curling, it seems like any beauty queen has to have Coke in her makeup supplies. The phosphoric acid in Coca-Cola contracts hair cuticles, which brings out the natural curl of your hair.
The next time you want an inexpensive way to get a little bit more volume, try washing your hair with Coke. Look, we just write the stuff, we didn't come up with it. It's not like everyone here has beautiful curls and sugary hair. No. Certainly not.
Add Some Flavor to Sloppy Joes
Coke livens up lots of dishes as a drink, but here's another one you can add directly. The addition of this soda – or really, any soda – livens up the flavors of a Sloppy Joe mix and doesn't make dinnertime any more complicated.
Joes are great fare for many, but some people do find them a little bland. Use some Coke while mixing to put a little more pep into the sandwich. The sugar is, of course, a big draw for why people will enjoy the mix, but the other flavors of Coke don't hurt. Top with mustard or ketchup for flavors that will linger on your tongue for a long time.
Make a Plastic Bag Dispenser
This might not be using the drink itself, but if you've started using Coke more around the house, turn some of those old bottles into something useful.
Cut the opening off at the neck, and then remove the bottom edge as well. Smooth down any sharp edges and you'll have an item that is perfect for storing plastic bags. If you remove the plastic bags from their original package and slip them into your creation (decorated as you see fit, obviously), they'll stay connected until you pull them out. Coca-Cola never stops being useful, it seems.
Keep Things Moving Downstairs
Backed up down below? Grab a drink. If you're having difficulty going to the bathroom, you might not be surprised to find out that Coke will help you out. You might think it's the carbonation or the acid that provides a little bit of energy to your digestion, but it's actually caffeine that provides a mild laxative effect.
There are plenty of jokes about having to get to work quickly before your morning cup of coffee takes effect, and a can of Coke works in much the same way. The effect is reduced since there isn't as much caffeine, but it's still there and it's still waiting to help you out.
Remove Rust From Metal
The acid content of Coca-Cola is one of the more famous elements of the drink, with many warnings being bandied about for teeth or bones if you drink too much. Then again, it can be a boon, as well.
If you have a little metal item that is covered with rust, dip it into a container of Coca-Cola. The phosphoric acid in the drink corrodes the rust and will loosen it, which makes it easy for you to scrub it off. If the item is too big to get into a container, dip a rag in the Coke and start wiping.
Get Frost Off Car Windows
If you live in a place that has temperatures sink below freezing, you know how frustrating it can be to come out in the morning – or even after work – and find ice on your windows. If it's bad enough, just scraping it away won't do the job. Once again, reach for a can of your favorite soft drink.
Pour the drink over the ice and let it settle for a few minutes. Eventually, somehow, the ice will just come off on its own. We aren't exactly sure what the chemical process is for this one, but we're sure it has something to do with carbonation. Or acid. Or something like that. One way or another, it gets the ice off.
Wash Away Marker Stains
If you have marker stains on clothes, carpet, walls, or anywhere else, you can get rid of them by pouring a little bit of Coke on the stain, or washing it with a cloth if it's on the wall.
The acid and other elements of Coke will loosen the marker ink, even if it's permanent, and allow you to wash it away with soap and water. You may have a Coke stain to deal with next, but that's much easier to get rid of. Just don't use a marker to draw a circle around the Coke stain. That'd just be silly.
Freshen Up Old Coinage
If you're a numismatologist, you know that getting old coins back into shiny shape is one of life's true joys. But what's the best way? Yup, it's Coke again. Dip your ancient coins and favorite designs into a mug of Coca-Cola and leave them there for a little while – when you remove them, the coins will look shiny and new after a rinse.
This is a great little science experiment you can do with kids to teach about chemicals, acids, and other things. Plus, the snack is right there waiting to be sipped as you watch the chemical reactions take place.
Make Old Pots New Again
If you spend lots of time at the stove, you know that one wrong move can make pots and pans blackened. This makes food taste strange (and usually not in a good way) and damages the items, but there's a way back.
Pour Coca-Cola into the pots or pans and let it sit for a few minutes. The chemicals will fight against the grime and make it much looser, at which point you can pretty easily scrub it out. Your cookware will be ready to create some wonderful dishes again. They'll look like they're brand new.
Lift Dried-on Glue
For some reason, Coke is really good at destroying the adhesive properties of stuff. Must be the acid. If you've been gluing things together and a little bit of the sticky stuff has fallen where you don't want it, grab a red can and get to work removing it.
It's certainly a better choice than something like sandpaper or paint thinner, both of which can result in damage to your hands or other things. Let the Coke sit on the dried glue for about ten minutes before cleaning it away using rubbing alcohol. It won't even let any residue stay there. Nobody will know how messy you are with glue.
Make It Easier to Remove Old Paint
A little bit of Coke seems to go a long way. If you need to add a fresh coat of paint to something, but the old paint is too messy for you to do anything, here's what you do. Soak a towel in Coke, then gently rub or scrape off any unwanted paint. Afterward, wash the surface you've been working on with soapy water to ensure total cleanliness.
The best part about this method is that it also works with smaller items like scissors, or even furniture. Once again, Coke's unique chemical makeup works wonders in helping you around the house. We're surprised people even drink it anymore.
Remove Tarnish From Copper
The acid in Coke might not be the best thing for your teeth, but it's surprisingly helpful for a lot of other reasons. One of those reasons is to clean the stain off of metals since it can't hurt the metal. It lifts stains off of the harder materials.
If you have some old copper items lying around and want to freshen them up, dip a rag into some Coca-Cola and start scrubbing. You might have to put in a little bit of the old elbow grease, but if you have the time and the energy, you'll be able to make your items look new again.
Make Your Photos Look Old
Why would you want to make your photos look old, you ask? Well, not all of them, obviously. But if you want to be a little artistic with some of your special shots, try dipping them in a dish of Coke and let it soak for a second. You really want to avoid doing it for too long, or your photo will be ruined.
Hang it up to drip-dry, and you'll soon have a homemade vintage photo. That is perfect for parties, social media, and more. You can also do only part of the photo to get a fun past-to-future effect you can use to increase your artistic skills.
Get Gum Out of Hair and Elsewhere
There are a couple of ways to get gum out of your hair without grabbing a pair of scissors – Coke is one of them. Pour some Coca-Cola onto the spot where the gum is stuck. Let it sit for a few minutes, and it will become far easier for you to pick the gum out.
This trick works basically anywhere, though there are some places you might not want to pour Coke. But it should work for gum that is stuck on clothes, bedsheets, drapes, or other household places. You could also do the carpet, but be sure to clean it afterward.
Create the Best Pie Anybody Has Ever Had
If you're after an unbeatable southern taste, nothing hits like pecan pie and Coke. Add a Coca-Cola reduction to your pie mix to create a sticky syrup that is full of sugar and flavor.
It takes on the consistency of corn syrup and can be used in a similar way. It will make your pie-baking time a little longer since you'll have to stand at the stove as the Coke boils down, but in the end, you'll have a treat that will leave people wondering when it's the next time for you to bring dessert.
Make Your Skin Smooth and Shiny. Maybe.
We can't really tell for certain if this one is real. There are some people that say adding a little bit of your favorite fizzy drink to your body lotion will make it work even better at keeping your skin looking healthy.
If you want to try this, go ahead and try it. Let us know how it works. Wouldn't the sugar content in the soda make your skin sticky? Which is, for the most part, the opposite of smooth and shiny? At least on our scale. Still, Coke seems to do everything else, why not as a moisturizer? Maybe the acidic content scrapes away dry skin cells.
Use It as a Floor Cleaner
Need to freshen up a wood or tile floor in a jiff, and you aren't allowed to leave the kitchen and get real cleaning supplies for some reason? Snatch a can of Coke to use as a multipurpose floor cleaner. Empty the can into a bucket of water and start washing – it's just that simple.
It might not be a top-of-the-line cleanser, compared to chemicals made for that purpose, but it works in a pinch and it isn't very expensive. Plus, maybe it will make the room smell sweet and fresh, like how you feel after you've finished a can of Dr. Pepper.
Relieve a Headache
Coca-Cola was originally developed as a medicine – in fact, it was originally developed to help headaches, and it still manages to do that today. The caffeine in Coke can reduce inflammation and loosen the blood vessels in the brain, which can be helpful both for standard headaches and migraines.
It's not a miracle drink, so you still might need medicine. Also, the sugar content in Coke is such that those who are sensitive to it might find their headaches getting worse. Use caution when attempting your own home remedies. If anything, sipping something you enjoy should make the headache a little easier to get through.
Flavor Your Foods
If something tastes good, why not use it in cooking? That's the idea behind this tip. Innovators have used Coke to freshen up plenty of their dishes, like chocolate cakes, chicken wings, barbecue, and more. The flavors seem to work the best with pork, so the next time you're putting together a baked ham or pork chops, try reaching for the red can in your fridge to make a glaze or sauce.
We've never tried it, but honestly, it sounds pretty good. If you've experimented, reach out to us and tell us how it went. That's not even the only thing that Coke can do for your food.
Fade Dark Hair Colors
If you like to personalize your hairstyle with dyes, you know that it can be difficult to get the right shade every time. Thankfully, the wonders of Coke make it easier for you to get the right color. If you dyed your hair and it's come out far too dark for your liking, grab a can of Coke and soak the areas you want to be lighter.
Just like how Coca-Cola removes stains from clothes, it's helpful for removing stains from your hair – which, when you think about it, is what hair dye is. Keep a can around to increase your styling skills.
Stop Hiccups
Everybody has their own crazy way of curing hiccups, from scares to dances to drinks. Here's another one, and it seems to work pretty well. Mix Coke and water and swish it around inside your mouth, gargling a few times. How could it help? There are a bunch of possible reasons.
The most likely is that the carbonation interrupts the chemical balance that causes hiccups, or something like that. We're pretty sure it has to do with carbonation, at any rate. Or maybe it's the sugar. We guess it could also be the acidic content. We guess we're saying that we don't know.
Soothe a Sting
If you're playing out in the yard with a couple of cans of Coke on the porch to drink during a break and you feel a bee sting, don't go running inside. Pouring soda on the affected area will give you instant relief by breaking down the venom that comes with stings.
It can also work on other bites like horse flies or mosquitoes, as long as you have enough. That's right, there's a little bit of venom in those bites – nowhere near enough to hurt you long-term as long as you aren't allergic. Still, they're a hassle to deal with and can be a big pain, too.
Restore Aging Chrome
If you have some chrome in the kitchen, the bedroom, the bathroom, or the garage that has seen better days, here's what you need to do. Grab a can of Coke and some aluminum foil, pour the Coke over the metal, and rub it with the foil.
It's almost like magic, but it's just boring old science. Somehow, someway, the Coke loosens the corrosion and stains that cover the metal, and the aluminum foil...we don't really know. Why can't you just use a washcloth or something like that? Well, we didn't come up with this stuff. Mr. Coca-Cola did, and he wants you to use aluminum foil.
No Longer Must You Smell Like a Gas Station
The smell of gasoline is one of those polarizing things. Some people really like it but some hate it. If you're in the latter group, then there's hope for you. Everybody who's worked with petroleum products knows that it can be difficult to remove this clinging smell, but Coke works with other scents and stains – why not this one?
It's easy and cheap. You only have to pour a can of coke into the washer along with the detergent, and it will get rid of that stench.
Get Your Toilet Cleaner
The toilet is one of the less-favorite things for people to clean in their homes. There might be worse, but how often do you need to clean behind the fridge? The next time you're looking for your rubber gloves, pour a can of Coke into the toilet bowl and hit it with a toilet wand.
If there are lots of stains inside the bowl, the baking soda and acidity of the Coca-Cola will loosen those stains and make them much easier to scrub away. Finish it up with a real cleaner and you can be proud of that sparkling bowl. It seems paradoxical, but it works.
Power Up
Now, this is just getting ridiculous. Apparently, it's possible to use Coke to build a battery. You won't get a whole lot of power out of it, but it's possible to at least appear on a voltmeter, at the very least. Not very high.
The more cans you use, the more power. It actually isn't the Coke itself that accomplishes this, but the cans. Using the cans, some pennies, a glass, crocodile clips, wire wool, and a few more items, you can create your own battery as an experiment. Check out some of the step-by-step formulas online for an at-home science project.
Use It as an Inexpensive Window Cleaner
Coke cleans stuff – whodathunkit? Yes, the sweet, tasty brown drink is a great way to get rid of stains, especially on windows and other flat glass.
One of Coke's main ingredients is citric acid, which makes an excellent cleaner in a pinch if you don't have any Windex lying around. Soak a cloth in the Coke and rub the windows until they're fully covered, and then make sure to rinse them thoroughly – you don't want to have any sugary residue left behind for a number of reasons. Bugs. Bugs would love that.
Descale a Kettle
If you're a fan of tea but the brew that comes out of your kettle is tasting a little metallic, grab a can of Coke. Pour it inside your kettle or whatever you use to create soothing hot drinks, and boil it for about thirty minutes. Give it a good, thorough rinse, and the next time you make some tea it's bound to taste a little fresher and more natural.
This is something you should do if you're using your kettle or coffee maker for a couple of pots a day, or you're switching between coffee and tea.
Clean Up Old Batteries
If batteries go bad, you can pretty easily dispose of them, but what if they're still good, and just a little corroded? The acid inside batteries can be dangerous, and won't react well to regular soap and water. If you have batteries that have corroded, you can use Coke since the drink is acidic and won't disrupt the mixture.
This is incredibly handy if you're stuck in the middle of nowhere with a corroded car battery. You'll still need to get a new battery, but it can keep your car running for a little while longer and get you to a car shop.
Calm Down an Upset Stomach
If your stomach won't settle down, try sipping some Coke. Lemon-lime sodas are another common choice for this, but it's been shown that flat Coke can be as effective as ginger ale in reducing nausea. If your nausea is especially acute, drink about a teaspoon of flat coke every hour to settle your stomach.
This shouldn't take the place of medical help and actual rest if you're really ill, but hopefully, you'll feel better anyway. The reason for this is carbonation, which reduces acidity. Sugar also opens up the stomach, which can reduce pain. Plus, if you like drinking Coke, at least you'll be able to enjoy yourself a little bit.
Keep Your Garden Free of Pests
Gardening is a great hobby that keeps you occupied for months, but there are few things more annoying than stepping into your garden to find your prize zucchini has become a snack for slugs. To combat this, leave a bowl of Coke out overnight.
It will attract all manner of creeping creatures such as slugs, snails, and bugs. They might drown in the bowl, but at least they'll go down happily. Even if they haven't perished, you can easily pick up the bowl and take the slugs somewhere they're more welcome. Like Greece, maybe.
Make Beans Less Magical
Lots of people love some baked beans, but they do tend to have an effect on the body. Kids might love it, but if you're bringing baked beans to a family reunion, too many toots can bring the party down.
Soak your beans in Coke with your other flavors like ketchup, garlic, molasses, and bacon and put it all in a pressure cooker. Once the cooking is done, keep the pressure cooker's release valves shut for ten minutes, then release the buildup before opening. You'll have a delicious cornbread dish that will get people wowing about the flavors but won't have them running for fresh air.
Unclog a Garbage Disposal
You don't need to call up a pricey plumber or figure out a complicated device to get your garbage disposal draining again. All you need is a bottle of brown liquid. The acidity of Coke breaks down the gunk that clogs your sink. Pour a generous amount into your sink and you may find that water drains that much faster.
You can also use hot water to accomplish something similar or to wash away whatever gunk is left after the Coke. Remember not to pour anything straight down the sink or you might end up doing more damage than good to the disposal.
Rid Yourself of Skunk Smell
If you happen across a white-striped critter, we're sure you know what is going to happen next. Skunk smell is a legendary defense mechanism the beasts have developed, and it takes a lot of time to get it out of anything. The chemicals of Coca-Cola help lift smells out of areas that have been affected by the creatures.
Jump into the shower, crack open a can (take a sip), and pour it onto the areas of your body that still harbor the smell. You might need more of the stuff, but how often do you have a chance to shower with a carbonated drink? Embrace it.
Create a Quick, Slick Treat
You know what's great? Fudge. Know what's even better? Fudge that tastes like your favorite soft drink. If you're craving something sugary that tastes just like Coke, try whipping up some Coca-Cola fudge. You can find all kinds of recipes online, some of which can take as little as ten minutes from start to finish.
Get a bowl, combine some condensed milk with marshmallow cream, add chocolate chips, and then a Coke extract. Some of the recipes are a little more intense, but none of them are all that difficult. Try them out to expand your cooking skills and create treats your friends will love.
Lift Oil Stains
One of the big benefits of Coke is that it's so commonplace. It's sold in almost every country in the world, and it's so famous that most stores will carry it – or at least a similar product. That means if you've dripped oil somewhere – whether inside your home or out in the garage – you can clean it.
Pour room-temp Coke over the stain and let it soak overnight to lift a great deal of a stain before you wipe it clean. We can't promise that it will disappear entirely, but you're sure to notice a difference. And your garage will smell nicer, too.
Remove Mold From Clothes
As backwards as it sounds at the beginning, putting Coca-Cola in your washing machine has a surprising number of benefits. It can even get rid of the mold and mildew buildup that clothes might gain after a lifetime of use. It also does away with stains and stench, but this is about the mold.
There are a couple of ways for mold to get into clothes and a couple of ways to get it out, but few will be easier than pouring in a helping of Coke after loading your clothes. Be sure not to forget the detergent, or that load will come out brown.
Shoo Away Bugs
You'd probably be surprised to find out that Coca-Cola works rather well as a pesticide, especially in India. This isn't the kind of thing you're going to hear from the company itself (they don't want people to think they're drinking anything dangerous) but it has to do with the drink's high sugar content.
There are a number of ways this works, such as attracting ants, which don't bother plants but do keep other bugs away by devouring their larvae. Real pesticides might work better, but using Coke can work in a pinch. You can also set out a small cup of the drink away from your picnic to stay pest-free.
Make Sure Your Glasses are Clean
If you have a pair of glasses that are always getting smudged and dirty, try cleaning them with a little bit of Coke. The acid that is in the soda will break up dirt and smudges.
Little particles that are attached to the glass will also get washed away due to the sticky nature of the soda, even if the particles are stuck deep in the inside lenses. Pour a little bit of the drink onto the lenses and rub until the smudges are gone. Following that, clean with a proper cloth and water to get rid of any remaining residue.
Soften the Blow of a Jellyfish
If you're on an underwater adventure, or you're walking along the beach, and you feel a certain sting, don't fret. Head to your cooler and grab a can of Coke. You might not have thought to bring anti-sting lotion when you visit the beach, but a soft drink? It's par for the course.
Coca-Cola isn't going to totally negate the sting, but pour it over the sting continuously for about thirty seconds and you could experience a twenty-five to seventy-five percent reduction in pain. Vinegar is another option if, for some reason, you have that lying around when you're on the beach.
Prevent an Asthma Attack
Here's one we can't be sure of, but in an emergency, it might be worth a try if there are no other options. Caffeine has a similar chemical makeup to the drug theophylline, which works to open airways and provide asthma relief.
If for some reason you feel an attack coming on and you can't get to your inhaler, this might just help. We aren't doctors or experts, so take this advice with a grain of salt if someone more in the know shakes their head at the idea. While caffeine might keep your airways open, we can't say it will combat an actual asthma attack.
Loosen Rusty Bolts and Nuts
If you're trying to put something together or take something apart, rusty hardware turns a tough job into a bonafide trial. You might think to grab a can of Coke to relax a little, but it does more than that – if you need to separate rusted screws and bolts and other small pieces of metal, stick them into a bowl and cover them with fizz. The phosphoric acid breaks up rust to allow you to get the pieces apart.
You can also pour it over screws that are still stuck inside the item you're working with to give yourself more turning leverage. No more straining when you have your favorite soda around.
Get Rid of Stubborn Stains
This is one of the more well-known facts about Coca-Cola. Instead of shelling out for expensive stain remover, pour in the Coke inside the washing machine with your detergent, and you'll find the stains have been removed. There will also be fewer odors! It's thanks to the carbonic and phosphoric acid, which lifts stains out of fabrics. It's especially good against milk stains.
Let the article of clothing sit in the soda for five minutes, and then rinse it out with water. You won't have to worry about spilling on yourself while eating cereal anymore. Will the clothes be brown? We don't know.