15 Unusual Uses For Coca-Cola
On average, over 10,000 soft drinks from Coca-Cola are consumed every second of every day globally. When it comes to original Coke specifically, 1.9 billion bottles are sold per day.
By now, it’s common knowledge that America’s favorite beverage is far from good for you. But did you know Coca-Cola has many other uses, other than consumption?
Here’s 15 tried and true, unusual uses for that bubbly beverage we love so much.
Clean A Toilet Bowl
Coke can help clean a grungy, stained toilet bowl using the phosphoric acid in the drink to dissolve any grunge.
Simply pour Coke into the toilet bowl and around the rim so it flows over the stains around and inside the bowl.
Let it sit for at least an hour, then give it a quick scrub with the toilet brush and flush it down.
Fertilize Azaleas Or Gardenias
Believe it or not, some plants like Coca-Cola too! Giving your azaleas or gardenias a drink of Coca-Cola will increase the acidity in the soil—which they love—and will boost plant performance.
The sugar in the drink will also feed microorganisms in the soil, increasing the organic matter.
Clean Milk Stains From Clothes
If you find yourself with milk stains on your clothing, reach for a bottle of Coca-Cola. Simply saturate the milk stains with the drink and let it sit for about five minutes. Then wash with your laundry as usual.
Remove Grease Stains
Just like milk stains, Coca-Cola will work to remove grease stains as well. Follow the same procedure here: Pour the drink directly on the stain and let it sit for a little while and then just add it to the wash as usual.
Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Clean Eyeglasses
Ran out of glass-cleaning wipes? Just pour some Coke over your eyeglasses. Rinse and dry well, and that’s it!
Make BBQ Sauce
Here’s a more appetizing one. Adding Coca-Cola to your homemade BBQ sauce will add that flavor you feel it's missing.
Here’s a good recipe:
1 cup Coca-Cola
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon liquid smoke
1/4 cup A.1. steak sauce
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Mix the ingredients into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 6-8 minutes. Transfer the sauce to jars and let it cool to room temperature before refrigerating.
Tenderize Beef
To tenderize beef with Coca-Cola, follow these simple steps:
1. Place the meat in a freezer bag
2. Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the bag
3. Seal the bag tightly
4. Let it marinate for 2-3 hours
Your steak should remain moist and flavorful throughout the entire cooking process.
Loosen Rusty Nuts And Bolts
Soak your rusted nuts and bolts in Coca-Cola to clean them up. Or, simply soak a cloth in Coca-Cola and wipe them clean. However, it’s best if they can fizz up a bit.
Neutralize Skunk Odor
Did your pet have a run in with a skunk and you’re now scrambling to find tomato juice you may or may not have in the basement cellar?
Stop and grab a few bottles of Coca-Cola instead. In this case, the more you have, the better.
Simply soak your pet in the drink and then rinse clean.
Soothe A Jellyfish Sting
If you get stung by a jellyfish and really don’t want anyone relieving themselves on you, don’t fear—reach for your Coca-Cola.
Pouring the drink over a jellyfish sting will relieve the pain.
Kill Mice
If you have these critters in your home and nothing seems to work to keep them out, try using Coca-Cola.
The mice love the taste, but unfortunately, they’re unable to expel the gas after drinking it and they die.
Clean Your Pots And Pans
Stuck-on food is a pain to clean. But Coca-Cola can help make it easier. Just pour a can of the drink into the pan and heat it on low on the stove until it starts to bubble. Then take it off the heat and let it cool completely.
It will soak as it cools, lifting the stuck-on crud you’ve been dreading to deal with.
Get Rid Of Pests
Coca-Cola actually works to get rid of many pests, including wasps and slugs. Simply putting a bowl of the drink where the insects populate most will lure them in to drink it, but the acid in the beverage will ultimately kill them.
Kill Ants
If you have an anthill on your property that you want gone, pouring Coca-Cola right down inside the hole will do the trick.
Improve Your Compost
You can take Coca-Cola into the backyard too—particularly your compost. The sugary content attracts the relevant microorganisms which break down the matter, and the acidity will support the breakdown process as well.
Coca-Cola’s Sugary Content
It is important to remember that Coca-Cola has a high sugar content which will leave a sticky residue on almost anything you use it for. Be sure to wash and rinse your items after using Coca-Cola on them.
As well, the sugar content will attract pests—so be mindful when using the product outdoors.
