30 Surprisingly Rare Uses Of Ketchup

1. Cleaning Copper Pans

Image source The Emerging HomeCopper pots and pans can develop a green rust after excessive use even when washing and drying thoroughly, due to the naturally occurring oxidization.  Look no further than your ketchup bottle to get rid of the green gunk.  Simply squeeze some ketchup on to a wash cloth and wipe down the affected areas as treating the rest of the vessel.  Don't scrub as you don't want scratches.  Clean and rinse with warm or hot water and your cooking pots will be as shiny as new.

2. Making Frozen Gel Pouches

Image source PinterestIf you're planning on going for a family day day, you have to try this hack.  Freeze some ketchup packets overnight to make them into gel pouches that can sooth your kids' bumps and bruises.  Going out for a family picnic? This hack will save you from your kids’ fussy tantrums.

3. Cleaning Silver Jewellery

Image source zerokaataSimilar to copper, silver tarnishes easily when left out in the open for a length of time.  This can cause it to blacken and to lose its shine.  Most silver cleaners restore the gleam by eroding a thin layer off the top which may weaken the jewellery and make it brittle.  For a more natural way of bringing your items back to their original condition, try a little ketchup on a microfibre cloth.  You might just be pleasantly surprised at the results!

4. Non Toxic Finger Paint

Image source PinterestPainting is an essential part of learning motor and coordination skills in early childhood and finger painting is a great way to learn these skills.  As toddlers tend to put anything and everything in their mouths, use ketchup as finger paints to be as safe as (painting) houses!

5. Cleaning Car Alloys

Image source AutoglymWhen you're cleaning the car it can be difficult to remove the dried in mud and dust that sticks to the exterior alloys.  Don't invest in expensive car cleaning products and reach for the ketchup instead.  Rub it all over and in between the alloys, wipe off and apply again, to be extra sure you have removed every bit of grime.  I think you'll find it works a treat.

6. Soothe Insect Bites

Image source DermedoxTo keep your child from constantly scratching an insect bite, try applying ketchup from the fridge directly on to it.  Even better, use frozen ketchup sachets to soothe the area even more.  The cool temperature will ease the non-stop itching which can be relentless.  Constant scratching can cause the skin to tear and infection may set in.

7. Emergency Shaving Cream

Image source YouTubeWhen you've run out of shaving cream and don't realise until you're in the shower, have a go at this.  Spread ketchup over the area, as an emergency measure, to get a close shave.  It sounds foul and will look even worse but it will protect you from nicking yourself with the razor and there actually is some goodness in ketchup - so treat it as an unusual beauty hack!

8. Cleaning Garden Furniture

Image source HomeCruxMany of you green fingered garden enthusiasts who like stripes when mowing the lawn, may be just as particular about the garden furniture as well.  Left out for months on end, it can rust and become ingrained with dirt and you may spend quite a sum at the garden centre for a cleaning solution to bring those garden chairs back to life.  You've got to try ketchup mixed with a little vinegar on a cleaning cloth and you may find you don't even have to rub that hard before seeing great results.

9.  Restoring Chlorine Hair

Image source ABC NewsIf you aren't brave enough to wear a swimming cap (they're not very flattering to say the least), you're going to be left with chlorine hair after a dip at your local swimming baths or health club.  Even after shampooing, there may still be a slight whiff of the chemical.  To deal with this, let your hair rest in a ketchup mask for 15 minutes and then shampoo and rinse as normal.  Now smell!!

10. Getting Rid Of Wet Dog Smell

Image source QuoraWe all love our animals to pieces but we don't love that wet dog smell which is quite yucky and transfers itself on to the owner!  Put a few dollops of ketchup in a washing up bowl or bucket and add warm water, mixing well.   Now dunk your 'doggy' garments in there for half an hour and then stick in the washing machine as normal.  You could be pleasantly surprised at the results.

11. Piping Decorator

Image source ChatelaineWhile ketchup itself is one of life's godsends, the number of bottles that are discarded is probably something we don't allow ourselves to think about.  Do your little bit for the planet by re-using an empty ketchup bottle and turning it into a piping decorator for buttercream or ganache.  It's less fiddly than a traditional piper and is easier at doing more precision based decorating.

12. Vacuuming Your Keyboard

Image source TodayYes, you read that correctly!  Getting crumbs out of your keyboard is a tedious task and one we often don't even bother doing.  All you need to do is attach a clean and dry ketchup nozzle to the top of the vacuum tube to get into all those tiny, awkward areas.  You shouldn't be eating by your laptop anyway!

13. Putting Pancake Mix In A Ketchup Bottle

Image source The New York TimesIf you are inspired by all the pancake art circulating these days (what ever next!), then you can get creative and make your own version by using an empty ketchup bottle.  The size of the nozzle and the elasticity of the bottle will enable you to release a thin but steady stream of batter. 

14. For Shiny Keys

Image source PinterestRusty keys are difficult to use and if they get really bad, they won't lock or unlock the door.  To get them back to their former shine, coat them with ketchup and rub gently to dislodge the rust.  Rinse with lukewarm water and be sure to dry thoroughly.  That's the key to shiny keys!

15. To Create Fake Blood

Image source Good HousekeepingWhether it's Halloween or a theatre project, fake blood can be hard to come by.  Joke shops (if they are still a thing these days) will sell them in tiny bottles for about a fiver so make your own for pennies.  Mix ketchup with cocoa powder and golden syrup for realistic looking blood that tastes good.

16. Loosen Burned-on Food

Image source Tasting Table

If you've left a pot on the stove for too long and the food has burned, it can take a lot of elbow grease to get it off.  Don't waste time and get out the ketchup.  Cover the remnants of the food with plenty of ketchup and leave overnight.  The acids should help loosen the food from the metal so you can wash the pan easily.

17. Making A Face Mask

Image source Twist Me Pretty

Tomatoes contains lycopene which is a powerful antioxidant that may rehabilitate sun-damaged skin and with its vital vitamins A, C and K,  it can protect it from further damage. Lycopene may also helps boost the production of collagen, which is vital for keeping skin looking plump.  Cooked tomatoes in any form contain a more concentrated amount than fresh so give it a go.

18. Cleaning Garden Tools

Image source GardenBeast

Rust is caused when water and oxygen react with the iron in the gardening implements  to produce hydrated iron oxide.  Acids are very good at removing rust which is a form of iron oxide. The acetic acid in ketchup converts the iron oxide into iron acetate that you can just wash away, removing any rust and make weeding those borders a little easier.

19. Making A Marinade

Image source Thrifty FunBecause of the acidic nature of tomatoes, they tenderize meat and break down tough fibres so the meat should be tender and juicy, just how we like it.  As this is the case, use ketchup as an ingredient for your marinade.  Adding chopped onions, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce to the ketchup makes a delicious marinade.

20. Cleaning Pennies for Projects

Image source Daily Mail  Turning money into an art project can actually save you money, if it means you don't have to buy the decorative items. Use pennies to create a backsplash in place of tile or decorate wooden letters for a wall sign.  Submerge blackened and dull coins into some ketchup for a couple of course to remove some of the discolouration and they will look great as part of a display.

21. For Coleslaw!

Image source Daily MailWe know that the main ingredients of coleslaw include cabbage, carrot, onions and of course mayonnaise.  Hang fire and make your own coleslaw but with a twist.  Use ketchup and hot sauce instead of mayo for a sweet and smoky flavour.  You'll find it's a great accompaniment to barbecued sausages!

22.  As A Skin Scrub

Image source Daily Mail   Who knew tomato ketchup could be added to your beauty regime? Together with castor sugar, you have the perfect facial scrub (castor sugar is finer than normal sugar so suitable for sensitive skins on your face).   The tomatoes in the ketchup makes it acidic which can help exfoliate, while the antioxidants help inflammation.  Recommended for normal and oily skin.

23. Ketchup Icing

Image source Pinterest Ketchup in dessert?  YES!  You've tried carrot cake which is absolutely delicious so why not be brave and add a little ketchup to the cream cheese frosted icing on the cake.  As well as making the colour richer, it will give it a little kick and make it look a little like a red velvet cake. 

24. Reduce Risk of Prostate Cancer

Image source Health eNews

A study published in 2010 examined the relationship between  food products containing tomatoes in different forms and the risk of prostate cancer. Researchers suggested that tomato-based products may contain anti-cancer phytochemicals that could have  an impact on risk levels in men.

25. Reduces Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

Image source Tomato Wellness

Lycopene in tomatoes is associated with a lower risk of heart disease. One study of 1000 adults, back in 2007, showed that lycopene supplementation may improve endothelial function in patients with cardiovascular disease but not in healthy volunteers.

26. May Decrease LDL

Image source Bob Gardner Fitness & Nutrition

High levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is commonly known as bad cholesterol an can lead to an increased risk of heart issues.  Research showed that supplementing diets with tomato juice could be beneficial in reducing LDL.  They are still studying whether the same benefits might apply to ketchup.

27. Temporary Hand Cream

Image source 100% Pure

 If your hands are feeling very dry and you've run out of hand cream, rub ketchup into the palms and around the fingers.  Do it when no one is looking or they'll think you've gone crazy@  Rinse well (especially inside the nails) and you may well notice that the whole of your hands feel softer.

28. Regulate Hair Colour

Image source PinterestDon't go into a meltdown if your blonde hair has a slight green tinge after you've been swimming.  As well as removing the chlorine odour (which we discussed earlier) ketchup could bring the blonde back into your life.  Spread all over the hair and leave a little while before washing with a shampoo for blonde hair and using conditioner afterwards.

29. Plant Food Dispenser or Water Dispenser

Image source House BeautifulInstead of going to the trouble of measuring the exact amount of plant food to water ratio every time you want to feed your beloved plants, make up a solution in your empty ketchup bottle and tend to them as and when, with no fuss.  Also good to fill an empty ketchup bottle with water and use for small household plants.

30. Replacing Tomatoes

Image source Daily Mail We know tomatoes are good for us, containing lycopene and vitamins but some people just don't like the texture of this fruit/vegetable.  Instead, use ketchup, especially the low sugar variety, to get the nutrients that are said to good for your heart and cholesterol.