Rare Uses Of Coca-Cola That You Might Not Of Heard Of Before Today

Killing garden pests

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Love gardening but hate dealing with pests like slugs and worms eating everything in their path? Then let Coca-Cola come to your rescue - the soft drink can apparently be used to fend off unwanted pests meaning that you don't have to worry about having your gardening ruined.

How Do You Use Coca-Cola For Your Garden?

Image Source / eBayIf you're starting to see signs of pests attacking your plants and flowers, then you can get some Coca-Cola pronto. Simply leave a bowl of Coca-Cola in your garden and watch as the pests are attracted to the sugar, only to be killed off by the acidity.

Cleaning pans

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After slaving away and making a five-star meal, the last thing you want to do is deal with stubborn stains on your pans. Well, let Coca-Cola do the work for you. We all know how it annoying it is when you just want the washing up done but have to try leave the pans to soak overnight.

Pour Coke Into The Pan

Image Source / Home HacksThe good news is that with coke, you don't even need to soak in coke overnight either. The Coca-Cola is fast-acting, so if you have any burnt pans (we're not all great cooks), pour Coke into the pan then set it to simmer for just a little while. Afterwards, the stain should wipe off easily.

Remove grease stains from clothing

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As well as pans, Coke can also be used to remove stubborn grease stains from clothing. Use it to spot clean your clothing on the affected area before washing in the machine as normal. However, be careful with light clothing, as the dark colour of Coke could actually stain your clothing further. Best to leave this to dark colours!

Make cakes

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Yes, you read that right - Coca-Cola can actually be used to make an incredibly moist cake. When mixed with cocoa powder, Coke can make a really rich chocolate cake, and you'll require fewer leavening agents like eggs or bicarbonate of soda because Cola is a natural leavener.

Remove rust

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Coca-Cola is a pretty strong substance, and it can rot through rust the same way it rots through teeth (if you drink enough of it, that is). The easiest way to remove rust from items like cars, locks, and furniture is to dip a piece of aluminium foil into Coke and then rub it onto the rusty area - the rust will come right off!

Defrosting your windshield

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Defrosting a windshield is something that every car owner has to deal with in the middle of winter, and there's nothing worse than those early mornings when you're trying to tackle it. However, this job can be accomplished more easily with a bottle of Coke.

Simply Pour Over Your Windscreen

Image Source / 107.7 WGNAAll you have to do is pour this over your windshield, wait a minute, and watch as the stubborn ice turns to slush and falls off. This is great if you're looking to save money, too, and you already have a stash of Coke. You can use the Coke instead and save money on constantly buying de-icer during the cold winter season.

Removing bugs

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It's not just in the winter that Coca-Cola can be a car owner's best friend. It can also be used to remove bugs and any dirt or grime from windshields in the spring and summer months. As with the defrosting process, just pour over your windshield, wait, and then rinse off and see how clean it looks!

Loosen bolts

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Coca-Cola's corrosive power is well documented, and this means it can also be used to remove stubborn bolts that just won't move. Remove the bolt a half turn (if you can), then pour a bit of coke over the nail and bolt. Wait a minute then rinse off, and the bolt should move more easily.

Making a sweet glaze

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This is another hack for cooking with Coca-Cola. The sweetness in the cola makes it a great ingredient for making a sweet and sticky glaze for a barbecue. Mix it with ketchup or traditional barbecue sauce and you'll get a delicious glaze that you can apply to grilling meats - or just dip your chips in it!

Cleaning old coins

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Got a load of old coins that you want to perk up? Then use Coca-Cola to clean them. Simply pour a glass of Coke and leave all of the coins in the glass for about 10 minutes. When you take them out of the soda, they should be completely clean with no sign of rust on them.

Make better compost

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We're back to the garden for this hack. Coca-Cola can also help improve your compost thanks to its special ingredients. Firstly, the sugar will feed microorganisms that make for better compost, while the acidity helps compost break down faster. Your plants will thank you for it!

Remove gum from hair

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We've all experienced the horrifying experience of getting chewing gum caught in our hair, usually when we were children. Trying to brush it out will just make it worse, and definitely don't reach straight for the scissors! Not when Coke can actually help.

Apply Coke To The Hair

If this ever happens to you again (or to your own child), reach for the Coke next time. Pour some into a bowl and dip the affected hair into the bowl; after a few minutes, the gum will wipe off the hair more easily and hopefully you don't have to worry about a dodgy hair cut that way.

Cooking meat

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Coke and meat seem to be a match made in heaven. Not only can the drink make a delicious glaze for barbecued meat, but it also makes super tender pot roasts. Pour a can into your pot as the meat cooks and you'll end up with an incredible meal, with juicy sticky meat and a delicious sweet flavour.

Fade hair dye

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Got a pesky hair colour that just won't fade from your hair no matter how hard you try? Coca-Cola can help with that. Get in the shower and rinse your hair, then apply a can of Diet Coke to your hair. Leave for a few minutes then shampoo and rinse as normal. This will attack the colour particles in your hair and hopefully get the colour fading faster.

Cleaning your toilet

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Coca-Cola can also be used as a household cleaner. The most obvious Coke application is cleaning your toilet, where it will easily cut through any grime. Use it like a traditional toilet cleaner by pouring around the toilet bowl and leaving for a short while, then flashing to run away. It'll look spick and span!

Bug bites

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Being on holiday is great, but the bug bites can be really annoying. Sometimes, even if you packed a load of insect repellent, you can still be up against some itching. Thankfully, Coke can be a great way to minimise the distress of itchy bug bites like with mosquitos.

Use Coke Straight After Being Bitten

Image Source/ Everyday HealthSimply pour over the bite area immediately afterwards and the Coke will destroy the insect saliva (gross) that causes the allergic reaction, and all the annoying itching. Which makes Coke great for both jellyfish stings and insect itches!

Cleaning car battery terminals

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The cleaning power of Coke should never be underestimated. Apparently, it can also be used to clean high-tech parts like a car battery terminal. Just pour a little bit of Coke over each piece of your car you want to clean, whether it's the engine or the battery terminal, and watch as the area comes out looking good as new.

But Make Sure To Be Safe!

Image Source / The DriveCoke is fantastic at cleaning, but if there's anything under your hood that needs professional attention or it's more dirt build up than an at-home cleaning solution will fix, then make sure to book into your garage before tackling with Coca-Cola!

Make an exploding fountain

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This is an age-old trick, but one that we had to include on this list. Yes, we're talking about Coke and Mentos. It's the reaction that everyone at the very least has seen on TV, if not tried themselves, but it's still a fun way to use Coke.

Or Use It To Entertain The Kids

Image Source / ThoughtCoIf you don't want to do it yourself and your kids are looking for a new, fun mess to make in the garden, you can use this trick, too. If you're not aware: chucking a pack of Mentos into a bottle of Coke can result in an explosive, volcano-like reaction that is so fun to watch.

Make your hair curly

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Do you wish you had curly hair? There are plenty of ways to temporarily get curly hair, from curling tongs to overnight heatless options. However, another innovative solution is to use Coke. If you pour Coca-Cola onto your hair, leave for a few minutes, and then rinse off, it could result in stylish curls.

It Might Need A Little Extra Depending On How Thick And Heavy Your Hair Is

Image Source / twisthair.comCoke might make it more likely to get those curves and make your hair less straight, but if you really want everything to stay in place, you may want to top off with a little curling products or hair spray to set so that you can enjoy the look for longer!

Cleaning grout

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We're going back into the home for this hack. Are you struggling with removing grout, grease, and grime from tiles such as those in your kitchen or bathroom? Try pouring some Coke onto the floor. Leave it for a few minutes so the solution can attack the grease, then rinse off.

Use Around Bathroom Tiles

Image Source / Daily ExpressIf you're aiming to tackle your grouting around the side of your bath or on the walls of your bathroom instead, then you can use the same amount of Coca Cola and apply with a toothbrush to get between the grouting tiles on the wall, or you may want to soak pieces of tissue paper in Coke to leave around the side of the bath.

Remove smells from laundry

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It seems like something you would never want to attempt: pouring Coke into your washing machine. However, adding Coca-Cola to your laundry load can apparently help remove stubborn odours. This includes sweat odours in gym clothing as well as odours from the kitchen such as garlic or fish.

Cleaning carpets

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It's not just hard surfaces that Coca-Cola is ace at cleaning, though - it can also remove dirt from soft floors like carpets or rugs. Use Coca-Cola to spot clean the affected area (this could be mud or marker pen), scrub it lightly, then clean it with soapy water to remove completely.

Improving flowers

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It can be a real shame when flowers don't look as beautiful as you expected them to be. However, the solution to this could be Coca-Cola, especially when it comes to flowering shrubs like azaleas and gardenias.

Use On Garden Plants

Image Source / www.gardens4you.co.ukDon't replace the water you use for watering with Coke, though - the secret is gently adding to the soil instead! Add some Coke to the soil to give them a burst of nutrients and keep them looking good.

Stripping paint from furniture

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Have you bought some second-hand metal furniture, but don't like the colour it's been painted? Then Coca-Cola can come to your rescue, by removing all the paint from the metal. This is great for those lovers of upcycling or who are trying to save money from buying brand new.

Apply And Leave For A Few Days

Image Source / Eco ReduxSoak a towel in Coke - big enough to easily cover the furniture item you're working with - then apply to the furniture and leave for a couple of days, refreshing the Coke now and then if it dries up. After this time, the paint should have come off.

Window cleaner

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Yep, Coke can even come in handy when it comes to getting windows nice and clean. Coke contains citric acid, a classic acid that is often an ingredient in household cleaners, including class cleaners.

Coke Is Actually A Better Natural Option

However, Coke is more natural than the chemical-ridden glass cleaners, so it's often a better option if you want to avoid chemical cleaners. It's also great if you already have Coke in the fridge and want to save money on avoiding buying glass cleaner.

Making a floor sticky

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Anyone who's been in a nightclub will know how this feels, and most of the time it'll be coke-with-alcohol mix spilled all over the floor that's the culprit. So at least you know it works. This sounds counter-productive, but sometimes you really need a floor to be sticky.

And Why Is That?

Image Source / ESB FlooringWell, apparently, Coke is used on some movie sets to keep floors sticky so that actors don't slip around during a film. All you need to do is pour a bottle of Coke on the floor and mop it around. Voila!

Remove bugs from a picnic

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A summer picnic seems like an amazing idea until hordes of bugs discover all of your food and ruin the atmosphere. To combat this, leave a cup or bowl of Coca-Cola near your picnic 30 minutes before you bring food out. The bugs will be attracted to the sugary drink and will avoid your food!

Descaling a kettle

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Another great use for Coca-Cola is back in the kitchen. As well as for scrubbing floors and removing grime from windows, you can also use the drink to descale a kettle. Many people forget that the inside of their kettle may need cleaning, but Coke makes it easy!

Keep Your Kettle In Its Best Condition

Image Source / ArgosSimply let the inside of the kettle soak in Coca-Cola for a few minutes (or longer, if the limescale is bad), and then rinse out. Be sure to get all of it out of the inside of your kettle - you don't want tea or coffee tasting like Coke!

Getting rid of blood stains

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Although it's not often that our favourite staple pieces of clothing are ruined by blood, it can sometimes happen and is usually unexpected. Whether you've got into a fight, cut your finger or you've had a nosebleed, try using that spare can of Coke in the fridge to get rid of your stains.

Save On Laundry Bills

Image Source/ TideThis can be a great one too if the rest of your item isn't dirty and you've just got a tiny bit of blood in it - it can save you filling up your washing machine if you can use a quick dose of Coke instead and avoid the energy bill because of a bleeding paper cut!

Making your lawn lush and green

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If you're struggling with reviving your barren lawn for the summer, and you've tried watering your grass, you might want to consider using Coca-Cola as your solution. Simply mix with water and pour onto your lawn to get it looking all lush and green for your guests.

Prevent an asthma attack

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If you suffer with asthma you might want to take a note of this one. Apparently, two 12oz cans of our favourite Coca-Cola can actually act as a preventative against asthma attacks due to the caffeine and sugar. So if your asthma is playing up, consider popping to the shop for a few cans.

Defrost your windshield

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There's nothing worse than being late for work and having to sit in your car waiting for your windshield to defrost. Sometimes, even the defrosting spray doesn't work. If you're running out of options try lathering Coke onto the windscreen to see if it helps speed up.

Basting a ham roast

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If you've never cooked a ham roast before you probably don't know how or what to baste it with. Using Coca-Cola to baste a ham roast gives the skin a sweet and crispy shine that'll definitely improve your meal and impress all of your dinner guests.

Reviving old pennies

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Not that anyone would really ever want to do this, unless your an avid coin collector that likes to keep your coins in top notch condition, you can actually use Coke to revive old pennies. If they're looking old and rusty just soak them in some Coke and they'll be looking good as new.

Make your skin smoother

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This one may sound a little stranger but if you're looking to make your skin a little silkier, then try adding some Coca-Cola to your ordinary moisturising lotion. People have claimed that it has left their skin feeling extra soft, smooth and silky after they've applied it a few times.

Distract wasps and bees

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If you're out for a picnic and are worried about all the wasps, bees and other flying pests that'll ruin your day, try bringing a can of Coke to prepare for it. Simply pour into a glass and leave somewhere relatively close but far enough away from you to keep those irritating pests distracted.

Caramelising onions

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You're having a barbecue with your friends round your house and you've completely forgot how to cook your onions. Easy! Just grab a can of that Coke and pour into the saucepan, frying off the onion until nice and soft and brown. Perfect to accompany your hot dogs!

Add volume to your hair

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If you're hair has been feeling a little flat lately then consider giving it some volume in a not-so-expected way. Simply wash your hair using Coca-Cola and you will see that your hair naturally dries with more volume than it did before. What a result!

Polish your jewellery

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After time jewellery can become scuffed and tarnished and never looks as good as it first did. Instead of popping into a jewellers and having it polished at a small cost, try using a home remedy of Coke to get your rings looking as good as they once were.

Make Your Own Coke-Soak

Image Source / Jewelers MutualJust fill a container of bowl with Coke to pop your jewellery in. You can leave them in there for a short time, depending on how much grime you have built up on your silver jewellery. It's generally recommended to soak for an hour, but a few hours if the stains are extra-tough.

Settle your hangover

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Being hungover is the absolute worst and nothing seems to be able to shake it. If this is you, try buying yourself a can of Coca-Cola before your night out so you can have it in the morning. The sugar and caffeine in the Coke will give you that new lease of life you needed.

But Maybe Avoid If You Had Coke-Mixers

Image Source / Art of DrinkBut this might work best if you're not feeling iffy after a lot of coke-based mixers, like vodka and coke or rum and coke... You don't want the taste of coke to remind you of all you drank the night before and make you feel worse!

Remove skunk smell

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It's not everyday we're sprayed by a skunk, but it has been known to happen and the smell lingers forever. If you've got a stray can of Coca-Cola lying around try washing your clothes with some, along with your detergent and usual laundry ingredients.

Eradicates the smell of petrol

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If you work with fuel a lot you'll understand that the smell of petrol is a hard one to get rid of. Well, just like with skunk sprays, a can of Coca-Cola will do wonders for your petrol-smelling overalls. Just throw some in with your usual laundry detergents and you're good to go!

Or Good To Keep In The Car If You're On The Road

Image Source/ Tiny BuddhaYou don't have to be working with petrol to smell like it, though. If you're on the road a lot, you'll know the smell of petrol can easily get on your hands or maybe you accidentally drip onto your clothes when you're constantly at the fuel station. You can have some coke on hand for this, too!

Feed it to your plants

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There's nothing wrong with taking pride in your array of flowers in your garden. If you're looking for a good fertiliser then look no further. Coca-Cola acts great as a fertiliser especially for those azaleas and gardenias and will leave your garden looking bright and fresh.

Soothe your pets worn pads

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After time your pets pads on the paws can wear down causing them discomfort and pain. If this is the case with your loveable animals then simply soak their pads in some Coca-Cola to see if it helps soothe the soreness and tarnish of their paw pads.

Make Sure They're Happy To Let You, Though!

Image Source / Vets4PetsIf your pet's paws are too sore or uncomfortable, they may not let you, so be sure to not force the coke-soak if they're not feeling up to it. If your home remedy of coke isn't well received by your pet then make sure to speak to a vet about any particularly sore pads!

Clean eyeglasses

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No matter how many times you rub your eyeglasses can still come out looking murkier than before. Why not try dabbing some Coke onto a cloth and giving your eyeglasses a good once over. You may notice that Coke does wonders on your eyeglasses and leaves them looking brand new.

Strip paint from metal

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If you've painted something metal and are now reconsidering your life choices, don't panic. It seems harder than it actually is to remove paint from metal. Just use Coca-Cola as a rubbing agent and watch as the paint just wilts away from your metal mistakes.