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20 of Soda’s Snazziest Functions
by lifehackery - All Posts By This Author

Soda is a refreshing drink that everyone loves. Its fizz quenches your thirst and at the same time, stimulates your taste buds. Around the globe, billions of people patronize the product, making it one of the most popular beverages in the world. You’re probably one of those people, but did you know that not everyone buys soda just because of its distinct flavor or its consistency? A handful of people purchase soda due to its number of alternative uses. Cool huh?
Some of you might be drinking soda right now, as you read this article. You can pour a small amount in your glass and observe the bubbly liquid. You’ll see that the drink is pretty abrasive, which means it can be used as a potent stain remover and furniture cleaner. Take a sip from your glass. You will notice that its flavor is versatile enough to blend and enhance cooked dishes. The truth is, soda is just as good a refreshment as it is an alternative household item. Here are 20 of its snazziest uses:
1.Toilet Bowl Cleaner - Most people are iffy about cleaning the toilet bowl. They despise the smell or the small bits of brown matter stuck near the water line. Get rid of those disgusting details by pouring one or two cans of soda in the toilet. Let it settle for about an hour, then scrub the bowl’s inner surface. After cleaning, your bowl will be lemony fresh.

2.Garden Pest Killer - Fill a jar with soda then bury it in your garden, leaving the jar’s tip at ground level. Leave the jar open, so the garden critters will smell the drink’s sweet scent. Soon, slugs, snails, and other pests will flock towards the trap and fall inside the soda-filled jar. Soda’s corrosive properties will make short work of any of those creatures. You = 1, Garden Pests = 0.
3.Gum Remover - Gum stuck on your hair is a rather nasty predicament. Tugging at it will make it spread. Shampooing your hair also won’t work. If you soak the gummed portions in soda for several minutes, the gum will loosen its hold on your hair. After a few rinses and some shampooing, your hair will finally be gum-free. (More tips on how to get rid of gum stuck in hair)
4.Yummy Marinate - Mix a cola with ketchup in a bowl. Stir the mixture until both ingredients are completely blended. Once done, use the mixture to marinate pork, chicken and beef before grilling. You will have a pretty exquisite meal care of your favorite beverage.
5.Coin Polisher - For coin collectors, you can use soda to make your collection look like new items. Soak your coins in the glass of soda for about an hour. They will gleam like as if they were processed recently. Although, refrain from using this tactic on your most precious coins. The drink’s carbon content might erode some of the tiny details.
6.Ham Flavoring - Bake ham with 330 ml of soda. The drink will create a faint delightful flavor, which blends well with the taste of ham.

7.The Smell of Fear - Want to pull nasty pranks on your pals? Drink two cans of soda consecutively. Observe how the fizz gradually builds up gas in your tummy. Now, go to your friends and unleash a barrage of stinky farts in their direction. Watch their faces, as they try to endure your gastric attack.
8.Compost Material - Soda, being used as compost, may seem strange at first, but it actually makes sense. The beverage’s carbon content will speed up the breakdown process of other compost materials. Compile leaves, waste, straw, and 330 ml of soda. After a few months, those things will transform into compost. (see how to make compost)
9.Dry Skin Treatment - The carbonated content of soda should provide the necessary moisture that dry skin needs. Just rub a generous amount of soda on your arms and legs. Not before long, you’ll see the results. (To learn more tips on dry skin treatment, know how to get rid of dry skin)

10.Constipated No More - Reportedly, soda has laxative properties when taken in ample doses. You can put the theory to the test by drinking coke after a heavy meal. If you feel your stomach emits weird grumbling noises, you can start unloading nature’s call, along with your constipation.
11.The Green Green Grass of Your Home - Mix soda with ammonia and a little soap then spray the mixture onto your lawn or garden. The grass, for some reason, reacts to it by becoming greener. Best of all, the mixture also acts as a pest repellent.
12.Deodorizer for Skunk Sprays - Skunks, when agitated, release a strong, foul-smelling fluid. Once it sticks to your skin or clothes, the stench is pretty hard to remove. Neutralize the smell by scrubbing yourself or your clothes with four 2-liter bottles of soda.
13.Clog Remover - Clogs are caused by the accumulation of items stuck inside the drain. Most of the time the buildup is composed of food bits and other soft items, which can be dissolved by soda’s fizz. To remove the clog, simply pour one or two liters of soda into the drain. The clog will either be lessened or gone after a few minutes.
14.Rust Remover - Rust may be tough to remove, but it doesn’t stand a chance against the bubbly drink’s corrosive properties. Dip a cloth in soda then rub it on a rusty surface. Flakes of rust will slowly disengage. Soon, the rusty object will look as good as new. (To know more about rust removal, learn how to get rid of rust)

15.Loosen Rusty Doors, Hinges, Nuts and Bolts - Since soda is a known rust remover, it should have no trouble loosening rusty doors, hinges, nuts and bolts. Apply soda on the rusty items and scrub with a piece of cloth. They will be loosened in no time.
16.Car Battery Cleaner - A used car battery contains all sorts of dirt with varying properties. Good thing your favorite fizzy beverage can remove them all. Pour soda on the battery then leave it for awhile. The spots and stains will gradually disappear. As for removing the dried soda, just moisten a sponge and rub it on the battery.
17.Paint Stripper - Moisten a piece of cloth with soda and tie it around an item that needs a new paint job. Soak the cloth everyday to hasten the process. After a few days, the paint will peel right off.

18.Fabric Stain Remover - Fabrics and stains have a knack for being inseparable partners. Break-off this annoying allegiance by soaking the stained portion in soda for several minutes. After soaking, scrub the stain until it finally fades. This method also works for carpets.
19.Tile Cleaner - Pour some soda on tile grout and scrub it with a rag. In a few moments, the beauty of your tiles will be restored.
20.Soil Conditioner - Flower plants like azaleas and gardenias are healthier and produce more flowers when planted on acidic soil. Raise the acidity of soil by spraying it with soda. As a result, your plants will reward you with a set of robust, vibrantly-colored blooms. Just be careful when raising the acidity of soil. Not all plants flourish when placed in a similar environment.
Many organizations advise people not to purchase soda because of its adverse effects on health. The good thing is, you don’t really need to drink soda to be satisfied. You can just count the number of stains or rusty spots that can be removed by a 330-ml bottle, instead of gulping it down. Once more people discover the beverage’s alternative uses, it will soon be the makeshift cleaner of the new generation.

I’ve never heard of that before, Emily! Cool idea. I have used soda to clean gunked-up coins many times. When you see what the soda can do to the metal, it’s gross to think of what it does to your stomach.
now i have some really great excuses to stock up on soda. maybe i can bathe in it?
I use soda to kill ants in my bathroom. Those critters simply cannot stand refreshments.
Excellent article! i also use carbonated water as a floor cleaner. Soda makes floors icky, yucky, and eew.