So refreshing: Hacks for cleaning your home with drinks.

Cola

The acidic content and fizziness in this carbonated beverage – whether you call it soda, pop or something else entirely – are usually the reasons it’s an effective cleaner. Some of the more popular uses are in the kitchen. Pour some cola in your pots and pans to remove cooked-on food, or use it as a degreaser.

Seasoned DIYers know the disappointment of rusty tools and the frustration of rusted-on nuts and bolts. Soak your tools in soda overnight, then scrub them with a non-abrasive pad. Repeat as necessary. For those stubborn nuts and bolts, pour a bit of soda directly on the problem area or on a rag and twist until the bolt loosens. You can also use club soda for this hack.

Perhaps the most unexpected soda-based solution: toilet cleaner. Pour some in the bowl and let it soak for an hour. More than one person claims it removes stains better than your average cleaner.

Club soda

There’s a lot of crossover hacks between Coke (and similar pops) and club soda. We’re guessing people prefer club soda, however, because it’s clear and, therefore, less of a risk for creating stains. In fact, removing fabric stains, whether from clothes, car upholstery or carpets, is one of the most popular uses for club soda. Remember this if you have a puppy or other furry friend. Club soda can help clean pet urine from carpets, also neutralizing the odor in the process.

Fingerprints and smudges might be the biggest downside of stainless steel surfaces. Spritz with club soda to clean stainless steel ovens, countertops and sinks, and give them an extra shine at the same time.

Fingerprints and smudges might be the biggest downside of stainless steel surfaces. Spritz with club soda to clean stainless steel ovens, countertops and sinks, and give them an extra shine at the same time.

Alcohol

Laundry odors can be just as frustrating as those obstinate rusty bolts. You know you washed your clothes, but those around you aren’t so sure. A bit of vodka sprayed on your clothing before you throw it in the wash can help remove smells and doesn’t leave an odor afterward.

If you prefer a good brew, try some in the garden to get rid of slugs. Place a small container – a jar lid works well – at ground level near your plants. The yeast in the beer reportedly attracts slugs. They’ll go crazy for the stuff and eventually drown. You can also use Coke in the same way. Keep reading if you’re trying to keep slugs off your plants but don’t want to kill them.

Coffee

Rather than stopping slugs by encouraging them to overindulge in drink, sprinkle dried used coffee grounds in the soil around your plants. It’s believed that the grounds’ abrasive texture will cause them to head the other way. Check out even more tips for waking up your curb appeal with coffee.

Slugs might be onto something when it comes to the abrasive nature of coffee grounds. It’s that same texture that makes coffee great for scouring pots and dirty sinks. Create a coffee soak to clean a gunky grill.

Sprinkle wet coffee grounds in fireplace ash to make removal easier. The damp grounds will weigh down the ash to keep it from billowing up and creating a bigger mess. You might also try this when cleaning an outdoor fire pit.

If you’re like some people in the Schlage office, you prefer the smell of coffee to its taste. Whether you’re brewing your own cup or have to talk your java-loving friends into sharing, used beans are perfect for deodorizing your home. Put some down your garbage disposal or place them in a small container in the fridge. A small sachet – old pantyhose will work if you’re not picky – with used coffee grounds can be used to freshen the scent of closets, drawers and even gym bags.

Now that you’re thinking about drinks, maybe it’s time to spruce up your bar cart. Get ideas for the perfect seasonal bar cart or find more household hacks at the Schlage blog.