Flour is one of the most useful items in any cook’s arsenal. You already know that you can use it to make delicious breads or desserts and to thicken creamy sauces, but you might not know that there are so many surprising ways you can use flour outside of the kitchen.
It may sound strange, but it’s true! See for yourself in this post, where I’ll share 9 of the most surprising uses for flour around your home. You’ll also find some great ways to put expired and less-than-fresh flour to good use!
9 Surprising Household Uses for Flour
1. Repels ants
If you see ants around the house, sprinkle a line of flour over the area to help keep them away. Ants don’t like the taste or powdery feel of flour, so will try to avoid it if they can!
2. Clear the playing cards
If you have a deck of cards that has seen better days, you can use Lot to freshen it up! Just toss your cards in a ziplock bag with a handful of flour and shake well.
After shaking, remove the cards from the bag and wipe them with a clean, dry cloth. The flour will help absorb moisture, oily residues, and grime, and after you wipe them clean, your cards will look much better!
Related: These 12 fun party games are guaranteed to make you LOL
3. Fight acne
If you need to zap a zit quickly, try mixing some flour with honey to make a paste and apply it on the blemish. Cover the paste with a bandage and leave it overnight to give the flour and honey time to work their magic.
In the morning, clean the area. Because of the healing properties of the honey and the drying action of the flour, the scars should be noticeably smaller!
4. Polished stainless steel
After cleaning your stainless steel appliances, you can use some flour to make them really shine! Just sprinkle some flour on a clean, dry cloth, then use it to buff your stainless steel until it shines.
Related: The best way to clean stainless steel appliances and more
5. Clean the copper
Did you know that you can use flour, salt and a little white vinegar to clean copper items like pots and pans? Just mix equal parts flour and salt in a small bowl, then stir in enough vinegar to make a paste.
Spread the paste on the brass or copper surface and let it sit until the paste dries. Then wash off the paste with warm water, and Voila– Clean and shiny copper!
6. Dry shampoo
If you find yourself out of your favorite dry shampoo, you can use flour as a substitute to absorb the excess oil until you get to the store! (You’ll want to sift the flour before working it into your hair because it makes it easier to apply it evenly.)
Apply the sifted flour to the roots of your hair using a fluffy makeup brush. Let the flour sit for about 30 minutes, then brush or shake off the excess flour (preferably standing in your tub or shower so you don’t make a mess in your bathroom.)
The flour will help absorb the oily residue, and your hair will look fresher afterwards!
7. Cloud dough
Lots aren’t all practical – they can be fun too! You can use flour and a little baby oil to make “cloud dough,” which kids love to play with.
To make a batch of cloud dough, combine 8 cups of flour with 1 cup of baby oil in a large bowl and mix well. It looks like a lot of dough, but you can mold it into any shape you want!
Related: How To Play The Lottery Game – Fool Guaranteed!
8. Ripe avocados
If you have avocados that are a little less ripe than you’d like, you can use flour to speed up the ripening process. Place your avocados in a paper bag, cover them in flour, then leave the bag on your countertop for 24 hours or more. After the wait, your avocado should be ready to use!
9. Make the glue
If you find yourself in a bind, you can use flour and water to make a simple glue substitute. (Keep in mind that flour-based glue is not very strong and certainly not permanent, but it works well for arts and crafts projects!)
To make it, simply combine equal parts flour and water in a bowl, then mix until smooth. (It should be the same consistency as pancake batter.)
Pour the mixture into a saucepan and set on your stovetop over medium heat. Stir constantly until it boils, then remove from heat and let cool. Transfer the prepared glue to an airtight container before using it.
Want more posts like this?
Do you use flour in any unconventional ways at home?
