
A few weeks back, AOL Food rifled through cabinets and plundered the fridge to find edible multi-taskers like peanut butter (it'll get gum out of the carpet) and cornstarch (makes messy sneaker lace knots manageable) for our Weird Household Uses for Food Gallery. We asked readers to share their best tips in the accompanying blog thread, and were so thrilled by the response that we've posted a follow-up gallery to highlight some of our favorites. (Seriously -- who knew mayonnaise could do all that?) Flip through it to find some innovative ways to save cash, sanity, and your brand-new carpet.
Got a red-hot hint of your own? Share it in the comments below.
Read: Household Food Tips From Our Readers
Read: Weird Household Uses for Food

Whitney Houston Dead: Singer Dies at 48, Body Found in Beverly Hilton Hotel
Whitney Houston, Bobbi Kristina: Late Singer's Daughter Hospitalized
Whitney Houston Dead: Stars React to Legend's Sudden Death
Whitney Houston Autopsy: Cause of Death Determined?
Grammy Red Carpet 2012 (PHOTOS)
Tips for flying cheaper in 2012
Grammy 2012 Winners' List: Adele Sweeps Music's Biggest Night
There's only one thing to do when the Nürburgring is covered in snow...
Tax Reform in This Election Year: It's Not Likely
Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown: Ex-Husband Honors Singer Onstage










1-25-2008 @2:17PM Kathie said... I'm guessing this was the first other use of peanut butter, but it certainly does a great job of getting gum out of children's hair with no pulling and hair loss or need to cut. Preferably use smooth .. not crunchy.
Reply
1-25-2008 @2:12PM Rebecca said... Peanut butter is also great for getting gum out of your children's hair. Just put a glob of PB around the gum and work in well, then start combing the glob toward the end of the hair strands. It even worked on my daughter's very long hair, it just took a little longer. After the gum is out, then shampoo to get the PB out.
Reply
1-25-2008 @2:14PM Dutchvrouw said... If you have a radiator leak, add pepper to the water in the radiator. The tiny grains of pepper will block the leak. It's only a temporary fix but it's a very good temporary fix.
Reply
1-25-2008 @2:22PM Laura A said... I have another great (but weird) use for Mayonaise. If you have a CD with a scratch on it, just rub the mayo on the scratch. Let it sit for about 5 minutes, and then wipe off going from the center of the CD to the outside rim.
Also, I great use for beer... Soak your hair in beer, and go lay out in the sun. It pulls out some great highlights. Make sure to shampoo afterwards, or you'll smell like a brewery!
: ]
Reply
1-25-2008 @2:31PM Roberta Smith said... I saw on HGTV to use mayo on rings on tables -- I tried it on a fresh ring under a potted plant and it disappeared! Thanks HGTV - saved my table1
Reply
1-27-2008 @10:27AM Kaydee said... Don't put onions out to deter your dogs from doing something. Onions are toxic to dogs, and if they ate those slices, and lots of dogs would, the onions could kill them. I don't know about cats, but I do know that onions, baking chocolate, grapes are things that are toxic to dogs.
Reply
1-29-2008 @3:44AM Anita said... Use vinager :
on sneakers after whitening them with clorene to completely neutralize the clorine. It prevents yellowing too.
The smelly feet problem will go away. Vinager neutralizes the amonia that can burn your skin in leather or canvas sneakers. Rinse with water after applying vinager.
Use vinager in the rinse water ( add one cup vinager to 2 to 10 gallons of water ) on cottons after whitening or sanitizing, with clorine bleach to stop the clorene bleach from eating away at fabric ( towels, cotton underware , socks, string mops, cloth diapers, any baby clothes ). Vinager neutralizes clorine and also amonia and is an antibacterial also.
Peanut butter can cover up scratches on wood furniture. use natural oil PB to rub on the stain. Let it set for a minute, rub off excess and its covered.
Reply
1-25-2008 @2:42PM Marie said... Onions are toxic to dogs. Do not use this tip if there is any chance the dog will eat the onion.
Reply
1-25-2008 @3:19PM j meyer said... Peanut butter can also be used to get out gum from hair or clothes along with stickers that were left on a shirt and put in the dryer....all you need to do is rub peanut butter on the spot and work it until the gum or sticky stuff is gone, You may need to reapply a little more peanut butter to the area until it is gone. Then wash it out. It is amazing. You don't have to get the little ones hair cut becuase the older one put gum in there hair any more.
Reply
1-25-2008 @2:49PM faye said... I know of a much better ink stain -getter than milk .
HAIRSPRAY - just spray it on the ink stain and keep blotting until it is all gone .
It works !
Reply
1-25-2008 @2:57PM Deanna said... Uncooked grits are excellent and inexpensive way to get rid of ants. The ants eat the grits and they explode. You can cover a mound of ants or use inside along shelves or walls where ants are a problem. Grits are enviromentally safe (corn, duh!) and will not harm pets or children.
Reply
12-30-2009 @9:52AM Judy said... You can also put cornmeal, not corn flour, around an ant hill. The ants take the grains down into their nest. When the meal gets wet, it emits a gas that kills the ants.
1-25-2008 @2:58PM Connie said... Using onions is NOT a good idea to keep your pets away. They are TOXIC to animals and if they ingest even a small amount of onion they will die without hospitalization.
Reply
1-25-2008 @4:08PM SHIRLEY said... BE VERY CAREFUL WITH HOT TOWEL ON MUSTARD ON THE CHEST. IT CAN BURN SKIN BADLY. AS A CHILD WE WERE GIVEN A 'MUSTARD PLASTER' FOR OUR CHESTS MADE FROM DRY MUSTARD AND WATER. WHICH COULD CAUSE 3RD DEGREE BURNS.
Reply
1-25-2008 @2:56PM Emma said... For stains on carpet, a light beer (any kind of yellow beer will do) will pick it up. The smell leaves something to be desired, but if you steam clean the spot afterwards the smell goes with it.
Reply
1-25-2008 @3:06PM solomeeeo said... Another way to get rid of the excess peanut butter in your carpet is call your dog over to it. They LOVE PB!
Reply
1-25-2008 @3:08PM Food-gal said... Regarding the advice to "rid puffy eyes by first putting slices of potato...then moisterizer"?
Moisturizer should NEVER be used on the EYE area!
Mousturizers contain ingredients which hold the moisture in the skin. If it is used no the eyarea...It will CAUSE "PUFFY EYES"!
Best to stick to eye cream for use around the eye area.
Reply
1-25-2008 @3:10PM Theresa said... Please DO NOT use onions around pets. They are deadly if your dog should eat them. Raw onions are very dangerous to dogs and I can't understand why someone would sugguest using them
Reply
1-25-2008 @3:15PM Todd said... Have you ever had a bag of brown sugar dry out ant turn into a brick? Put the bricked sugar in an air tight container with a slice of bread over night. The next morning it'll be just like new!
Reply
1-25-2008 @3:13PM Theresa said... I wish I knew a number or email to contact aol. They need to take the onion thing off the site. I know there are going to be dogs who will die because this. If someone knows an email or number please call and let them know that onions are DEADLY to dogs.
Reply