
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










Reader Comments (Page 1 of 45)
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 @ 2:17PM
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 @ 2:22PM
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
1-25-2008 @ 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 @ 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 @ 2:56PM
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 @ 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
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 @ 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 @ 3:13PM
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
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 @ 3:19PM
Juliet said...
For many years I have been using baking soda to clean my silver jewelery. I would put some (soda) in a ziplock bag (enough to cover my jewelery) and leave for a few minutes , sometimes rubbing jewelery with it by using a dried cloth. Regular colgate (toothpatse) also work wonders in cleaning my silver jewelery. i just rinse of with water when I am done. Try it out sometimes.
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 @ 3:21PM
cathy said...
peanut butter is great for taking out gum from shoes as well as shirts even in your hair too... just rub peanut butter in small dabbs intoshirt untill all the gum is relalesed also hair spray also removes pen in from fabric if you have tape resado on your dress you need a steam iron and a peice of brown bag ... place brown bag over sticky spot and steam for a few seconds
Reply
1-25-2008 @ 3:21PM
Sue Harris said...
Corn Starch is great for babys bottom. When they have a diaper rash itt helps clear up the rash and protect their bottom. For those who can't use deoderant try it under your arms to help.
Reply
1-25-2008 @ 3:23PM
robert dewitt said...
Hey Girls next time you need to do an emergency repair on Your nails and not a nail file in sight see if Your or Your date have a pack of matches. The striker is a good Temp. Sub!
Side pocket Bob
Reply