Beer is not just for drinking..
1. Easily loosen a rusty screw.
The little one in your life grew 4" this year and the seat on her
bike needs to be raised - but the screw has rusted and is stubbornly
stuck. To loosen it, soak a rag in beer, tie it around the bike so
it covers the screw and let it sit for an hour. The beer's carbonic
acid will dissolve the rust so you can unscrew the bolt with ease.
2. Tenderize tough cuts of meat.
Flank and skirt steaks are so flavorful, but they can be a little chewy. The save: Marinate the meat in beer for a few hours before grilling. Beer's natural acids will soften the muscle fibers that make the meat tough.
3. De-Skunk your pets coat.
To deodorize your pup after a run-in with a skunk, mix two bottles of beer with 2 tblsp. of vanilla extract and work into his coat. Let sit for 5 minutes; rinse, then bathe him as usual. The beer's yeast cultures penetrate the water resistant oils in skunk spray so they can be rinsed away while the alcohol in both the beer and sweet smelling vanilla kills odor causing bacteria.
4. Keep wasps away from your BBQ.
The sun shining, the grill is hot- and the wasps are buzzing! To keep the pests from ruiing your outdoor party, make a wasp trap. To do: Fill a Mason Jar halfway with beer and poke a small hole in the lid. Place in an area far from guests. Wasps are attracted to the sugar and protein in the beer, so they'll fly into the jar and won't be able to escape.
5. Pamper your feet.
After being on your feet all day, your chore list is finally complete-but your feet are tired and sore. Heal them by
filling a basin with enough cold beer to cover your feet and soak for 15 minutes. The beer's cold temperature and carbonation will instantly refresh your feet, and its yeast will soften skin and smooth calluses. Plus, the alcohol and hops will kill odor causing bacteria, leaving feet smelling fresh!
6. Polish wood furniture for pennies.
To spruce up the dining table you scored at the flea market, soak a soft cloth in flat beer and use it to buff the wood. The alcohol will cut through the dust and grime while beer's proteins seal in moisture. And the color of the malt brings out the wood's hue. When you're finished rub the surface dry with a clean cloth to remove any beer odor.
7. Restore shine to copper.
You just inherited your mom's copper cookware, but the pots are covered in tarnish. To fix this, simply dip a clean clothin a light colored beer and use it to polish the spots, then rinse and buff dry. The beer's acids will break up the dark copper oxide that causes the stains.
8. Add oomph to your hair.
Is your hair looking dull and flat? Try mixing 1/4 cup of beer with 1/2 cup of water and rub into freshly washed hair. Let sit for 5 minutes, then rinse; the B vitamins heal damaged cuticles and add lift to the roots.
9. Green up yellowed grass.
Did you know the secret to a lush lawn is Fertilizing with beer! Supposedly the fermented sugars nourish the grass and bacteria in the soil that prime the lawn for growth. Simply, pour half beer and half water in a watering can and sprinkle just enough to wet the grass.
10. Get Better Sleep
Hops can work as an herbal replacement for sleeping pills. If you find yourself having trouble getting to sleep, try washing your pillow cases with a few spoonfuls of a hoppy IPA mixed in with the water. The hoppy scent will help you drift off into dreamland better than counting sheep ever could.
