7 Extraordinary Household Uses for Beer

According to the Beer Institute, a group that represents 2,800 U.S. brewers and suppliers, the making and selling of Americans’ favorite alcoholic drink is a $264.5 billion industry—so it’s probably safe to say that most of us usually have a bottle or six on hand. Yes, you can drink it, but the value of this golden elixir goes far beyond basic imbibing. Read on for 7 other, ingenious ways to put beer to good use.

By Debra Immergut | Updated Aug 18, 2015 01:50 PM

Slay a Few Slugs

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How to Kill Slugs

Who knew? Those pesky, slimy sliders that nibble on your garden plants can’t resist a nice brew. To cut down on their numbers, bury jam jars so their rims are level with the soil, then fill them with a few inches of beer. Slugs, drawn by the barroom aroma, will crawl in and meet a happy death in the drink.


Related:  8 Ways to Combat Garden Pests

flickr.com / via Scot Nelson

Polish a Table

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Homemade Wood Polish

Next time someone leaves you with a half-finished bottle of Bud after a backyard barbecue, save it to use as an all-natural wood polish. Applying flat beer to wooden furniture with a soft cloth reportedly gives the wood grain a fine sheen (but do test this treatment first on a hidden part of your furniture before you slop the drink all over it).

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Shine Up Fine Metals

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How to Shine Metal

If you’re lucky enough to own copper pots and pans, use a bit of beer on a polishing cloth to buff away tarnish spots. This home-brewed remedy also works on other brass items, such as lamps, doorknobs, and grillwork.


Related:  How To—Clean Brass

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Pamper Your Lawn

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Homemade Fertilizer

When your lawn is looking a little wan, try feeding it with a homemade fertilizer. Many homeowners have found success with a simple and surprising concoction of beer, household ammonia, and baby shampoo. Intrigued?


Related:  Ultimate Lawn Care Guide—12 Steps to a Prize-Winning Yard

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Make Your Faucets Sparkle

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Restore Shine

Carbonation—the fizz factor in beer—works wonders on dull faucets and handles in the bathroom. To try it out, fill a plastic bag with flat beer and tie it around taps or spouts that have lost their shine. Remove after a few hours of soaking, and enjoy newly sparkling fixtures.

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Keep Bugs at Bay

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DIY Bug Repellent

When entertaining outdoors, pour a bit of brew into shallow bowls and set them on the perimeter of your deck or patio. Rather than pestering your guests, winged insects like wasps and flies will be drawn toward the beer’s sugars.


Related:  Pests, Be Gone! 10 Natural Ways to Make Your Home Critter-Free

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Bust Rust

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How to Get Rid of Rust

If rust has locked a screw in place, try dousing it with a fresh, fizzy beer. The carbonation is said to break down rust just enough to allow the screw to be loosened. Turn the screw as needed, then celebrate by drinking the rest of the beverage.

flickr.com/via Dale Moore

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