4 Genius Uses for Flour That Have Nothing to Do With Baking

If you’re like most people, you probably keep a bag of all-purpose flour tucked away in your pantry for holiday baking projects, but this kitchen staple is far more than just a culinary building block. In fact, this basic white powder is one of the most versatile household tools you probably own. From whipping up a batch of eco-friendly homemade paint to serving as an all-natural barrier to protect your prized garden plants from pesky insects, flour can handle a surprising variety of DIY tasks. Here’s how a simple bag of flour can solve 4 unexpected problems around your home and garden.

1. Mix up some homemade paint.

If you’re looking for inexpensive, non-toxic paint for exterior walls, try some flour-based paint. You can easily mix up a can of paint with a matte finish in a few steps.

1. Heat up 7 quarts of water on a stovetop.
2. While waiting for the pot to come to a boil, combine 5 cups of white flour with 6 cups of cold water in a separate bowl.
3. Add the following ingredients, in order, to the pot of boiling water with 15 minutes of stirring and cooking between each: first the flour-water mixture, then your coloring pigments and 9 ounces of iron sulfate, and lastly 1 quart of linseed oil.
4. Remove the pot from the stovetop and stir in about 3 1/2 ounces of colorless dishwashing soap while the mixture cools.
5. When the paint is cool to the touch, you can start your DIY paint job.

2. Clean and shine metal objects around your house.

Flour can also come in handy for revitalizing brass, copper, and stainless steel items like bathroom fixtures, furniture, pots and pans, and appliances that become dull and tarnished over time. To get stainless steel appliances to sparkle, for example, sprinkle some flour onto a clean, dry cloth, and then use it to buff the surface.

To clean copper, mix together equal parts of flour and salt in a small bowl, and then stir in just enough vinegar to form a paste. Spread this paste on the copper surface and allow it to sit until the paste dries. Finally, rinse the paste off with warm water to achieve a clean, shiny copper surface.

For brass, create a paste of ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon flour, and ½ cup white vinegar. Apply the paste to the brass and let it sit for up to an hour. Rinse it well with warm water and buff dry with a microfiber cloth. The vinegar’s acidity helps dissolve tarnish, while the salt’s gentle abrasive texture removes tough stains.

3. Investigate whether you have pests like squirrels in the attic or snakes in the yard.

If you are worried about pests settling in your attic or yard, try tracking them with some flour. By leaving flour in the area, you’ll be able to easily identify paw prints. To do this, sprinkle flour on a piece of cardboard and place it directly in the squirrels’ path near their suspected access point in the attic. If there is an active squirrel infestation, there will likely be tracks in the flour within a couple of days. You’ll notice small foot marks that are 1 to 1½ inches long. If you see footprints that are twice that size, raccoons may have moved in. And if they are smaller footprints, it probably means mice are around. 

If you suspect a snake slithering in your yard, reach for some flour. Simply drizzle a light layer of flour around any holes you notice and leave it there overnight. The next morning, check for a winding trail in the flour leading in and out of the holes. If you find evidence of a snake visiting, then you probably want to call an exterminator to address the situation.   

4. Ripen avocados.

Sometimes the grocery store doesn’t have ripe avocados, but you need them ready for that guacamole you plan to make tomorrow. Surprisingly, flour offers a solution to this common dilemma. Simply place the hard avocados in a paper bag filled 2 inches high with flour. Then fill the bag with more flour until the avocados are completely covered. Roll down the top of the bag so that it is sealed. Keep the bag in a cool, dry place for about 24 hours. After this time, open it up and you should have some ripe avocados to enjoy.

 

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