There’s no getting around it — kids love Kool-Aid. You probably have several packets in your kitchen right now, but you may not be using it to its full potential. Did you know there are a lot of surprising ways unsweetened Kool-Aid can be used around the house?
Here are eight new ways to use this versatile powdery drink mix:
1. Get Your Washing Machine Clean
Bet the last place you thought you’d use Kool-Aid is in your washing machine! The citric acid crystals in Kool-Aid help remove rust, gunk and buildup from inside your washing machine. And who wants to clean their clothes in a dirty machine? Just pour in a quarter cup of orange or lemon-flavored drink mix and run a regular wash cycle. Repeat whenever your machine starts to look a little yucky.
2. Use as a Temporary Hair Dye
Are you or your kids headed to a party or concert? You can use Kool-Aid to add streaks or even dye hair completely! Just mix one or two packets of your preferred color of Kool-Aid with a teaspoon of cornstarch and a few drops of water. Rub the paste into dry hair and allow it to sit for at least five minutes. Wash the goo out and style as usual. Why would you choose this method over hair dye you can buy in the store? It’s cheaper (a store-bought temporary hair dye can cost more than $12 while a single pack of Kool-Aid costs about 20 cents or less), completely customizable, there are no toxic ingredients, and it’s temporary (it only lasts through one or two shampoos!). Just be sure to wear plastic gloves when applying the dye so you don’t stain your hands.
Related: Get Great Deals on Kool-Aid at Your Local Grocery Store
3. Clean Concrete Patios and Sidewalks
Ugly rust stains on your concrete? Add a few drops of water to a packet of lemonade-flavored Kool-Aid. Use a brush to scrub the the paste onto those stains and suddenly you’ve got a clean patio! The abrasiveness of the paste and the citric acid in the drink mix helps tackle even the trickiest stains.
4. De-green Chlorine-Damaged Hair
If frequent trips to the pool turn your hair green, remove the chlorine by mixing a pack of lemon-flavored Kool-Aid with a little bit of shampoo. Lather your hair up like you normally would and then let it sit for fifteen minutes. When the time is up, rinse your hair thoroughly and be careful not to get the Kool-Aid in your eyes (it will sting!) and then style like normal. You could pay $5 or more for one 7-ounce bottle of chlorine-removal shampoo, but you can buy a 19-ounce container of Kool-Aid for just $2.50!
5. Banish Stains on Pots and Pans
Are there stains on your pots and pans that you just can’t seem to get out? Get rid of them with Kool-Aid! Just add a teaspoon of water to a packet of lemon or orange-flavored Kool-Aid and scrub away!
6. Check Your Toilet Tank for Leaks
Do you have toilet that won’t stop running after you flush? Wait before you call a plumber — use Kool-Aid to see if there’s a leak in the tank first. Remove the tank lid and pour in a dark-colored Kool-Aid, like Grape or Berry Blue. Let it sit for about 30 minutes without flushing. You’ll know you have a leak if any of the Kool-Aid-colored water makes its way into your toilet bowl. Although you might just need to replace the flapper, you’ll have to investigate further to figure out the exact cause of the leak.
Related: Get Through Another School Year with the ALL YOU Back-to-School Guide
7. Clean Your Toilet
While we’re on the subject of toilets, did you know you can use orange-flavored Kool-Aid to make your toilet sparkle? Pour the packet into your toilet bowl and scrub the stains with a toilet brush. That magic combo of the abrasive texture and citric acid helps break down and dissolve even the toughest stains. It’s even rumored that members of the military frequently use this method to clean their toilets!
8. Clean Up Your Silverware
Rust-stained, tarnished silverware can really put a damper on your dinner party. Rather than buying a fancy silverware cleaner for $10 or more, use a 20-cent packet of lemon Kool-Aid. Fill your sink or a pitcher with 2 quarts of water, pour in a packet of Kool-Aid and add one cup of sugar. Mix well, and just add your silverware. Soak 10 minutes and then use a clean cloth to scrub the stains until they are gone. And this method is good for more than just silverware — it also works on tarnished jewelry and rusty tools.
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