Restore volume to limp hair To add oomph to strands, combine 3 tablespoons of beer and ½ cup of water. After washing your hair as usual, rub the mixture into locks and let sit for 5 minutes, then rinse. The beer’s B vitamins and proteins will heal damaged hair and add body. And don’t worry—rinsing will remove the beer smell. Bonus: beer adds shine and helps ward off dandruff!
Quickly clean and season cast iron An easy way to get your cast iron in tip-top shape: pour enough fresh beer to cover the bottom of your still-warm pan and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes. The carbonation will keep food particles from sticking to the pan’s surface, plus the beer will leave behind a subtle nuttiness that will enhance the flavor of your future dishes.
Attract butterflies to your garden These beauties actually love the smell of beer! To welcome them into your yard, mix a small amount of flat beer with some mashed, overripe banana (ripe fruit is another butterfly favorite) and spread it on a tree trunk or rock near your garden. Then sit back, relax, and watch pretty insects flutter about.
Restore shine to gold jewelry If your gold necklace looks dull but you don’t have polish on hand, pour a bit of beer (a light or medium brew—avoid dark ale) onto a soft cloth and rub it into the bangle, then buff with a clean cloth. Beer’s carbonic acid will dissolve oil and dirt so your jewelry sparkles.
Green up your lawn in no time Brown spots creeping up on your lawn? Professional gardeners suggest pouring beer (just enough to wet the grass) on discolored areas. The brew’s acids kill fungus, while its fermented sugars feed the grass to stimulate healthy growth.
Quickly get rid of skunk stink Fido crossed paths with a skunk and smells so foul, we can barely get near him! But that curious dog has gotten into this bind before, so we know the fix: Rub a can or two’s worth of beer into his coat, then rinse with water and bathe him with doggy shampoo to remove any beer scent. Beer’s yeast cultures will penetrate the skunk spray’s water-resistant oils so the brew’s carbonic acid can dissolve them. Plus, the alcohol will kill odor-causing bacteria, resulting in a fresh-smelling cuddle buddy!
Spruce up wood furniture Guests are arriving soon for your dinner party, and a quick inspection of your wooden coffee table has you wishing you had furniture polish on hand. The in-a-pinch fix: Wipe down the furniture with a soft cloth saturated in beer, then buff dry with a clean, dry cloth. The drink’s slight foaminess loosens dust, while the color of the malt brings out the wood’s hue and the alcohol boosts shine. MORE: 10 Brilliant Uses For Club Soda
Keep wasps from spoiling outdoor fun Your gang is out in the yard enjoying the beautiful weather when wasps come buzzing about, ruining the fun. To keep the pests at bay, make a wasp trap. To do: fill a jar halfway with beer, then spread a thin coating of petroleum jelly along the upper inside area of the jar. Next, poke a hole in the lid that’s about the diameter of your pinkie, then screw it on top. Wasps are attracted to the sugar and protein in beer, so they’ll fly into the trap but won’t be able to climb out. Just be sure to place the trap away from where people gather or play.
Remove rust marks with ease You scored a set of metal lawn chairs for a song at a yard sale. The only hitch: There are a few rusty spots. Beer to the rescue! Simply cover the problem areas with a beer-soaked rag and let sit for about an hour. The brew’s carbonic acid will dissolve the rust so your yard sale find will look as good as new.
Tenderize tough cuts of meat It figures! We’ve got all the fixings for a tasty rump roast dinner…except tenderizer. Luckily, a foodie friend clued us in to the perfect save: Put the roast in a large, zipper-lock bag and pour in one can of beer, then let it soak in the fridge for at least 1 hour before cooking. Beer’s carbonic acid softens the muscle fibers that make meat tough. But beer isn’t as acidic as vinegar-based marinades, so it doesn’t render the roast mushy or impart a strong flavor. (See how beer + meat = less cancer.) MORE: 10 Brilliant Uses For Eggshells
