Have you heard of Dry January, or are you taking part this year? It’s an annual effort encouraging people to forgo alcohol for the month.
Problem is, many of us still have bottles of alcohol sitting around the house — drinks left over from holiday gatherings.
You don’t need to down that inventory, though. If you’re aiming for a sober start to 2025 — or just trying to cut back — here are practical ideas for using leftover wine, unopened beers and spare liquor without drinking them.
9 Ways to Use Alcohol Without Consuming It
We discovered plenty of creative and useful ways to repurpose alcohol that don’t involve getting tipsy.
1. Make a Creamy Vodka Sauce
Oddly enough, a vodka brand once ran a Dry January spot featuring Martha Stewart showing playful, tongue-in-cheek uses for Tito’s — like watering plants with it or using the bottle as a tool.
One suggestion is actually practical: “Add it to your pasta sauce for a little extra kick,” Martha says while stirring a red sauce and splashing in some vodka.
Jokes aside, many chefs agree that a splash of vodka can elevate tomato sauce. The alcohol evaporates during cooking, so neither you nor the kids will get intoxicated from it.
2. Use Wine in Cooking
You don’t have to polish off that half-empty wine bottle left over from the holidays. There’s no rule that it must be drunk.
Wine is versatile in the kitchen. White or red, both can be put to good use — pair sauvignon blanc with seafood, pinot grigio with veggies, chardonnay with chicken and mushrooms. Use merlot or pinot noir for pork, and zinfandel or shiraz for roast beef or lamb.
“A small quantity of wine will enhance the flavor of the dish. The alcohol in the wine evaporates while the food is cooking, and only the flavor remains,” notes What’s Cooking America. “For best results, wine should not be added to a dish just before serving. The wine should simmer with the food, or sauce.”
3. Cook With Beer
“As a baking liquid, beer is unsurpassed. It adds a lightness and buoyancy to biscuits, pancakes, cakes and a variety of homemade breads,” says the Beer Institute.
If the Beer Institute backs it, we’re inclined to listen.
So don’t toss away that lingering six-pack. With a quick search you’ll find many tasty recipes that call for beer — Guinness cheese dip, beer-battered fish and chips, lobster rolls with IPA, a lager-crust apple tart, and more.
“Cooking with beer adds a deep, earthy flavor to savory dishes such as chili, soup, and stew; and a nutty, caramelized flavor to baked goods,” explains AllRecipes.
4. Use Spirits in Recipes
Last booze-cooking tip, and it’s a good one.
When you’re baking or preparing dinner, try recipes like “vodka pie crust” or “whiskey mushroom gravy.” Leftover spirits are fantastic for adding flavor to both sweet and savory dishes.
5. Clean Around the House Like a Pro
Ever heard of Bob Vila? The longtime host of “This Old House” was a pioneer of home improvement TV and remains a trusted voice in DIY.
His site lists alternative household uses for alcohol — cleaning jewelry with gin, polishing sinks and faucets with beer, or cleaning tobacco pipes with whiskey, for example.
“You can find alcohol in cleaning products, polishes, and even fuels, so it’s not surprising that it has a bunch of practical uses around the home,” Bob Vila’s site notes. “Its solvent properties give this versatile potable dozens of uses besides consumption.”
6. Try Beer as a Hair Rinse
Believe it or not, some people swear by pouring beer on their hair. It’s similar to an apple cider vinegar rinse that many folks use for shine and scalp health.
Shampoos and conditioners formulated with beer already exist. The idea is that malt and hops can nourish hair; some skip the product and apply flat beer directly.
“Even though claims that beer is good for hair are largely unproven in clinical research, there are some ingredients in beer that do provide certain health benefits,” reports Healthline, which outlines the method.
Wash and condition first, then pour flat beer over hair and massage into the scalp. Rinse after about 15 minutes.
7. Loosen Rusty Fasteners Using Beer
Thrillist compiled a list of surprising household uses for booze.
One handy trick: Use beer to loosen rusty bolts.
“The carbonation in beer helps break down rust,” Thrillist says. “If you have a stubborn bolt or anything else covered in rust, pour a few glugs of beer over it and wait a few minutes for the rust to loosen.”
8. Use White Wine to Treat Red Wine Stains
Foodie site Spoon University offers a useful tip for those of us who occasionally spill red wine.
“Pour white wine onto the stain and then apply baking soda for a couple hours and you’ll be as good as new (aka ready for another glass of wine),” the site suggests.
We even know family members who swear by this trick.
9. Use Beer to Trap Garden Slugs
Fed up with slugs and snails chewing your plants? They nibble leaves and roots, and can ruin a garden.
One cheap, effective fix: place small cups of beer around the affected area. Slugs and snails are drawn to the yeasty smell, crawl into the cups and drown.
Gardeners often partially bury several plastic cups around plants, leaving the rims exposed. Use inexpensive beer — the pests aren’t picky.
So there you have it. If you’re committed to Dry January, no need to let leftover alcohol taunt you.
Put it to work instead.
Jordan Hale ( [email protected] ) is a senior writer at Savinly.
For more creative household tips, see other uses for dryer sheets and clever uses for vinegar.
