Coca-Cola has been delivering that fizzy refreshment on sweltering days for over a hundred years. You’re likely accustomed to sipping a Coke at dinner, ordering one at the drive-thru or — on nights you’re feeling bold — mixing it with your preferred rum.
But Coca-Cola has plenty of uses beyond simply drinking it.
If you’ve got a 12-pack or a 2-liter bottle of Coke taking up space in your fridge, think of it as more than a beverage. You can employ Coke for everything from baking a cake to cleaning a toilet bowl to deterring pests. And when a 2-liter of cola costs only a few dollars at the supermarket, it’s often a cheaper substitute for many household products.
21 Ways to Use Coca-Cola Around the House
Coca-Cola, or any dark carbonated cola, is useful for much more than quenching thirst. The carbonation combined with phosphoric acid creates a surprisingly capable household and garden aid. In some applications, diet versions may change the outcome.
Cleaning With Coke
Both the fizz of Coca-Cola and its phosphoric acid make it a handy alternative to conventional cleaners. When scrubbing surfaces, be sure to rinse with warm water afterward to prevent sticky residue.
1. Scrubbing Pots and Pans
The phosphoric acid in a can of Coke does a good job cutting through grease. If a pot or pan is stubbornly greasy and soap and hot water aren’t doing the job, try soaking the cookware in some Coca-Cola. Place the pot or pan on a stovetop burner at low heat for about half an hour while it soaks, then wash again with soap and water.
Cola is also effective against charred or burnt food. A Coke soak can break down burnt-on bits enough that you can scrub or scrape them away.
2. Removing Grease Stains From Clothes
It’s not only kitchen grease that cola can tackle. Coca-Cola can be used to treat tough grease stains on dark fabrics, like jeans, shirts and linens (because who doesn’t sometimes eat in bed?).
Pour a little soda on a fresh stain as an alternative to a commercial spot remover, then launder as usual (warm water recommended).
If you’ve stained a lighter-colored garment or sheet, use a clear lemon-lime soda such as Sprite, Starry or 7UP.
3. Cleaning the Toilet Bowl
It’s the chore nobody loves, but it must be done. If your usual toilet cleaner isn’t cutting through grime (or you’re out), pour about two cans’ worth of Coke into the bowl and let it sit for at least an hour. Then scrub with a toilet brush and watch the buildup come away.
4. Cleaning Tile Grout
Coke can be effective for cleaning discolored tile grout in bathrooms and kitchens. Soak stained grout in Coca-Cola for several minutes, then wipe clean. Remember to rinse with warm water. For larger areas, pour cola from a 2-liter into a spray bottle for easier application.
5. Wiping Windows, Mirrors and More
Keeping windows clean gives you a clearer view of the outdoors. If you don’t have glass cleaner on hand, reach for a bottle of soda. Use the same spray bottle you prepared for grout to mist windows, then wipe and follow with warm water.
The same trick works on bathroom mirrors caked with grime and dried toothpaste. If you wear glasses and are out of lens cleaner, you can even use Coke in a pinch!
6. Scrubbing Out the Tub
You’ve cleaned the toilet and mirrors, but Coca-Cola can help elsewhere in the bathroom. If your porcelain tub has grime, mildew or rust, cola can make it look refreshed. Bleach is effective on mildew but not as much on rust; Coca-Cola’s phosphoric acid reacts with iron oxide and helps rust dissolve.
To clean a tub, apply cola liberally with a sponge or rag, concentrating on rust spots. Let it sit for about an hour, then scrub vigorously and rinse with warm shower water.
Deep rust may require multiple treatments and might not be restored completely to a like-new appearance.
Working Around the House With Coke
Cleaning chores aren’t the only household tasks Coke can help with. Grab a 2-liter and head to the garage — it can lift oil stains from the driveway, clean battery terminals, remove rust from tools and more.
7. Clearing Up Driveway or Garage Oil Stains
Just as Coke can fight stubborn grease on clothing or cookware, it can address oil stains on driveways or garage floors.
For best results, let a generous puddle of Coke soak into the stain for several hours or even overnight before hosing it away.
Worried about attracting ants? Use Diet Coke. Since it’s sweetened artificially with aspartame, ants aren’t drawn to it. (Coke Zero Sugar and other artificially sweetened options behave similarly.)
8. Cleaning Your Car Battery Terminal
While you’re in the garage, check your car’s battery. If there’s corrosion, Coke can help.
The acidity won’t react with battery acid, so you can pour some soda from a 12-ounce can directly onto the terminal after disconnecting the cables. Let it work for a bit, then scrub the corrosion away — you’ll need some elbow grease. Dry with a towel and reattach the cables.
9. Removing Rust From Tools
You’ve probably heard the exaggerated rumor that a tooth will dissolve in Coke overnight — that one’s not accurate. But the acid in cola can help strip rust from tools. Soak rusty tools or hardware in a bowl of cola for a day or two, then scrub and rinse them.
10. Loosening a Rusty Bolt
If a rusty bolt or screw refuses to move, open a can of Coke. Dampening a cloth with soda and wrapping it around the bolt will help remove enough rust to let you loosen it and continue your project.
Gardening With Coca-Cola
Coke may not be a gardening staple, but it can be useful outdoors. From accelerating compost to discouraging slugs, there are several ways cola can help your garden thrive.
11. Speeding Up Composting
Got a compost pile? Adding some Coke can hasten decomposition. The sugars attract microorganisms that break down organic material, while the cola’s acid helps progress the process.
12. Repelling Slugs and Snails
Slugs and snails may look harmless, but they can devastate plants. To protect your garden, set out a shallow bowl of Coke overnight. The pests will be drawn to the soda, crawl in and drown — leaving your plants alone.
13. Promoting Plant Growth
Plants can be finicky: some suffer from too much water while acid-loving species benefit from a slightly lower pH. A small amount of Coke can reduce soil pH and may help plants such as azaleas, bergenia, astilbes, foxgloves and gardenias.
Cooking With Coca-Cola
While a cold Coca-Cola on a summer day is delightful, there are culinary ways to incorporate cola beyond drinking it. Try a Coca-Cola cake, slow-cooked ham or a cola-based wing sauce.
14. Baking a Coca-Cola Cake
Coke is sweet, cake is sweet — so why not combine them?
We recommend this Classic Coca-Cola Cake, a chocolate cake that uses soda in both the batter and the frosting. The recipe calls for 1 ⅓ cups of Coke in total, leaving some for sipping with the slice.
Not into Coke? The recipe creator at Spicy Southern Kitchen notes you can substitute Dr Pepper or root beer.
15. Cooking a Ham
Try something different for your next holiday meal. This Slow Cooker Coca-Cola Ham from Good Housekeeping uses a full 2-liter of Coke in the slow cooker; the carbonation helps draw flavor from the meat.
16. Tossing Chicken Wings in a Cola Sauce
Whether you like garlic parmesan, mango habanero or classic Buffalo, add some variety with a cola-based wing sauce. Try this recipe from Tablespoon: Coca-Cola Chicken Wings.
If you’re not comfortable breading and frying wings, precooked frozen wings work well with the sauce.
17. Grilling Some Burgers
A Coke pairs perfectly with a burger, but you can also use cola in the burger-making process. This cola burger recipe from Taste of Home uses the soda as a glaze — just avoid Diet Coke, per the instructions.
Using Coke in an Emergency
Sugary sodas have been linked to heart disease, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, tooth decay and more — they’re not health food.
And that myth about flat Cola curing an upset stomach isn’t supported. The World Health Organization advises against such remedies.
Still, cola can be useful in certain emergency or unusual situations.
18. Stopping an Asthma Attack
If you have asthma, your inhaler should always be your first line of defense. But if your inhaler isn’t available and you have cans of Coke nearby, the caffeine may help ease breathing issues.
Caffeine can help open airways — a 12-ounce can of soda contains about 34 milligrams of caffeine. Mountain Dew is even higher (around 55 milligrams per can).
19. Neutralizing a Jellyfish Sting
Despite what you might have seen on TV, urine can make a jellyfish sting worse. Vinegar is preferred, but if nothing else is available, the acid in cola can help neutralize the discomfort. Seek medical attention as soon as possible.
20. Quickly Defrosting an Icy Windshield
If you’re in a hurry and the windshield is iced over, pouring a 2-liter or two of Coke onto the ice can turn it into a brown slush that your wipers can clear away.
Is it sticky and unpleasant? Yes. Does it work? Yes.
21. Removing Gum From Your Hair
Getting gum stuck in hair is a nuisance. While Michael Scott famously used peanut butter, Coca-Cola can also help. Let the affected hair soak in cola for a few minutes, then work the gum free.
“Is Pepsi OK?”
Before you try all these tricks, you might wonder about Pepsi, RC Cola or store-brand colas.
In short: Any dark carbonated cola should work because the key components are phosphoric acid and carbonation. Diet versions can produce different results (especially when baking — real sugar matters), so stick with sugared cola when possible. Also, use fizzy soda; once it goes flat it loses some cleaning power.
Some hacks — like degreasing light clothing or bringing back the shine on silver jewelry — work better with clear sodas such as Sprite or 7UP.
Alex Rivera covers practical household tips and personal finance from his base in Cincinnati. He has experience in editing and design across marketing and publishing and has written on topics including insurance, taxes, retirement and budgeting for outlets like Savinly, Forbes, Insider and other consumer publications.
