13 Unexpected Ways To Use Beer Around The House

While we typically offer advice on everything from the greatest laundry hacks to useful gardening techniques, you should also be familiar with unusual uses for common items like beer. From being a handy copper polish to starting your compost pile, the ways you can put the popular drink to use around the house may surprise you. 

However, to do this, you want to understand why and how each method works to implement them correctly. For example, when applied correctly, beer's yeast and other properties can help boost your brown lawn's growth and attract bees to pollinate your flowers and plants. But, there are also points to consider, like it may attract pests or leave an odor, which turns a clever hack into a mess. So, whether you're looking for ways to get rid of pesky garden pests or remove coffee stains from the rugs, let's explore how beer can be an unexpected but effective tool.

Polishing all your wooden furniture with beer may sound odd, but it can make dull surfaces shine and is great to use in a pinch if you run out of traditional wood polish. You'll need a can of flat beer and a soft, lint-free cloth. Wipe the furniture down to remove the dust first, then dip a clean cloth into the beer to get damp, not soaked. Work in small areas until you cover the whole piece. As you apply it, the beer's slight acidity will help you get rid of grime and dirt without having to scrub, and it'll nourish the wood to help it shine in the sun and bring out the natural wood grain.

Beer is a surprisingly effective hack to remove carpet stains, acting like a natural and gentle cleaner. Blot up as much of the spill as possible first with a clean white towel. Don't rub the stain because it can set it deeper. Once you get as much of the spill out of the fibers as possible, pour enough beer to dampen the area without soaking through to the padding. Finish by rinsing the area with cold water and soaking up the remainder with a clean cloth. Repeat the process as necessary and let it air-dry for the best results.

Cleaning gold jewelry with beer is an unconventional but gentle method to help make it sparkle without using harsh chemicals. Jewelers recommend getting a light beer for this project as well as a cloth or soft-bristled brush. Dunk the cloth or brush into a small bowl of beer and clean the jewelry, paying especially close attention to any grooves or intricate designs where dirt and debris collect. Then, rinse it off using a little warm water. To stave off tarnish and water spots while making it shine, fully dry your gold jewelry with a soft, lint-free towel.

Beer helps with rusty bolts, giving you a simple way to solve this common problem, thanks to beer's carbonic acid. Pour enough beer over the rusted bolt to soak it and the area around it. Let it sit for a few minutes to give it time to sink into the rust and allow the bolt to turn easier. Use pliers or a wrench to gently twist the bolt. Soak it again if it doesn't move with light pressure, allowing the beer to sit for 20 to 30 minutes to help break the rust's grip better. 

This hack polishes copper and removes tarnish because beer has mild acids. First, pour enough beer onto the cloth to dampen it and rub it onto your copper using a circular motion. If the tarnish won't lift, wipe the beer on again and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes to see if it works. Rinse it using warm water to remove any residue and use a soft, clean cloth to dry it so water spots don't form. 

Did you know it's possible to use beer to keep slugs and snails out of the garden? You'll need a shallow container, like a pie tin, and you'll bury it into the soil with your plants while keeping the rim level with the ground. Pour enough beer to fill the container halfway and leave it. Slugs and snails will get drawn to the aroma, fall in, and be incapable of finding their way out. Arrange the traps strategically, making sure they are in places where slugs or snails are causing trouble. 

While there are a lot of benefits to using beer in the garden, it also works on your lawn. Beer includes yeast and sugar, which boost grass growth and make it vibrant and lush. Mix a can of beer and a gallon of water in a garden sprayer. Wait until the early morning or late afternoon to prevent the solution from evaporating too fast, and spray it generously over any brown spots. Repeat this process weekly until the problem areas disappear. 

There's a simple beer hack that repels flying pests around your home. Beer's sugar and yeast content attracts mosquitoes and pests, making it a great bait. Get a bowl or jar and plastic wrap to set up this trap. Fill the container with a few inches of beer and place the plastic wrap over the top. To hold it, twist a rubber band around it and poke three or four small holes in the film wrap with a fork or toothpick. The beer will draw the flying pests, and they'll enter the holes and get trapped. Routinely check your trap, empty it, and refill the beer as needed. 

Beer is a natural, gentle fertilizer for houseplants due to its yeast content and small mineral amounts, like potassium. Plant experts say these ingredients boost growth and nourish your plants, but you want to dilute it with water to ensure it's gentle enough for your indoor plants, especially the first few times. Also, water your plants first so you don't shock the plants with the beer's alcohol content and sugar. After you saturate the soil with plain water, pour the diluted beer around the plant's base. Limit this hack to once a month to give a slight nutrient boost without overloading your plants with sugars that attract pests. 

Beer is a natural way to trap cockroaches in your house, and it takes advantage of their attraction to yeast and sugar. Grab a deep jar or bottle with steep sides and pour a few inches of beer into it, just enough to draw the cockroaches. Put these traps in spots where you saw cockroaches or their droppings, like behind your appliances, under your sink, or in cabinet or pantry corners. Check your traps every few days, eliminate any trapped bugs, and add fresh beer as the levels drop. 

Why not add your favorite alcoholic beverage to your compost pile to jumpstart it? The yeast in beer can help boost the composition process, allowing organisms to break down organic material faster. Simply pour a can of flat beer directly over your compost pile. The liquid will slowly seep into the pile, spreading yeast and activating the composting microorganisms as it goes. Rotate the decomposing matter every week or two to let air in while ensuring all pile layers decay at the same speed. Just stick to one beer for a medium-sized compost pile to avoid overdoing it. 

Putting beer out to attract bees is a creative way to make your garden healthier. Bees are essential for pollinating plants, letting you grow more fruits and vegetables or flowers. And, beer's sweet smell will attract bees and other pollinators, encouraging them to hang around. Fill a shallow container or a saucer with a small amount of beer and put it in your garden. However, you want to keep it away from where you hang out, so the bees don't get too close. Refresh the beer every few days to stop it from turning into a bacteria breeding ground or attracting pests. 

The trick to banishing mice from your house is beer, as it's a non-toxic, humane solution. Mice are drawn to the scent beer gives off, making it a solid lure. Fill a deep container or five-gallon bucket with an inch or so of beer. Put a piece of wood or ramp up to the container or bucket's rim to give mice easy access. They'll jump or fall in and get stuck because of the steep, slippery sides. Put these traps along walls or in any spot you notice mouse droppings, and check your traps in the morning. Put on gloves, take the container far away from your house, and tip it on its side so the mouse can run out into the wild.