Wheat flour is an essential product in many cuisines, and people usually associate it exclusively with making bread, flatbreads, or chebureki. However, this simple ingredient can simplify many other household tasks around the house.
If you have old flour that you are about to throw away, you should stop. There are ten ways to use flour that are completely unrelated to baking.
Firstly, flour can help freshen metal surfaces. If a sink or stainless steel cookware has developed stains due to frequent use, first wash and dry them thoroughly with soap. Then take a little flour on a dry cloth and gently rub the surface, after which wipe it with a clean cloth.
Secondly, flour can be used to make soft modeling clay for children. To do this, mix flour, salt, water, and food coloring. The resulting mass is suitable for children's games.
Thirdly, flour serves as a base for homemade glue. Instead of buying store-bought glue, you can mix flour, sugar, and water, slightly heating the mixture. After cooling, this mixture can be used as glue for school projects or paper crafts.
The fourth method is eliminating grease from playing cards. To reduce stickiness or greasiness of the cards, place them in a bag with a small amount of flour and shake well. Then remove the cards and wipe them with a clean cloth.
Flour can also be used to protect plants from insects. If small pests are found on leaves, you can lightly sprinkle the affected leaves with flour and rinse the plant with water the next day. This process can be repeated if necessary.
To give clothes a light starch effect, preventing shrinkage and loss of shape, you can prepare a solution. Mix one tablespoon of flour with half a cup of cold water, then add half a cup of boiling water and let the mixture thicken. The cooled solution should be sprayed onto the clothing.
Flour can act as a repellent against ants. Spraying a small amount of flour in areas where ants frequently appear can create an obstacle in their path, preventing them from finding their usual routes.
For sensitive skin or in the absence of special products, flour can replace dry shampoo. A small amount of flour is applied to the roots of the hair using a brush, left for a few minutes, and then thoroughly brushed out. For dark hair, coconut powder can be added to avoid visible white residue.
To restore the shine of old copper items, you can make a paste from equal parts of flour and salt, adding a little vinegar. This paste should be carefully rubbed onto the copper items, and then rinsed with warm water and dried.
Furthermore, flour is suitable for making a homemade face mask. Mix puree of several grapes with about four tablespoons of flour. Apply the resulting paste to the face for 10–15 minutes, and then rinse with clean water. Before using any homemade remedy, it is recommended to perform a patch test on a small area of skin.