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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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 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. 

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.