Flour is an essential ingredient in the kitchen that we always like to have in our cupboards to make cakes, pancakes and desserts or to start preparing a béchamel sauce to top the evening meal. However, did you know that, just like cornstarch, flour can also be used to scrub and shine all surfaces in the house, thus easily replacing many household products that clutter up the space under the sink ? This surprising feature is due to the fact that this natural, inexpensive and biodegradable culinary ingredient has excellent absorbency, very useful for cleaning. It also has a notable repellent effect on a number of harmful insects and can be combined with ecological household products (baking soda, etc.) to enhance its cleaning power.
Find out how to clean with flour.
1) Flour: THE secret to easily cleaning a fryer
Its absorption power is ideal for combating oily residues that make cleaning difficult. All you have to do here is sprinkle it directly on the walls of the fryer, previously emptied. Then leave it to act a little absorb as much oil as possible and wipe with a cloth or paper towel to remove clumps of flour. You will then just have to wipe the surface with a degreasing dishwashing liquid (or black soap!). This tip also works to clean a waffle iron whose plates are not removable. The flour will allow you to do most of the maintenance work.
2) Clean an oil stain with flour
Whether on clothing or a carpet, it is not always easy to remove oil stains. Against these stubborn stains, however, we can use a powder to help absorb fat. And if the land of Sommières is a champion in all categories in this area, the flour (or talc) that we easily find in our cupboards can do the trick. To do this, however, you must act quickly, when the stain is still fresh. Immediately sprinkle flour on top and leave to act for at least an hour. Then brush off the flour and clean and remove stains as usual.
3) A good way to eliminate cockroaches
Flour helps to clean up space, and not only because it has incredible household uses! Indeed, we can also use it to eliminate cockroaches by mixing a little in a cup with plaster (or baking soda) as well as powdered sugar. Then, place several cups on the passage areas and let the magic work. With this simple, but devilishly effective poison, cockroaches just have to watch out…
4) An ingredient to scare away ants
You may already know the trick of making a chalk line to prevent ants from passing through. Well! we can do the same with flour placed on the ground in a line to create a natural barrier against these little creatures. If that’s not enough, add a little clay: these critters will no longer move around.
5) Flour to clean the blood
Flour is one of grandmother’s unusual but effective tips for removing blood stains from a mattress or even clothing. However, it must be used on a still fresh blood stain for maximum efficiency. To do this, sprinkle white powder on the stained area, then let it dry. Then rinse carefully with cold water (never use hot water on the blood!).
6) An ally against red wine stains
Traditionally, it is often recommended to use salt to remove wine stains. However, it tends to fix the pigments of the stain, making it difficult to remove. As for white wine, it works well, but you don’t necessarily have an open bottle on hand… Fortunately, everything can be fixed with a packet of flour! In fact, simply sprinkle it on the stain as quickly as possible and let it sit. This will then form a wet paste. All you have to do is brush the fabric and clean it to complete the stain removal. Thanks to the flour, most of the stain will already be gone.
7) Flour to clean the sink or work surface
As soon as an oil stain appears somewhere in the house, sprinkle flour on it to absorb it effortlessly (and without unfriendly paper towels!). Then simply wipe with a soft cloth to finish cleaning without scratching the treated surface. Used on a sink (avoiding throwing any into the drain to limit the risk of blockages), this tip will also make it possible to polish stainless steel to give it maximum shine. You can also take advantage of it to make kitchen or bathroom taps shine. To do this, apply a little of this white powder to a microfiber cloth and rub the taps in gentle circular movements.
8) The unusual tip for unclogging the toilets
Here’s another tip from grandma very unusual, but proven among those who tried it on the very dirty toilet bowl in their little corners. To clean the toilet with flour, however, you must also provide citric acid (which you can possibly replace with lemon juice or hot white vinegar). Here we are going to moisten the walls of the toilets, then sprinkle flour on them. You will then need to mix 1 liter of water with 3 tablespoons of citric acid in a spray bottle and spray this mixture over the entire surface to be treated. Finally, leave it to act overnight before rubbing and flushing. Sparkling cleanliness guaranteed!
9) Flour to clean rust
It is not uncommon to find rust on metal objects, especially old silverware. However, it is possible to polish it with a mixture composed of a glass of white vinegar, another of flour and half a glass of fine salt. Then, gently rub this paste on the dull and rusty areas. All you have to do is polish with soap and water for a perfect result.
10) To absorb humidity in furniture
While it is not uncommon to use bowls of rice, charcoal or even gum arabic, you can also put mustard flour in cups to absorb moisture in a cupboard or drawer. This will limit the formation of mold in your furniture. Just be sure to replace the flour every so often to keep it effective.
11) Flour for dry cleaning laundry
Not all clothes can be machine washed. In this case, it is obligatory to go through dry cleaning. However, it is never very pleasant to have to take a detour to the dry cleaners, especially since it comes at a cost. Fortunately, he is possible to dry clean a garment at home thanks to this tip: place several handfuls of flour in a plastic bag, then add the item of clothing. Close the bag tightly and shake vigorously. Finally, take the garment out of the bag and shake it to remove the flour. If necessary, give the textile a brush to complete the cleaning.
12) A solution for maintaining copper
Don’t know how to clean copper? Test the flour! To do this, simply sprinkle it on a cloth and gently rub the metal. If it is very dirty, make a paste with flour, white vinegar and coarse salt in equal quantities. Apply everything to the copper and leave to act before rinsing.