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ByChristina Farah and Reader's Digest Editors
Updated: Jun. 02, 2024
From the book 10,001 Timesaving ideas
Think club soda is just a beverage or a stain remover? Think again!
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More than just a bubbly drink
Stumped about which drink you should order? Club soda is the perfect compromise between sugary soda and cold, refreshing water. It boasts the health benefits of H20 and the fizzy satisfaction of soda, so it’s no wonder that it’s the go-to drink of many. And besides just tasting good, club soda has many practical uses—some might even surprise you!
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Make pancakes and waffles fluffier
If you like your pancakes and waffles on the fluffy side, substitute club soda for the liquid called for in the recipes. You’ll be amazed at how light and fluffy your breakfast treats turn out. Pssst: You might be messing up your pancakes if you make these mistakes.
3/21
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Give your plants a mineral bath
Don’t throw out that leftover club soda. Use it to water your indoor and outdoor plants. The minerals in the soda water help green plants grow. For maximum benefit, try to water your plants with club soda about once a week. These clever uses for bananas will help you get the most out of your kitchen.
4/21
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Remove fabric stains
Clean grease stains from double-knit fabrics. Pour club soda on the stain and scrub gently. Scrub more vigorously to remove stains on carpets or less delicate articles of clothing. Next, find out what is the difference between club soda and seltzer.
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Help shuck oysters
If you love oysters but find shucking them to be a near-impossible chore, try soaking them in club soda before you shuck. The oysters won’t exactly jump out of their shells, but they will be much easier to open.
6/21
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Clean precious gems
Soak diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds in club soda to give them a bright sheen. Simply place them in a glass full of club soda and let them soak overnight. Or check out these other genius ways to clean your jewelry at home.
7/21
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Clean your car windshield
Keep a spray bottle filled with club soda in the trunk of your car. Use it to help remove bird droppings and greasy stains from the windshield. The fizzy water speeds the cleaning process.
8/21
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Restore hair color
If your blond hair turns green when you swim in a pool with too much chlorine, don’t panic. Rinse your hair with club soda and it may change back to its original color.
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Tame your tummy
Cold club soda with a dash of bitters will work wonders on an upset stomach caused by indigestion or a hangover.
10/21
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Clean countertops and fixtures
Pour club soda directly on stainless steel countertops, ranges, and sinks. Wipe with a soft cloth, rinse with warm water, and wipe dry. To clean porcelain fixtures, simply pour club soda over them and wipe with a soft cloth. There’s no need for soap or rinsing, and the soda will not mar the finish. Give the inside of your refrigerator a good cleaning with a weak solution of club soda and a little bit of salt.
11/21
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Remove rust
To loosen rusty nuts and bolts, pour some club soda over them. The carbonation helps to bubble the rust away. WD-40 is also a great solution for getting rid of rust.
12/21
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Eliminate urine stains
Did your kiddo have an accident? After blotting up as much urine as possible, pour club soda over the stained area and immediately blot again. The club soda will get rid of the stain and help reduce the foul smell.
13/21
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Ease cast-iron cleanup
Food tastes delicious when it’s cooked in cast iron, but cleaning those heavy pots and pans with the sticky mess inside is no fun at all. You can make the cleanup a lot easier by pouring some club soda in the pan while it’s still warm. The bubbly soda will keep the mess from sticking.
14/21
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Preserve newspaper clippings
Preserve newspaper articles worth holding onto by soaking the clippings in a club soda and milk of magnesia mixture for about an hour, then take them out to dry.
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Make your mirrors sparkly
Just as you can use club soda to clean off your filthy car windshield, you can also use it to make your mirrors at home shine. To get rid of all those smears and fingerprint stains, simply spray the mirror with some club soda and your result will be a streak-free and odorless finish.
16/21
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Make amazing matzo ball soup
Club soda doesn’t just make pancakes and waffles fluffier, it can also be the secret ingredient in matzo ball soup. We all know the best part of matzo ball soup is the matzo ball itself, so add some club soda to your favorite recipe so it is extra soft and moist. You may not want to use it in your food, but nail polish remover has some pretty extraordinary uses, too.
17/21
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Make your gelatin dessert dazzle
The next time you serve this up at a party, try replacing cold water with club soda when combining the powder. Not only will it make each bite have a hint of fizz but also it will add a literal sparkle to the dessert. You can even use flavored seltzer if you want some added taste.
18/21
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Sip a diet-friendly drink
If you enjoy a tasty co*cktail but don’t want all the extra sugar and calories from pure juice or soda, flavor your liquor with club soda. Try a lemon-lime or raspberry club soda with your favorite liquor and maybe even a splash of juice for some added color the next time you want a drink.
19/21
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Control frizzy hair
Shampoo your hair as you normally would but instead of using conditioner, pour club soda on your wet hair and work it through, then rinse it with cold water. Style your hair as you normally would after and you may find that your frizz is tamed once and for all.
20/21
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Clean up your car upholstery
Club soda can be a great cleaner when it comes to car upholstery. For gross stains such as vomit, spray club soda on the stain and let it sit for half an hour. Then blot it with a clean cloth or paper towels and you should notice a difference.
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Use in science experiments
If your child or the youngster you’re babysitting has an avid imagination, try some science experiments. One thing you can do is fill a glass about halfway with club soda and drop in a few raisins. The raisins will move up and down and it will be an entertaining trick during playtime. Club soda isn’t the only magic tool in your kitchen. Try out some of the extraordinary uses for these 43 household staples you already have.
Originally Published: August 21, 2019
Originally Published in Reader's Digest
