Flour Isn't Just For Baking - Expert DIYer Shares 30 Problems It Can Solve At Home

You probably have a bag of flour in your home, and you likely use it to bake and make a variety of recipes. Have you ever wondered what else you can use it for? Flour is a pretty versatile staple, and it actually has a lot of uses.

You can use flour to make your favorite craft supplies and help you save money. If you run out of something, such as glue, you can just make your own instead of running to the store to buy more. Flour can save you time and money if you are a crafter.

Flour can also come in handy when you are cleaning your home. It can help you get appliances and pots and pans clean. It can help make areas easier to scrub. Since it’s all natural, you don’t have to worry about using harsh chemicals around your food.

There are many ways you can use flour to make your life a little easier. You probably haven’t thought about many of them. Here are 30 uses for flour that may surprise you.

Play Dough

If you have kids or just want to make something fun for yourself, you can use flour to make some homemade playdough. Just mix one part water, four parts flour, and some food dye and knead until it’s the right consistency. Kids can even pick what color they make it.

Cloud Dough

Cloud dough is another fun craft to make with or for kids. It’s lighter and fluffier than playdough, but it can be used the same way. It’s moldable and fun to squish and play with. Just mix eight parts flour to one-part cooking oil or baby oil.

Glue

If you don’t have any glue on hand but need some, you can use flour to make it. Just mix it with water and create a sticky paste. You can use a paintbrush to apply it to your craft projects.

Spray Adhesive

You can also make spray adhesive with flour. Mix the flour and water to create a thin paste. Add it to a spray bottle, and then use it to spray the adhesive on the items you want to glue together.

Salt Dough

Salt dough can be used to make a variety of things. It’s great for making ornaments and other items. Just mold it, cut it out, and let it air dry. Once it’s dry, it can also be painted and decorated as desired. To make salt dough, mix two parts flour with one part water and one part salt, and then knead to combine.

Fabric Stiffener

Some people starch their laundry to make their jeans and other items stiff. If you don’t have any fabric stiffener but would like to make your laundry stiff, you can make your own. Just mix water and flour in a spray bottle. Spray it on the clothing you want to stiffen, and allow it to air dry.

Dry Shampoo

Sometimes, you just don’t have time to wash your hair. You can remove the oil and residue and make your hair a little less flat with some dry shampoo. You even can make your own with flour. It’s a natural way to save a bad hair day.

Rice Flour Mask

Rice flour can be used to make a face mask. Just apply it to your face and leave it on for several minutes. It will help soak up dirt and oil and make your face look clear and healthy. Rinse it off when you are finished.

Red Grape Face Mask

You can mix red grape juice with flour to create the perfect face mask, which can open up pores and increase circulation in the face. Apply it to your face and rinse it off after a few minutes. You will note immediate results.

Acne Serum

If you suffer from acne, you may struggle to find the right way to deal with it. Some products can make it worse and cause other skin problems. You can treat acne with a flour paste that you can make in your own home. It will help clear up the acne without irritating your face.

Chickpea Flour Face Mask

Chickpeas are great for removing oil and grease from the skin. Make a chickpea mask by grinding up chickpeas and mixing them with flour and water. Apply the mask and allow it to soak into the skin. After a few minutes, rinse it off.

Brass And Copper Cleaner

Your brass and copper pots can be hard to clean. You may need something with a little grit to get them clean. Use some flour with a sponge to clean the copper and make it shine and look new again.

Buffing Stainless Steel

Stainless steel can start to look dull after a while. You can give it a new life with some flour and water. Just make a paste and apply it to a rag. Rub the stainless-steel pots or utensils to get them clean and make them shine.

Clean Sticky Playing Cards

If you play with playing cards a lot, you know they can get sticky and gross. It can be hard to remove that residue with water and soap, but flour can help. Just dust the cards with flour to remove the sticky residue.

Deter Ants In A Garden

You might think that flour attracts ants, but it actually deters them. If you have a problem with ants in your garden, sprinkle some flour in the problem areas. The ants will move away, and your garden will be safe again.

Remove Stains In Car Carpets

Your car probably has more stains on the carpet than you would like to admit. If you don’t get to them right after they happen, they can be hard to remove. Add some flour to the stains to absorb any grease or liquids that may be causing them, and then vacuum it up.

Paper-Mache

Need to make a paper-mache project but don’t have the right glue? Just make your own. Mix water and flour together and heat it on the stove until it forms a thick paste. Dip the paper into your mixture to make your paper-mache project.

Wallpaper Adhesive

If you run out of wallpaper paste midway through your installation, just make your own to finish the job. Mix water and flour together to make a thick paste. Apply it to the back of the wallpaper and then hang it on the wall. Be sure to smooth it out.

Ripen Avocados

Avocados can be tricky to buy. You want to make sure they are ripe enough to use but not so ripe that they go bad before you eat them. Buy one that is not yet ripe and place it in a bowl of flour. It will ripen overnight.

Clean Appliances

Appliances can be hard to clean, but it’s something you just have to do. A little flour can make the job easier. The flour can help loosen up dirt and grime, so you can wipe it up more easily. Just apply the flour with a rag and then wash the appliances with soap and water.

Loosen Plastic Lids

Lids for plastic containers can get stuck after you have used them for a while. Don’t throw them out. Give them a good dusting of flour the next time you have the lids off. They will be easier to remove the next time you try to open them.

Protect Potatoes

If you want to keep pests off your potatoes, just dust them with flour. This will prevent insects and other pests from trying to eat them. It won’t affect the taste of the potatoes, either.

Diaper Rash Cream

Diaper rash cream can provide relief for babies, but it can have a lot of harsh chemicals. You can make your own with flour and water. Just create a paste and apply it to the rash. It will soothe the pain and take away the redness.

Make Starter Pots

You can use flour to make small pots. Just create a clay pot with a mixture of flour and water and allow it to dry. This is great for starter pots because once it comes time to plant the plants outside, you can just bury the pot. It will eventually dissolve.

Remove Fake Tan

Who doesn’t want a nice tan? If you use self-tanner, you may find yourself looking more orange than tan. You aren’t stuck looking that way, though. Just apply some flour mixed with water to your skin and use it like soap to rinse off the fake tanner.

Piñata Paste

Pinatas are great for parties, but they can be expensive to buy. Instead, just make your own. You can use water and flour to create the perfect piñata paste. Once the piñata dries, you can use it for your party.

Modeling Clay

Flour can be used to make modeling clay. You can mold the clay into shapes and color them with food dye. You can also paint the clay and then allow it to dry or bake it on a low temperature in the oven to dry it faster.

Clean A Stainless-Steel Sink

Stainless steel sinks can be hard to clean. Flour can help remove the dirt and grime and make it easier to scrub the sink without damaging it. Just pour some flour into the sink and use a sponge to clean it. Rinse it when you are finished, and the steel will look new.

Put Out A Fire

If you happen to start a grease fire while cooking, just grab some flour to put it out. Pour the flour on top of the flame until it is smothered. If the fire is out of control, use a fire extinguisher and call the fire department for help.

Soak Up Oil

If you accidentally spill cooking oil on your counter or stove, you may struggle with cleaning it up. Pour some flour on it, and it will soak up the oil. You can then wipe it all up much more easily.

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