How to Use Flour Around the House

Flour is the main ingredient in most bread and bakery items. Some form of flour is contained in much of our food, and we think of flour largely as a food product. Flour has a number of other uses around the house though, and likely there are many you've probably not considered.

Things You'll Need

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup salt
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• Food coloring

Instructions

1. Send ants packing with a line of flour along the rear of pantry shelves. Sprinkle a little flour wherever ants are seen entering the house, too.

2. Refresh a deck of playing cards. Drop all 52 into a paper bag with a little all-purpose flour. Shake the bag to coat the cards and absorb the oils from fingers and snacks. Remove the cards and give them a couple of vigorous shuffles to remove all the flour.

3. Restore the original soft glow of a stainless steel sink. Buff the dry sink with a little flour and a clean cloth. Rinse and dry the sink.

4. Whip up a batch of modeling clay. Knead 3 cups of all-purpose flour together with 1 cup of water, 1/4 cup of salt, 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil and 2-3 drops of food coloring. Add more flour if the mixture is too sticky; add a few drops of water if it's too dry. Knead the mixture to a workable consistency. Store in re-sealable plastic bags.

5. Make a brass and copper polish with equal parts of flour, salt and vinegar. Apply the paste to the metal, let it dry and buff it off with a soft cloth.

Resources

• Alternate Uses for Flour.