26 INCREDIBLE Uses For Coca-Cola (That WON'T Harm Your Health!)

26 INCREDIBLE Uses For Coca-Cola (That WON'T Harm Your Health!)

 

There's nothing quite like a glass of ice-cold Coca-Cola on a hot Summer's day, but did you know there are many other things that love coca-cola just as much as you do?

From cleaning to creating amazing treats, today we're sharing 26 uses for Coca-Cola for you to try - if you thought it was only for drinking, you're in for a treat!

Editor's Note: This post was originally posted in November 2015 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness in January 2019.  

Recipes that use Coca-Cola

1. Coca-Cola fudge

Get in my mouth.
Get in my mouth.

Are you a fan of fudge? Why not try making your own! Lisa at Sweet 2 Eat Baking has a wonderfully easy recipe that uses Coca-Cola, so if you have some leftover, this could be the perfect use for it.

2. Ice cream floats

Yum yum...
Yum yum...

When was the last time you had an ice cream float? They're an amazing treat during Summer and will make you feel like a little kid again.

These Cherry Vanilla Coca-Cola ice cream floats are really special. You only need cherry vanilla ice cream and coca cola - or if you can't find that you can use cherry syrup and vanilla ice cream. For the recipe head to Le Creme De La Crumb.

3. Chipotle Coca-Cola Barbecue Sauce

What shall I dip?
What shall I dip?

Whilst we're thinking about Summer Foodie With Family has a wonderful recipe for some Bold Chipotle Coca-Cola Barbecue Sauce. It contains a mix of ingredients that are easily found, but for the can of chipotles in adobo, you'll have to look in Waitrose, or find a can online.

Try this with your hot dog, and you'll never want sauce from a bottle again!

4. Coca-Cola cake

You're just SO PRETTY.
You're just SO PRETTY.

Is someone's birthday coming up? If the special someone loves Coke, why not knock up this spectacular cake? Visit La Pêche Fraîche for Alexa's Birthday Cake recipe which includes Coca-Cola, chocolate, caramel and vanilla bean - all of the best ingredients! Try not to drool over your keyboard when perusing the photos.

5. Coca-Cola ham

Imagine that first bite...
Imagine that first bite...

It's not just sweet goodies that you can use coke in, try your hand at this gammon joint which calls for Coca-Cola. Featuring a maple and mustard glaze, your guests will love to know the secret ingredient for your sticky, moreish ham. Follow the instructions from At Home With Mrs M and make this Sunday's roast extra special!

6. Cherry Coke Cupcakes

A lovely treat.
A lovely treat.

It's not for everyone, but if you're partial to sweet Cherry Coke then these cupcakes are perfect for you. They have a Cherry Coke buttercream frosting and a moist sponge base. They look picture-perfect with their cherries on top! Want to make them? Nip over to Sweet 2 Eat Baking.

7. Jack & Coke cupcakes

jack daniels and coke cupcakes
An adult treat!

Now for a more adult treat...

Alcoholic cupcakes - why haven't we heard of these before? Partner Coca-Cola with Jack Daniels whiskey and you've got yourself a really naughty treat - in more ways than one! You can find the recipe at Stress Baking.

8. Coca-Cola slushies

The jar makes it extra trendy.
The jar makes it extra trendy.

If anything screams summer, it's these Coca-Cola Slushies from The Frugal Girls. This recipe serves 2, there's no need for a machine and will be the perfect treat for a hot day!

9. Coca-Cola lollies

I'll take two please.
I'll take two please.

Still searching for something to cool you down?

Whether you call them lollies, ice pops or popsicles, A Night Owl has created these yummy looking Coke Float Popsicles which you definitely want to be eating in the summer. They look incredibly easy to do, so why don't you give it a whirl?

How to clean with Coca-Cola

10. Clean your windshield

If you've got lots of dead flies and grime on your windshield then don't worry, a bottle of Coke will soon sort it out.

Place a large towel underneath to protect the paint, grab a bottle and pour it over the glass. Wash it with a rag and then rinse - it will be like magic!

11. Remove gum from your hair

We hope it doesn't happen to you, but if you ever do find gum caught in your hair, hold off before you go snipping it off.

Instead, pour some Coke on the gum, let it sit for a few minutes and you'll be able to pick it off your hair easily.

12. Clean a burnt pot or scorched pan

So you've ruined your meal by burning the bottom and to top it all off, your pan is ruined! Don't worry, it's Coca-Cola to the rescue again. Pour a can into the pan and let it soak overnight. In the morning, all the burnt residue should have peeled off, so all you have to do is give it a quick clean.

Want more tips for cleaning burnt pans? Check out our other blog post!

13. Fade hair dye

So you saw a picture in a magazine, dyed your hair and instantly regretted it because bright green doesn't really suit your complexion. Good news, you can use Diet Coke on your hair to help to strip it out! Grab a bottle and pour it over your hair, let it sit for a while and then rinse it out - you might want to be in the shower to do this!

14. Clean grout with coca-cola

Is there no end to the wonders of Coca-Cola? We think this one is pretty special.

If you've got grimy grout in your shower then grab a clean cloth, some soap, your trusty Coca-Cola and follow the instructions at ehow.com to get it pearly white again.

15. Unclog a drain

If you leave drains clogged, they could cause real problems including flooding and even leaks!

If you have a few cans of coke lying around, you can use them to unclog your drain. Pour one can down the drain, then the next. Leave for 30 minutes, then flush with a kettle-full of boiling water. Leave for a further 5 minutes, and your drain should be running smoothly again.

For more advice, read our article on how to get hair out of drains

16. Clean brass with coke

This one is really quite unbelievable! In a matter of minutes, Coca-Cola can clean your brass and have it looking brand new again

17. Polish pennies

Put your pennies in a dish, side by side. Pour in enough Coke to cover them, let them sit for 4 - 5 hours and flip them halfway through.

Your pennies will be super shiny and you'll never have to be embarrassed when handing them over again! This is a great activity to do with the kids.

18. Get rid of grease

Are you a messy eater? Don't be ashamed, spills and splashes happen to the best of us!

If you've spilt grease down your clothes, pour a can of Coca-Cola on the stain, then let it soak. Throw the item of clothing into the wash and wait for the stain to disappear. Rumour has it, this also works with blood stains!

19. Use Coca-Cola to remove rust

Before you go throwing that rusty old outdoor furniture away, you may want to give this ago.

Using Coke, aluminium foil, rags and water, you can get rid of annoying rust on almost anything! Check out how Emily removes rust from her bicycle, by heading to snapguide.com.

What do you have that's rusty to try this out on?

20. Clean your toilet

One of the most impressive uses for coke is making your toilet spotless.

As Coke is mildly acidic, it's great for blasting through the grime. If you're looking for a cheap cleaner then grab a bottle of Coke and complete the instructions at wikihow.com.

For advice on clogged loos, read our guide on if you can flush hair down toilets.  

21. Clean your windows

All out of vinegar to get your windows sparkling? You can use Coca-Cola instead!

Pour a can over your windows then wipe it off with a damp cloth. It's a great cheap alternative to expensive window cleaners.

22. Descale your kettle

Take a look!

It might sound strange, but it's true. You can descale a kettle with Coca-Cola! Watch our short video to find out how it's done.   

Miscellaneous uses for Coca-Cola

23. Have fun with Mentos

If you've been on the internet for a number of years, you'll probably be aware of the Diet Coke and Mento eruption - an experiment of sorts which causes Coke to spray out of its container.

Try it for yourself by checking out sciencekids.co.nz - just make sure you do it outside!

24. Soothe a sore throat with Coca-Cola

Check out this video from KiyoKee Baninibeauty, it details how you can soothe a sore throat using ginger, lemon and Coke. This is a popular remedy that started off in Hong Kong, so if you've got a sore throat then this tip is for you.

25. Get rid of bugs

If bugs are ruining your Summer fun, an easy way to get rid of them with something you're likely to have on hand during the warmer months is with coke.

The sweet smell will attract them, and the acid will kill them so you can get back to your life bug-free.

26. Make your lawn green

Supposedly, Coca-Cola can also be used to make your grass super green. It contains sugar that it can feed off to produce a luscious lawn of grass.

27. How to make paper look old with Coca-Cola

No love letter is complete without an antique touch. You can make any piece of paper look old with the help of Coke. Simply soak the sheet in a tray of Coca-Cola, leave to sit for 10 minutes, wipe off the excess liquid and gently dry in the oven until the edges start to curl.

Phew, that's a lot of uses for Coke! Which one will you try first?

Colleen B

Editor

Lifelong biscuit addict. Obsessed with recipes, cooking & eating. Slightly lazier than the average bear, so likes writing about life hacks & discovering the quickest / easiest way to do things.

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  1. Author liza mckelly on November 20, 2015 at 1:03 pm

    excellent tips..thank you

    1. Author Colleen B on November 23, 2015 at 12:19 pm

      Glad you liked them Liza, please share with all your pals!

    Reply
  2. Author chris on May 13, 2016 at 12:51 pm

    excellent tips but if this is what coke does to rust, grease, and burnt on fat. what does it do to our bodies when drunk.

    1. Author Colleen B on May 13, 2016 at 1:46 pm

      Something to think about Chris!

    2. Author George jones on December 20, 2017 at 9:14 am

      Just don't drink that rubbish then there will be no cans left on your table coke as a dreadful taste any way

    3. Author Colleen B on December 20, 2017 at 11:44 am

      Ah, not a fan then George?

    4. Author George on December 20, 2017 at 3:14 pm

      I don't know why any one is a fan of coke . Maybe that's why there half full cans left after a party you do not find to many half empty cans of beer or bottles of wine

    Reply
  3. Author Vanda earl on May 13, 2016 at 1:05 pm

    Are you going to bring out a book with all things you can do with all your tips I would love to know

    1. Author Anushka F on May 16, 2016 at 10:10 am

      Hi Vanda thank you! We would love to do that and we are working on a few projects at the moment so fingers crossed a book will be on the horizon.

    Reply
  4. Author Brian Goodspeed on May 13, 2016 at 9:51 pm

    Useful as penetrating "oil" as well to free off rusted nuts, etc.

    1. Author Anushka F on May 16, 2016 at 10:11 am

      Interesting! Thanks for sharing that tip.

    Reply
  5. Author Lisa | Sweet 2 Eat Baking on May 14, 2016 at 1:41 pm

    Some great uses for Coke here. Thank you for including my Cherry Coke Cupcakes and the Coke Fudge. I'm digging the slushie and the ice cream cake. Some great tips, too. If you're interested, I also have Coke jello jigglers too here: http://www.sweet2eatbaking.com/cherry-coca-cola-jelly-jello-recipe/ As you've probably guessed, I'm a huge Coke fan! :lol:

    1. Author Colleen B on May 18, 2016 at 10:00 am

      Hi Lisa, thank you so much for creating it! That jelly looks absolutely delicious, I'll have to try it soon!

    Reply
  6. Author Lesley Freeman on July 14, 2017 at 9:25 am

    My goodness, some lovely ideas, but with some of them, it makes you wonder what it does to your stomach

    1. Author Stephanie C on July 14, 2017 at 3:19 pm

      Hi Lesley. I'm glad you enjoyed the article :) Yes, it certainly makes you wonder!

    Reply
  7. Author Raymond Shingleton Jr. on January 28, 2019 at 10:05 am

    Coke works really good to clean your toilet to no harsh chemical smells just cleans that SH-- right up.

    1. Author Joanne A on January 28, 2019 at 10:47 am

      We have heard this, Raymond! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  8. Author June on August 28, 2019 at 8:43 am

    Hi Coleen, Thank you for the tips. Do you soak the brass in coke or dab it on?

    1. Author Joanne A on August 28, 2019 at 9:26 am

      Hi June! You need to soak it.

    2. Author Josie G on May 2, 2022 at 11:27 pm

      Guess I need something else to clean my brass bathroom taps, shower fitting and shower head, toilet roll holder, light fittings, and switch surrounds. Sigh! Thought I was on to a winner... glad I read the comments.

    3. Author Joanne A on November 10, 2022 at 4:57 pm

      What do you mean, Josie?

    Reply
  9. Author Jason Peterson on December 31, 2019 at 5:35 pm

    For cleaning items with limescale, buy a rust remover (without zinc) at a hardware store. It is phosphoric acid at higher concentration than in cola. Avoid wasting food. Cola is very tasty. The acid does not make past the stomach in the body.

    Reply
  10. Author Matthew on June 13, 2023 at 2:36 pm

    BRILLIANT TIPS ABSOLUTELY ADORED THEM GONNA USE THEM EVERYWHERE LOL

    1. Author Joanne A on June 15, 2023 at 4:38 pm

      We're glad you enjoyed them!

    Reply
  11. Author Neil on March 24, 2024 at 9:29 am

    Do these hacks work with pepsi at all...?

    1. Author Joanne A on April 15, 2024 at 10:11 am

      Yes, many cleaning hacks that involve Coca-Cola can also work with Pepsi because they share similar ingredients, such as carbonation and acidity. So, if you're out of Coca-Cola but have Pepsi on hand, you can often use it as a substitute in cleaning tasks like removing rust or cleaning toilets.

    Reply

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