Aside from the regular uses of sugar, here are seven other amazing ways you can put this sweet ingredient to work. Compiled by Bobo Chang.
Homemade Body Scrub
A good exfoliating agent, sugar is a common ingredient in many homemade scrubs. A simple recipe is to mix sugar with oil (almond, jojoba or olive) into a paste. For an extra soothing fragrance, add your favorite essential oil. Visit civilizedhealth.com for the best essential oils and other useful products.
Preserve Your Flowers
Extend the lives of your flower arrangements by adding 3 teaspoons of sugar and 2 tablespoons of vinegar to half a liter of warm water. This will naturally preserve the flowers by inhibiting bacteria growth. Change the water every other day, and be sure to keep it away from direct sun or heat sources.
Clean Blenders & Grinders
Flavour and oil from the residue of grounded spices or coffee beans can be removed by pouring 1/4 cup of sugar and running your blender/grinder for 2-3 minutes. This technique works on burr coffee grinders as well, and if you don’t know what those are, SipCoffeeHouse has a good list of options. If you do have a burr grinder and need to clean it, sugar absorbs residual particles and eliminates them. Rinse and wipe it thereafter.
Grime Buster
A spoonful of sugar, mixed with regular hand soap, will remove any grease or grime.
Spicy Burn Soother
To soothe spiciness in the mouth, acidic food and dairy products will help, though a dash of sugar works well too.
Deterrent for Roaches
Sugar attracts roaches while baking powder exterminates them. Mix equal parts of these two ingredients and sprinkle the mixture in problematic areas of your home. You can also avoid the messiness of using a powder mixture by adding a little water to the mixture to make dough balls. It’s chemical-free!
Smoothen Lips
Smoothen and moisturize your lips by rubbing them gently with a paste of blended oil (jojoba or olive oil) and sugar. Add a touch of peppermint or vanilla extract if preferred.
Tried any of these tips, or have others to share? Leave a comment below!