The Many Surprising Uses of Flour: From Cooking to Beauty

Flour is a common ingredient found in most homes, commonly used for baking, frying or thickening sauces. However, what most of us don’t know is that flour has a wide range of other practical uses, from opening stubborn jars to polishing your sink. Moreover, flour can even work wonders for your beauty routine as well. In this article, we will explore the different ways that flour can be used, both inside and outside the kitchen.

1. Flour in the Kitchen
Apart from its traditional use in the kitchen, flour can be used for a host of other purposes:

Preventing jars from sticking when you open them: Running a little flour along the rims of the lid and jar will help create a barrier which prevents them from sticking together.

Polishing a stainless-steel sink: Sprinkle some flour on your sink and use a damp cloth to polish it. Flour acts as a gentle abrasive and helps to clean the sink without scratching the surface.

Warding ants away from your home: Sprinkle flour where ants are seen, and it will help deter them from crossing the line. Ants don’t like the smell or the texture of flour and will avoid it.

Ripening avocados: Place an unripe avocado together with a banana in a brown paper bag, along with a tablespoon of flour. The flour helps speed up the ripening process by releasing ethylene gas, which the avocado will absorb from the banana.

Making homemade glue: Mix 1 cup of flour with 1/3 cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon of vinegar. Slowly add 2 cups of water to the mixture and stir until smooth. Transfer the glue to a jar and store in the refrigerator.

2. Flour in Beauty Routine
Who knew that flour would have such a range of beauty benefits? Here are a few that you can try:

Fighting acne: Mix 3 tablespoons of flour with 1 tablespoon of honey and 2 tablespoons of water to create a thick paste. Apply the paste to your face and leave it for 20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. The paste works as a natural exfoliant to remove dead skin cells and unclog pores.

Dry shampoo for your hair: Flour can act as a substitute for dry shampoo. Sprinkle a small amount of flour onto your roots and scalp. Use a brush to distribute the flour evenly through your hair. The flour absorbs oil, which will help your hair look less stringy and greasy.

Facial mask: Mix 1 tablespoon of flour with 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt. Mix well until you have a smooth paste. Apply it to your face and leave it for 15 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. The mask will help to soothe your skin and give it a natural glow.

In conclusion, flour is a versatile ingredient that can be used in various ways to make life easier. Whether it be in the kitchen or as part of a beauty routine, flour offers a range of benefits that you can take advantage of. So, the next time you have some extra flour lying around, try using it for something other than baking. You may be surprised at what it can do.