15 surprising ways to use Coca-Cola

After reading this, you may not want to drink Coca-Cola ever again. But with as much as 9 1/2 teaspoons of sugar in one can of Coca-Cola and cancer-causing aspartame in Coke Zero, never taking a sip of the sugary soda is not such a bad idea. While you don't want to drink Coca-Cola, you will want it for this surprising use: cleaning. Here's how.

1. Clean burnt pans. Soak grease-burnt pans in a Coca-Cola bath and watch as the stubborn bits and pieces slide away.

2. Clean kitchen countertops. Wet a cloth with Coca-Cola and use it to quickly clean kitchen countertops.

3. Clean tile grout. You would think the color of Coca-Cola would cause the liquid to stain your floor, but you can use it to clean tile grout. Simply pour Coca-Cola onto your kitchen floor, let it soak in for a few minutes and then wipe it up with a cloth or paper towel.

4. Polish silver. Soak tarnished silver in Coca-Cola for several minutes. Rinse and then wipe it away. Coca-Cola loosens the dirt and stains the buildup on silver.

5. Clean tarnished copper. Shine your Moscow mule mugs with a cloth dipped in Coca-Cola. The acid will dissolve the stain right away.

6. Descale a kettle. Boil Coca-Cola in your electric kettle to descale the kettle. After the Coca-Cola has boiled for a few minutes, scrub the kettle and rinse before using it again.

7. Clean a toilet. Pour a single can of soda around the rim and over all stains. Let the Coca-Cola sit for a minimum of one hour, and then flush the toilet. Repeat the process as needed until all stains disappear.

8. Clean an oil spill. If your driveway looks like a getaway crime scene, pour a bottle of Coca-Cola directly onto the oil spill. Allow it to soak in for a few hours. Lastly, use a hose to rinse away the Coca-Cola.

9. Eliminate skunk funk. Forget the tomato sauce. Showering with Coca-Cola will eliminate the smell of a skunk. Make sure to let the Coca-Cola sink into the hair and skin (or fur!) for a few minutes prior to rinsing.

10. Remove rust. The citric acid in Coca-Cola dissolves rust easily. Try soaking rust-covered golf clubs, pennies and other objects in Coca-Cola for a full 24 hours. Rinse with water and wipe clean.

11. Clean grease stains. If your clothes are filled with grease, don't despair. Add a can of Coca-Cola to your regular wash and detergent. This technique effectively removes grease, asphalt and creosote stains. This method also works for blood.

12. Unstick gum. Got gum on the bottom of your shoe? Or worse, in your hair? All it takes is applying a touch of Coca-Cola to the place where the gum is stuck. Let it soak for a few moments, and then wipe the gum away.

13. Clean a car battery. Car won't start? Try removing the built-up corrosion with Coca-Cola. Pour a can of cola directly onto the battery connections. Take extra care to do this while the car is turned off.

14. Shine chrome. Do your chrome wheels need an upgrade? Clean them with Coca-Cola and aluminum foil.

15. Strip paint. Need to modernize your metal furniture with a new paint job? Try soaking a towel in Coca-Cola and then laying it directly on the paint surface. Let it sit for a few moments and then watch as the paint peels right off.