My Favourite, Fabulous, Fantastic and Fun Stuff: Club Soda

by Kathryn Harwell
The Newsy Neighbour
October Issue 108

I think it is just fantastic when you can find uses for things other than what they are initially intended for. I remember I did an article on Vaseline a few years back and could not believe the response I got from our wonderful readers (I am going to have to look for that article and re-publish it). For now, I have found a few other uses for Club Soda; not only is it wonderful with Gin, but did you know it can protect your hair? Rinse your hair with Club Soda after a dip in the pool. The fizz helps combat the damage caused by chlorine. It is great to soothe a troubled tummy – Club Soda contains sodium bicarbonate, which is an antacid used to treat heartburn, indigestion and upset stomach.

It makes fluffier pancakes – nix the salt and substitute club soda for half the milk in your favourite recipe. The carbonation gives the batter extra lift. 

You can even clean cast-iron pans – simplify scrubbing by pouring some soda in a still-warm skillet. The bubbles will help keep food particles from sticking.

AND EVEN MORE:

Remove fabric stains

Clean grease stains from double-knit fabrics. Pour club soda on the stain and scrub gently. Scrub more vigorously to remove stains on carpets or less delicate articles of clothing.

Help shuck oysters

If you love oysters but find shucking them to be a near-impossible chore, try soaking them in club soda before you shuck. They will be much easier to open.

Clean precious gems

Soak your diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds in club soda to give them a bright sheen. Simply place them in a glass full of club soda and let them soak overnight.

Clean your car windshield

Keep a spray bottle filled with club soda in the trunk of your car. Use it to help remove bird droppings and greasy stains from the windshield. The fizzy water speeds the cleaning process.

Clean countertops and fixtures
Pour club soda directly on stainless steel countertops, ranges, and sinks. Wipe with a soft cloth, rinse with warm water, and wipe dry. To clean porcelain fixtures, simply pour club soda over them and wipe with a soft cloth. There’s no need for soap or rinsing, and the soda will not mar the finish. Give the inside of your refrigerator a good cleaning with a weak solution of club soda and a little bit of salt to keep it fresh and sparkling.

Remove rust

To loosen rusty nuts and bolts, pour some club soda over them. The carbonation helps to bubble the rust away.

Erase stubborn mug stains

A daily tea fix can leave your mug with a hard-to-remove brownish tinge. Fill the cup with club soda and let it sit overnight. The soda's carbonic acid will eat away the stains, leaving your cup looking like new.

Turn gelatin into a dazzling dessert

The next time you make this classic treat, jazz it up by swapping club soda for cold water when dissolving the powder. The bubbles caused by the carbonation will add eye-catching sparkle to the dessert, plus give it a surprising fizzy kick. Use a flavoured seltzer (like lemon-lime, cherry, or vanilla) to add extra zip.

Break a pet accident cycle

Even after thoroughly cleaning up your pets’ accident, you can still smell traces of urine on the carpet. To neutralize the odour so there won't be a repeat occurrence, saturate the area with club soda and let sit for 5 minutes before blotting with paper towels. The soda minerals will safely deodorize the spot.

Last but not least, if you have a bottle that’s gone flat, use it to give your flowers and plants a drink. The potassium and other minerals will enrich the soil. Then pour yourself a club soda with gin and have a nice drink to enjoy with your flowers!

Cheers,

Kathryn Hartwell