10 Unusual Uses for Sugar

Sugar is the most versatile thing we all have in our kitchen. Oddly enough we only use it in a few applications. Sweetening coffee, adding some sweetness to that delicious pudding you made. Sugar does however have a lot of different uses of which we would never think.

The internet is full of handy tips and tricks but often lacks the proper instructions or guidelines. I'm listing my favourite 10 alternate uses with correct instructions!

I'll be entering this Intractable into the "Sugar" contest. If you liked reading it, please drop me a vote!

Step 1: Make Flowers Last Longer

This is probably the most commonly known alternate use for sugar out there. Keeping flowers in a vase of water provides the flowers with to little nutritions to sustain for a long period of time. Adding the vinegar prevents the bacteria to grow.

Materials:

- 3 Tablespoons of granulated sugar

- 2 Tablespoons of white vinegar

- Fresh flowers

How to:

- Simple start by cutting the stem of your fresh flowers at a 45° angle. This will provide more pores in the stem to absorb water and therefore extend their life even longer.

- Fill a vase with water.

- Add 3 Tablespoons of granulated sugar to a small bowl.

- Add 2 Tablespoons of white vinegar to the small bowl.

- Mix until dissolved.

- Add to the flower vase.

Result:

Enjoy your flowers for a few days/weeks longer!

Step 2: Sugar Scrub

Something that's pretty heavily priced at the stores but can be made in under 5 minutes.

Materials:

- 1/2 cup of granulated sugar

- 1/2 cup of olive / amandel or coconut oil

- overripe fruit or essential oils (optional)

How to:

- Add the sugar and the oil together.

- mix (don't mix it too long, we don't want the sugar to dissolve in the oil!).

- use a liberate amount on your skin in the shower.

- simply rinse off.

You can add over ripe fruit which you would normally throw away

- Add the sugar and the old together

- mix (don't mix it too long, we don't want the sugar to dissolve in the oil!)

- squish over ripe fruit like bananas or kiwi's (or add some essential oils)

- add to the sugar mix and mix some more

- use a liberate amount on your skin in the shower.

- simply rinse off

Result:

Skin smooth as silk!

Note: If you want to make a whole batch, keep it in an airtight container. Only add the fruit to a part that you wanne use at instantly.

Step 3: Removing Grass Stains

Great for parents or kiddults.

Materials:

- 1 cup of granulated sugar

- 1/2 cup of warm water

- Grass stained piece of clothing or fabric

How To:

- Mix the water with the sugar.

- Apply the paste onto the piece of clothing.

- Let it soak in overnight.

- Throw it in the washing machine as usual.

Result :

You'll be amazed on how good this actually works. It does do quite a good job on shoes ass well, just apply it to the green part liberally and scrub it off a day later.

Step 4: Sooth Burned Tongue

Burned your tongue? Either from the hot delicious soup or from that spicy curry you made? We've all been there.

Materials:

- 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar

- A human being who was too confident with the spicy curry.

How To:

- Put the sugar in your mouth.

- Suck on it and work it around in your mouth until it dissolves.

Result :

Continue your happy pain free life!

Note: It's good to keep a small coffee-sugar sachet in your bag or purse. It'll come in handy once in a while!

Step 5: Greasy Hand Soap

Materials:

- 1 spoon of granulated sugar

- 1 spoon of olive oil (any kind of kitchen-oil works)

How To:

- Mix the oil and sugar in your hands.

- work the mix around in your hands.

- scrub the mix inside your hands.

Result :

Clean hands without any chemicals!

Step 6: Remove Strong Odours

Fish is tasty, the odour that sticks to your hands for hours isn't.

Materials:
- 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar

- handsoap

How To:

- pour the sugar into your hands.

- wash your hands with regular hand soap.

Result :

crispy fresh, odour-free hands!

Step 7: Treat a Wound

There've been a quite a few studies which show that sugar speeds up the healing process and reduces pain experienced.

Materials:

- A sprinkle of granulated sugar

- A small wound, cut, bedsore or ulcer

How To:

- Clean the wound accordingly.

- Sprinkle some sugar on and around the wound. (don't over-do it).

- Wrap the wound.

Result :

A wound that heals up much faster!

Note: Amputee's often use this to help with nerve pains!

Step 8: Keep Bread, Cookies or Cake Fresh!

Nothing's worse than eating a stale cookie or dried out bread.

Materials:

- A few sugar cubes

- Fresh bread, cookie or cake

- An airtight box

How To:

- Place the fresh cookies in the airtight box.

- Add a few sugar cubes.

- Close the box (after you've eaten a cookie because you just accomplished something!).

Result :

Your cookies/bread/cake will stay fresh for days!

Note: You can also do this with cheese to prevent it to mold!

Step 9: Instant Fire Booster!

Lighting a fire with damp wood or with coals that won't take a light is not fun! Easy solution to the rescue. Sugar acts as a booster and nutrition to feed the fire, it will keep it burning long enough for the wood/coals to take over!

Materials:

- A handful of granulated sugar

- A fire that won't light

- A safe place to light a fire

How To:

- Prepare the fire by stacking the wood/coals.

- Throw half a hand of granulated sugar on the wood/coals.

- Try to light it again.

Result :

A cozy warm fire!

Note: I'm using a candle where the wick is wet and not working propperly!

Step 10: Sugar Insect Treatments!

Insects can be bold and beautiful. Hearing them buzzing around the garden is nice, until they come up and sting you in the arm. Let's treat those and prevent it from happening again!

Treating insect sting / Bug bites!

Materials:

- 1/2 cup of granulated sugar

- 1/2 cup of cold water

- Unfortunate human being

How To:

- Mix the water with the sugar.

- Apply the paste onto the sting or bite.

- Rinse with cold water after half an hour.

Result :

The mixture will receive the pain and prevent you from scratching which would cause more itching.

Preventing insects/bugs to come around you

Materials:
- 1 cup of granulated sugar

- 1 cup of warm water

- Jar or lid or any sort of container

How To:

- Mix the water with the sugar.

- Boil the mixture.

- Allow the mixture to cook in until it's sirupy (let it drip of your fork, if it makes long strands, it's ready!)

- put the mixture into different jars/containers and let it cool.

- Place te containers in different spots, a few feet away from where you normally sit outside.

Result :

The insects will be attracted to the sirup and get stuck in it. Their faith is in your hands at that point.

Note: try adding some baking soda to the mix, it will kill ants and cockroaches.