Kool-Aid Packets Are More Useful Than You Know
My family has a long history with Kool-Aid. Back when the kids were little, we almost always had a pitcher of it in the fridge, both because Dave and the kids loved it and because it was a quick way to boost my son Kell’s blood sugar levels when they dropped too low. (Unfortunately, this happened fairly regularly back when we were first learning the ropes of managing his Type 1 diabetes.)
While we don’t keep as many Kool-Aid packets on hand today as we used to, I may just have to stock up again after writing this post! Because it turns out that there are a surprising number of different ways to use Kool-Aid packets beyond using it as a drink mix.
From cleaning to dyeing to crafting, those little packets of Kool-Aid are handy to have around! So if you’re wondering what to do with Kool-Aid packets, here are 11 of the most surprising ways you can put them to good use.
11 Surprising Ways To Use Kool-Aid Around The House
1. Try The Kool-Aid Toilet Hack
Kool-Aid drink mix packets come in all sorts of flavors, but the most useful flavor is lemonade, hands down! Packets of the lemonade drink mix contain citric acid, which makes a great cleaning agent in areas where mineral build-up occurs, like in the kitchen and bathroom.
You can use a packet of lemonade Kool-Aid mix to clean your toilet bowl! Just sprinkle the Kool-Aid in the toilet bowl, then use your toilet brush to give it a good scrub. (If you have stubborn hard water stains, let the powder sit on the surface for a minute or two before scrubbing.)
Related: The One Recipe You Need To Keep Your Toilet Clean
2. Clean Your Washing Machine
To clean your washing machine, sprinkle 1/4 cup of lemonade Kool-Aid mix into the drum of your machine. Turn the machine on to a normal wash cycle. Repeat as necessary to keep your machine clean and free of yucky deposits that can cause bad smells.
Related: How To Clean A Washing Machine The Right Way
3. Clean Your Dishwasher
To clean your dishwasher, sprinkle a packet of lemonade Kool-Aid mix into the detergent compartment. Empty out the dishwasher, then set it to run on a normal dish cycle. The Kool-Aid will help to dissolve any residues in your dishwasher, so that it can clean your dishes more effectively.
Related: How To Clean Your Dishwasher In 3 Easy Steps (And Fix Most Dishwasher Problems)
4. Clean Concrete
Use some lemonade Kool-Aid mix to help scrub away stains on your concrete! Simply mix a few drops of water into some lemonade Kool-Aid mix, just enough to form a paste. Apply the paste to a concrete stain and use a stiff scrub brush to scrub the area clean.
5. Dye Unfinished Wood
You can use any flavor/color of Kool-Aid mix to dye small pieces of unfinished wood! Pour the contents of 3-4 packets of your Kool-Aid mix of choice into a cup or bowl of water, and stir until the mix dissolves. Place your unfinished wood item into the bowl and let it soak overnight.
Use this dye method to add character to all kinds of small wood crafts and projects!
6. Dye Yarn
You can use the colored Kool-Aid mix of your choice to dye white or light-colored yarn! Start by dissolving a packet of your Kool-Aid mix of choice in a small bowl of water. Pour the dissolved Kool-Aid into a larger pot of water, then add the yarn to the pot.
Bring the pot to a boil on your stovetop, then place the lid on the pot and turn off the heat. Let the yarn sit in the covered pot for about 30 minutes, then rinse the yarn in warm water and allow it to dry completely.
7. Dye Eggs
Here’s a tip to keep in your back pocket for next Easter – use a packet of Kool-Aid mix to dye your eggs! Mix one packet into 2/3 of a cup of water, and stir until dissolved. Place an egg in the colored water, and keep the egg submerged until the desired color is achieved.
8. Make Colored Glue
Colored glue is an easy way to up the fun-factor of your kids’ craft supplies. Simply pour a packet of Kool-Aid mix into a bottle of school glue, then shake the bottle for a few minutes until the powder has dissolved and the color is evenly distributed. Fun!
9. Make Window Clings
Follow the instructions above to mix up a batch of colored glue, then use that glue to make your own window clings! Stretch out a piece of plastic wrap across a flat surface, then use the colored glue to create the designs of your choice. Let the glue dry completely, then carefully peel your creations away from the plastic wrap. Stick your homemade window clings on windows and mirrors.
10. Make Lip Gloss
Stir a small amount of the colored Kool-Aid mix of your choice into a small container of your favorite non-petroleum jelly. Add more powder to achieve a deeper color. And voila, you’ve got a super-simple (and tasty) colored lip gloss!
11. Check Your Toilet For Leaks
Here’s another Kool-Aid toilet hack worth mentioning: You can use it to find out if water is leaking from your toilet’s tank into the bowl, wasting both water and money. To do it, sprinkle a packet of brightly colored Kool-Aid into the tank of the toilet, then let it sit for 30 minutes without flushing.
After 30 minutes, check the water in the bowl. If the color of the Kool-Aid has seeped into the bowl, then you know you have a leak. Ideally, you should only need to replace the flapper with a new one to stop the leak. (If that doesn’t solve the problem, you may need to consult a plumber.)
Related: 9 Annoying Household Problems And Their Surprisingly Simple Solutions
Have you ever used Kool-Aid mix in an unconventional way?