Have you seen free or inexpensive packs of Kool-aid and wondered what in the world you could do with them? Kim from The Coupon “High” is here to share some fun alternate uses for those little packets.
I often find packs of Kool-aid on sale at 20 packs for $2. Using coupons, I can get them for FREE after the coupon is doubled. The only problem is we don’t drink a lot of Kool-aid in my house. I still get them though, because they are FREE and I have found 10 other ways to use the Kool-Aid.
1. Clean rust from concrete
Do you have nasty rust stains on your concrete? Kool-aid to the rescue. Just mix unsweetened lemonade Kool-Aid with hot water. Scrub and the rust stain should come right out.
2. Remove Chlorine From Your Hair
Summer’s almost here, which means you may be spending quite a bit of time in a pool. The chlorine in the pool can change the color of your hair. To change you hair back to its original color, use a pack of lemonade flavored Kool-Aid. Pour some Kool-Aid in your hand (longer hair or more damaged will use more). Then add a dab of shampoo and lather your hair up. Let the Kool-Aid set on your hair for fifteen minutes before you rinse it and then re-shampoo.
3. Make Kool-Aid Play Dough
Here’s something for your kids. Not only will they enjoy playing with it, but they can have fun making it with you too. Mix 1 cup flour, 4 tablespoons salt, 2 tablespoons cream of tartar and 1 package of Kool-Aid into a medium-sized pot. Add 1 cup water and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil to the mixture and stir over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until the mixture forms a ball in the pot. Then remove and kneed the dough until smooth. Put in a plastic bag and refrigerate.
4. Make Kool-Aid Flavored Lip Gloss
This would be great for a craft at a girl’s birthday party. Place a small amount of petroleum jelly into a microwave-safe bowl. Stir some Kool-Aid powder into the jelly (use enough to make the color they desire.) Stir in a little sugar, then place the bowl in a microwave oven for about 5 or 6 seconds – just enough to soften the mixture up a bit. Voila, Lip Gloss.
5. Check for Toilet Leaks
Do you hear water running inside your toilet tank between flushes? You may have a leak. An easy way to check is to use Kool-Aid. You will want to use a darker color powder for this so you can see it. 1st carefully lift the lid off the toilet tank and set it aside. Empty a pack of Kool-aid into the tank. Depending on the size of the leak, the test may take 10 to 30 minutes. Don’t flush the toilet! Just watch the bowl. If you see the colored powder float through from the tank, there’s a leak present.
6. Make an Easy Frosting
Mix a pack of Kool-Aid with a can of vanilla frosting or cool whip until the cream has an even, solid color. If your frosting tastes a bit dull at first, add sugar until it’s sweet enough for your liking. Not only will Kool-Aid add color to your frosting, but you can pick your flavor.
7. Clean your Dishwasher
Does your dishwasher look old and unsanitary from water stains, brown rust and soap residue? Once again Kool-Aid can come to your rescue. Just add 1 to 2 packs of Kool-Aid in the soap drawer and run the dishwasher through the regular long wash cycle. The citric acid in the Kool-Aid helps break down the stains, leaving your dishwasher free of build-up and residue.
8. Make Kool “Sand” Art
Here’s an other craft idea for the kids. Let your kids draw a picture with pencil. Then spread a thin layer of Elmer type glue over one section of the drawing (it’s best to start on top.) Sprinkle dry Kool-Aid over the glued area and pat it down gently. Shake excess powder off and continue onto the next portion of your drawing. When finished let lie flat until it’s dried completely.
9. Jazz up Picture Frames
Do you have some old wooden picture frames? You can liven them up with Kool-Aid. Add 3 – 4 packs of Kool-Aid to a bowl of water to make the dye extra strong, for a darker shade add more. Place your wooden frames into the solution and let them absorb the juice overnight. The result will be a colorful collection of fresh wooden frames.
10. Dye your Hair Temporarily
If you want to go funky for a bit, or have a party you’re going to you can temporarily dye your hair with Kool-Aid. Choose the color you want to use and pour it into a glass container. Add a teaspoon of corn starch and just enough water to turn the ingredients into a paste. Apply the paste to your clean, dry hair and let it set for five minutes. Then rinse the paste out. Your color will last until you shampoo your hair once or twice.
For more fun tips on how to use some of the products that you can often get free with coupons, check out the Alternative Product Uses series over at The Coupon “High.”
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These are all great ideas! You can also use Kool-aid to dye wool yarn.
Ooh that’s a fun use for it too! Good to know. 🙂
Love the play dough and frosting ideas! The fact that it cleans rust from concrete makes me afraid to eat it though! 😛
Very true Elise! 🙂 I’m sticking to cleaning and crafts myself.
Wow! Who would have thought Kool-Aid could be used in so many different ways
You can dye wool with it, too! (It only works on 100% wool — not cotton or synthetics.) A few years back, I knit my boys a fireman hat out of some icky old blue wool and died it fire engine red with Kool-Aid.
That’s an awesome way to make use of something you already have too. Thanks!
It cleans rust and removes chlorine, not to mention it is filled with sugar and artifucial food dye, and people still want to drink it?
Exactly why we’re looking for alternate uses.
Interesting! I loved Kool-aid as a girl, now I stick to water. But it is good to know all these uses!
Dont dye your hair with with kool aid unless you want a perminant tint to your hair! My sister used grape kool aid to dye her hair and it faded a bit after a while, but still had a pink tint to her hair. Even professional dying over it wouldnt cover it up!
Yikes! I’ve never heard of that happening!
I’d much rather use kool-aid for any of these than it’s “normal use”. Thanks for the great ideas!
Agreed, Heather! 🙂
Interesting list! I was never really a kool-aid fan growing up. But I’m loving these craft and cleaning ideas!
We’re not big Kool-aid drinkers here either, but now I know what to do with those free packs I get. 🙂 Glad you liked the list.
I never buy Koolaid, but I may start now that I’ve read your post!
Sounds just like us, Kristin. 🙂 If it’s free it might be worthwhile to stock up on a few to use for cleaning or fun projects.
I mix up cherry or strawberry koolaide for my humming bird feeder. They simply love it.
I’ve never heard of that! Very creative!
Can you use the small packets of water flavorings to do similar things with? My mom has a ton of some flavors that none of us like and hates to throw them out. Any ideas?
That might be worth trying the Play-Doh idea. I’m not sure about those little packets, but it might be fun to experiment!
I never knew Kool Aid could be used for cleaning. That’s amazing! I also think I’m going to have to try that lip gloss idea with my daughter. How fun!
Have a ball with the lip gloss! 🙂
Have you ever heard of a kool-aid PIE?
My sister makes a Kool-Aid pie.
I have heard people talk about Kool-Aid pie but I don’t think I’ve ever had it. Sounds yummy!
PLEASE DO NOT USE KOOL AID TO FEED HUMMINGBIRDS. According to worldofhummingbirds.com and other sites, “Do not use Kool-Aid to make hummingbird food. The chemicals in Kool-Aid are not good for hummingbirds and can cause illness and death to a hummingbird.” Many comments state the writer has no intention of consuming the Kool Aid themselves, but it is great that the hummers love it???? Sorry to get on my soapbox, but it is important.
Coloring eggs is my favorite of all the suggestions for using Kool Aid. Thanks.
A head’s up for those who want to try dying their hair with Kool Aid. My 13 year old son did this and it lasted for weeks despite immediately washing his hair five times after he dyed it! It was a bright shade of blue and after he washed it afterwards it ended up being green. In order to get the green out of his hair (after weeks) I had to pay a salon to remove it after we had already tried a Malibu treatment at home. So it definitely works but be careful in case your experience is the same as ours!
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