10 Handy Uses for Cream of Tartar Around the House

Here are 10 great ways to use cream of tartar aside from baking!

It’s very likely that there’s a container of cream of tartar in your pantry right now, but that you only bring it out when you’re making desserts. But did you know that cream of tartar can be used for more than just baking? It can actually be very handy all around your home! Take a look at these 10 Handy Uses for Cream of Tartar!

10 Handy Uses for Cream of Tartar

1. Homemade Grout Cleaner– Is your grout looking a little dingy these days? All you need is to mix cream of tartar with white vinegar until it forms a paste-type substance. Then scrub, rinse, and enjoy your clean grout!

2. Remove Dish Scratches– With time, it’s natural for your dishes to get scratched. Luckily you can take advantage of one of the many uses for cream of tartar! Just mix the cream of tartar with water until you have a paste, then buff, rinse, and your plates will be scratch-free! Just be careful using this on plates with patterns or dark colors, as the abrasive paste may scrub away some of the color.

3. Remove Bathroom Stains– It’s easy to get a stained bathroom sink or tub clean! Just mix cream of tartar and hydrogen peroxide into a paste. Set the paste on the stain, leave it to dry, then wipe it away and rinse the surface clean!

4. Keep Ants Away– One of the most interesting uses for cream of tartar is as an ant repellent! Just mix cream of tartar and white vinegar into a paste, then apply the paste where you usually see ants. The mixture will help keep them away!

5. Clean Your Drip Pans– Even the most careful cooks will find their cooktop’s burner drip pans getting dirty with time. Rather than buying new pans, just mix cream of tartar and white vinegar into a paste. Cover the drip pans with the paste for 15-20 minutes, then rinse clean!

6. Shine Stainless Steel– Rather than buying expensive stainless steel cleaner, why not use a simple homemade paste on your stainless steel items? All you have to do is mix cream of tartar with water to create the paste, then buff your items clean!

7. Remove Mug Stains– Over time, it’s likely that your favorite coffee mug has turned a bit brown on the inside. To get it looking like new, put a little water and cream of tartar in your mug, then scrub and rinse!

8. Clear Up Ink Stains– One of the best uses for cream of tartar is as an ink stain remover! Just mix a little lemon juice with cream of tartar and put the paste on your ink stained clothes. After sitting for an hour or two, throw the clothes into the washing machine. Just be careful with dark colored clothes, as lemon juice is a natural bleaching agent.

9. Keep Boiled Vegetables Bright– If you like to boil vegetables, but don’t like how some of their color boils always away, add a little cream of tartar to your water next time. It’ll help them keep their color!

10. Clean Copper– Just as cream of tartar can help polish stainless steel, it can also help with copper! Use a 2:1 ratio of cream of tartar and lemon juice until you have a paste. Use that paste to buff your copper, then wipe your copper clean!

Do you use cream of tartar for more than just baking?