As a kid, I was obsessed with Flintstone's vitamins and very upset that I was only allowed to have one per day. So once in a burst of ingenuity I was very proud of, I constructed an elaborate climbing system of chairs, boxes, and stools to reach the upper cabinet those "treats" were stored in. The Tums were also stored there, and while they weren't shaped like cartoon characters, they were candy-colored and larger than my original treasure. So I took them instead, carefully climbed down my brilliant construct and put everything away. Then I hid in my room to enjoy my pilfered treat.
Needless to say, I was disappointed in my chalky candy — which is probably a good thing, since it prevented me from eating more than a handful. The lesson stuck, though, and I never swiped from the medicine cabinets again.
Now as an adult, I know what antacids are for, but I didn't realize how many other uses I can put them to around the house. Uses that don't involve tricking kids into thinking they're candy.
1. Make a simple household cleaner.
The alkaline nature of antacids makes them great for cleaning around the house. Just dissolve a few tablets in warm water and put the solution a spare spray bottle. You can even add a few drops of essential oils to give it a pleasant, natural scent — lemon and orange are the best!
2. Soothe itchy skin trouble.
Mosquito bites, poison ivy, and other persistent itches can be tough to handle, but Tums can help. Simply rub a dampened tablet on the bite, or crush into a paste with a bit of water and cover the affected area.
3. Clean your jewelry.
Don't let tarnish ruin your bling's shine. Simply dissolve a couple of tablets in warm water and soak your jewelry for a few minutes before rinsing.
Antacids don't just keep your jewelry clean though! You can also use them in the garden!
4. Prevent Blossom End Rot in your homegrown veggies.
This affliction is caused by a calcium deficiency in the soil. As the advertisements have told us for years, Tums is full of calcium! Add some to your dose of plant food to help increase the calcium level of the soil.
5. Give a boost to your whole garden!
A few tablets of Tums dissolved in water can help more than just rotting veggies. The calcium will improve the health of your greens as a whole, and keep your garden (and you!) happy.
6. Do some SCIENCE!
Teach the kids about chemistry by filling a small, airtight container with a snap-on lid (like an old film canister) 1/3 full of water and sealing a tablet inside. Place the container lid side down and take a few steps back. Within a few seconds, it'll become a simple rocket.
You can use the same rocket trick for a fun, kid-friendly art project! I've got that next up!
7. Replace the water with paint to make... abstract art!
This is a very messy art project, but as long as everyone's wearing paint smocks and goofy safety goggles, it can be a great way to show your kiddies that science can be a lotof fun.
8. DIY lava lamp.
Another fun science trick is to teach kids about how oil and water don't mix. Add food coloring to some water in a bottle, top up with cooking oil and turn it upside-down. Adding a fizzy antacid will make it extra bubbly.
9. Unclog the drain.
Fizzy antacids can also help unclog a drain. Just coarsely crush them and drop them down! Run a little warm water to activate their magic, and voila— it's smooth sailing from there. If you have a particularly difficult blockage, try pouring a cup of vinegar in, followed by boiling water.
Up next I have some more ways Tums and other antacids can help around the house!
10. Brighten those whites.
Soak yellowed clothes in a gallon of water with two antacid tablets dissolved in. Just a few minutes of soaking before heading into the machine can make a big difference.
11. Combine with Pine-Sol to clean the toilet.
Super-charge the cleaning power by leaving a few Tums tablets to soak in your toilet bowl. After 30–60 minutes, pour some Pine-Sol on top and let it fizz. Then simply flush the grime away.
12. Soothe canker sores.
Canker sores are caused by enzymes and acids reacting in your mouth. By briefly chewing a Tums into a paste and pressing it against the sore, it can neutralize those acids, soothing the pain and improving healing time.
Have you tried any of these hacks before? Tell us in the comments how it worked, and let us know if you have any other tricks!
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