Weird And Wonderful Uses For Tomato Ketchup

#1 Polishing Copper

Here's a cool tip from Mac Kohler of Brooklyn Copper. He uses equal parts ketchup and kosher salt to buff tarnished copper to a gleaming shine. Use a soft cotton cloth to buff on the mixture, and another cloth to wipe it clean.

#2 Silver

You should actually go on a cleaning spree if your silver is not stored properly. When it comes in contact with air, it forms copper oxide, which gives it a dull look. Bring back the shine by immersing the object in a bowl of tomato ketchup for 5 to 10 minutes. Be careful not to leave it longer, as the acids might damage the silver ware. If the object has lots of detailing, an old soft toothbrush can be used to work the ketchup around, else a soft cloth would do. Dip the silver in a bowl of warm water and dry to see it get back its glory.

#3 CLEANING SAUCEPANS

Copper and stainless steel pans with an inner core of copper to increase heat conductivity are prone to tarnish.

The problem arises when the copper combines with oxygen in the air to form brown copper oxide.

Ketchup contains acetic acid (a weak organic chemical that gives condiments their bitter taste) which combats tarnishing.

'The acetic acid works to convert the copper oxide or brown tarnish into copper acetate and water,' says Ben Valsler, digital editor of Chemistry World magazine.

'Because the copper acetate is soluble, it rinses away in the water. Your tarnish is gone.'

#4 Use ketchup to shine your car

You can use ketchup to clean the tarnish from car parts. In a similar vein to cleaning silver and copper, ketchup is great for shining up your alloys, and adding sheen to car metal in general.

#5 Rust

Is your heart sinking to see your garden furniture covered in rust? Tomato ketchup to the rescue! The acids in it create magic. It works not only on garden furniture but on any metal that is spoilt by rust. For thinner stains, the ketchup alone would do. Rub it onto the affected area and leave it on for some time, after which you have to wash it off and let it dry. For tougher stains, spray the area with a mixture of washing soda and water and then smear ketchup onto it.

#6 Renew The Gardening Tools

Cutting tools used for gardening purposes must be maintained properly from time to time. There may be many ways of doing it; but the most efficient one is to use tomato ketchup. It can be squirted on to it and left as such overnight, following a slight rub all over. Wipe off the ketchup the next morning and you'll get brand new blades.

#7 Fight skunk odors

If you live in a rural or even suburban area, chances are you (or your dog) have run into a skunk. Although some experts caution that this technique may not actually work (beyond masking the odor), many people still swear by tomato juice as a way to remove potent skunk smell. Michael de Jong points out plain ketchup may work if you don't have tomato juice on hand.

#8 CONDITIONING YOUR LOCKS

In addition to neutralising the green tinge that can affect blonde hair after swimming, the redness of tomatoes combats the green copper sulphate put in pools to kill algae.

'The acids in ketchup act on the hair cuticles to make them lie flat, so hair looks glossier,' says Ben. 'However, the acids could irritate your scalp, causing dandruff.'

#9 Soothe Wounds

Lisa posted over at Seacoast Online that she freezes leftover ketchup and soy sauce packets to use on her children's "small booboos and bumps." She claims, "The kids LOVE them."

#10 WHIPPING UP HAND CREAM

Squirt a blob of ketchup onto your hands and rub together. Rinse off and dry.

'This will do more harm than good,' says Ben. 'The salt and vinegar will dry out your skin.'

#11 Get those auto parts gleaming.

According to The Cymbal Book by Hugo Pinksterboer, some folks have seen decent results getting their cars to shine with ketchup. The book notes that the condiment does a good job cutting tarnish, but not so well in removing dirt. You may need a multi-step process, with some soap and water as well.

#12 Repair chlorine-damaged hair.

According to de Jong, ketchup can also be used to correct hair highlights gone green from chlorinated swimming pools. Smoosh in the ketchup, let it set for about 20 minutes, and then wash it out thoroughly.

#13 Use it as a Face Mask

Another one that's not too hard to swallow in that it takes in the weirdest realm of all - that of female beauty regimes.

Apparently a new beauty craze is sweeping the nation as women everywhere smear themselves in ketchup in a bid to look youthful.

Forget facials, botox or expensive creams - skincare range Flint + Flint is shocked to discover the latest beauty trend is applying lashings of tomato sauce as a facemask.

#14 Use ketchup to correct green highlights in bleached hair

Blonds who have dived in chlorinated swimming pools may get a slight green hue in their hair. The red sheen and acid nature of tomato ketchup help neutralise this effect. The hairdresser Charles Worthington says, “For blonde hair that has gone green from chlorine or salt water, shampoo your hair as normal, then rinse Tomato ketchup through your hair and leave it on for about 5 minutes.” Ketchup is a great conditioner too, putting natural oils back into the hair.

#15 Create homemade kid’s paint with ketchup bottles

Repurposed ketchup bottles (the squeezy kind) make perfect paint dispensers for kids. And many people don’t realise how incredibly easy it is to make kid’s paint at home. You only need to mix water, salt and flour with food colouring. Tinkerlab offers this recipe:

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup salt

1/2 cup water

Food colouring

The size of the cup doesn’t matter incidentally, what matters is that you use the same cup, so the measurements are equal. (Officially a cup is 236.5 mL). Blend all three together and mix until smooth, and then add food colouring to the mixture and transfer it to the tomato ketchup bottle.

#16 Make fake blood for the kids.

As any elementary school jokester and Halloween lover knows, ketchup makes great (albeit messy) fake blood. Of course, we recommend you exercise a lot of caution with this one since it's not much fun if you get stuck laundering away tough stains afterwards.

#17 Sunburn Relief

As if treating acne and wrinkles wasn’t enough, tomatoes can also be used to cool sunburned skin. Some studies suggest that having a tomato-rich diet could help prevent sunburn (along with using sunscreen) but you can also apply it directly to your skin to relieve pain. Lay sliced tomatoes on the damaged area or extract the juice and apply. You can also combine tomato purée with Greek yogurt, which is known to restore damaged skin.

#18 Ketchup will polish your tarnished Jewlry.

This beloved food condiment isn’t just for burgers and fries — your lackluster silver (jewelry or beyond) can be completely transformed. Simply submerge the item in a bowl of ketchup and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. (Don’t leave it in too long, or the acid from the tomatoes and vinegar could cause damage.) Then remove the jewelry and use an old toothbrush to gently scrub the paste around before rinsing it off with warm water. Dry it off and put it on!