What can you use club soda for

Your favorite bubbly beverage can do a lot more than quench your thirst. Check out these clever uses from First For Women. 

1. Perk up fading houseplants
If you have a bottle of club soda that's gone flat, set it out on the counter so it comes to room temperature, then use it to water your houseplants. The beverage contains nourishing minerals (like potassium bicarbonate, disodium phosphate, and sodium citrate) that will enrich the soil and help your potted plants flourish.

2. Get a rusty screw to turn
There's no need to waste time struggling with a screw that doesn't want to budge—simply pour club soda on it, then let it sit for 5 minutes before twisting again. The carbon dioxide that makes the beverage fizz will react with the rust and sediment buildup, bubbling it away so you can turn the hardware with ease.

3. Avoid a stuck-on-food nightmare
A hassle-free way to head off a post-dinner scrubbing battle with your pots and pans: While the cookware is still warm, pour in just enough club soda to cover the bottom, then let it sit while you eat. The carbon dioxide in the beverage will soften the food particles, keeping the mess from sticking, so washing will be a breeze.

4. Whip up fluffier flapjacks

Make a wow-worthy breakfast by substituting club soda for the water or milk in your favorite pancake and waffle recipes. The soda's bubbles will aerate the batter to produce a light, fluffy stack. Bonus: You'll save 140 calories for every cup of whole milk you cut out.

MORE: 8 Fresh Takes On Your Favorite Breakfasts

5. Polish chrome sans streaks or spots
To get bathroom fixtures sparkling, trade your old cleaner for club soda. Simply pour the liquid onto a clean, soft cloth and use to wipe down the metal. The soda's carbonated molecules will fizz away grime without leaving lines or spots in its wake.

6. Erase stubborn mug stains
A daily tea fix can leave your mug with a hard-to-remove brownish tinge. The save: Fill the cup with club soda and let it sit overnight. The soda's carbonic acid will eat away the stains, leaving your cup looking like new.

7. Turn gelatin into a dazzling dessert
The next time you make this classic treat, jazz it up by swapping club soda for cold water when dissolving the powder. The bubbles caused by the carbonation will add eye-catching sparkle to the dessert, plus give it a surprising fizzy kick. Tip: Use a flavored seltzer (like lemon-lime, cherry, or vanilla) to add extra zip.

Get amazing tips and tricks for a beautiful, healthy home from First For Women Smart Solutions.

8. Make old jewelry sparkle like new
Instead of splurging on pricey jewelry cleaners to get your gems gleaming again, place dulled pieces in a cup of club soda. The fizzy beverage will safely loosen dirt and oils. And since the bubbles can seep into every hard-to-reach crack and crevice, you won't even have to scrub with a brush. Simply let them soak overnight, then gently dry them in the morning.

9. Effortlessly remove bird droppings

Hearing the birds chirping on a sunny morning is a treat. Heading out to your car and seeing their droppings on the windshield? Not so much. The easy fix: Pour club soda into a spray bottle and spritz on soiled areas. Let it sit for 1 minute, then wipe with a paper towel. The carbonation will dissolve the grime so it comes off with a single swipe. Bonus: Spritz your wiper blades to reduce streaking on rainy days.

10. Break a pet accident cycle
Even after thoroughly cleaning up your pet's accident, you can still smell traces of urine on the carpet. To neutralize the odor so there won't be a repeat occurrence, saturate the area with club soda and let sit for 5 minutes before blotting with paper towels. The soda minerals will safely deodorize the spot.

MORE: 10 Brilliant Uses For Orange Peels

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Seltzer Water, Club Soda, and Tonic Explained

Whether you are looking for a healthy alternative to soda or searching for the perfect mixer, you will likely come across club soda, tonic water, and seltzer water on your quest. While all of these options are carbonated and fun to drink, each one has unique components and is typically featured in different drinks. Below is a guide to help you decide which fizzy beverage is right for your needs.

What is Club Soda?

Club soda is carbonated water with added compounds for taste. Although it may differ brand to brand, club soda usually contains ingredients such as sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, and potassium sulfate.

Though club soda has zero calories and no caffeine, the sodium content may vary based on the brand and serving size of the liquid. Most brands of club soda have below 5% of your daily value of sodium, so you don’t have to worry about excessive sodium intake if you drink club soda in moderation.

What Does Club Soda Taste Like?

Club soda has a slightly more salty, mineral flavor than traditional seltzer. However, it still boasts a clean and fresh taste and can easily be swapped out for seltzer.

What Is Club Soda Used For?

Club soda is a great mixer for many cocktails. Club soda is a staple in a few well-known drinks like a Tom Collins, a gin rickey, or a paloma. You can also use club soda to make non-alcoholic drinks, like Italian soda or bubbly lemonade.

Did you know? If you use club soda to replace water or milk in your dough and batter recipes, the results will yield an airier product. Who doesn’t like fluffy pancakes and waffles?

Club Soda vs Seltzer

While club soda is carbonated water with additional ingredients, like sodium chloride and potassium sulfate, seltzer water is simply artificially carbonated water. So, if you're looking for a slightly simpler taste, seltzer water is a good choice. However, they can be used interchangeably in recipes with little-to-no flavor difference.

What Is Seltzer Water?

Seltzer water is simply water that has been carbonated artificially with carbon dioxide. It contains no other additives, like salts or sweeteners, so it has zero calories and no sugar. Because of its neutral taste, it's a great choice as a base for different types of drinks and can be found in popular beverages, such as White Claw Hard Seltzer. You can easily make your own hard seltzer with seltzer water.

What Does Seltzer Taste Like?

Seltzer water has a clean, simple taste, though it is quite fizzy. If you’re looking for a healthy alternative to soda, seltzer is a good place to start.

Did you know? Seltzer originated in a small town called Selters in Germany. Beginning in the late 8th century, the area was renowned for the supposed healing properties of its natural springs. It became a symbol of health and wealth over the next centuries, as only the rich were able to import this special water from Selters.

Tonic vs Seltzer

If replacing a drink with tonic water that usually calls for seltzer, your drink may have a slightly bitter taste to it. However, since seltzer water has a clean taste, replacing your drink with seltzer in place of tonic water will not drastically change your cocktail or mixed drink.

What Is Tonic Water?

In its simplest form, tonic water is carbonated water that has high-fructose corn syrup, sodium benzoate (a preservative), citric acid, and quinine (a naturally occurring compound) that adds to its flavor and calorie count. Tonic water is great in the classic gin and tonic or vodka tonic.

What Does Tonic Water Taste Like?

Tonic water has a bitter and somewhat sweet flavor.

Did you know? Quinine was originally used as a medicine for malaria, so British soldiers would mix soda water, sugar, and eventually gin to help the bitter taste go down a little more easily. Quinine is also fluorescent, so the next time you get a chance, hold your gin and tonic underneath a black light!

Tonic Water vs Club Soda

Due to the slight bitter taste of tonic water, using it in place of club soda may change the taste of your drink. If replacing tonic water with club soda, it will have a neutral effect.

What Is Sparkling Water?

Sparkling water is just water that is naturally or unnaturally carbonated, and it does not contain additional preservatives or compounds. It is similar to seltzer water. Naturally carbonated water is mineral water that is carbonated from naturally occurring gases, while unnaturally carbonated water may be mineral water or another type of water (tap or bottle) with added carbonation. You can make sparkling water on your own with a soda siphon.

What is Sparkling Mineral Water? Sparkling mineral water comes from a natural spring or well. It may be carbonated organically from naturally occurring gases or may be artificially carbonated. As the name suggests, mineral water naturally contains minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, sodium, and zinc. Sometimes mineral water is simply referred to as sparkling water, though not all mineral water is carbonated, and not all sparkling water is made from mineral water.

Can Club Soda, Seltzer, and Tonic Water Be Used Interchangeably?

Club soda and seltzer water can be used interchangeably with little to no flavor change, but tonic water should not substitute club soda or seltzer. With its distinct bitter or citrus flavor, tonic water may drastically affect the flavor of the drink you are trying to make. Conversely, replacing tonic water with club soda and seltzer in a drink will yield a more neutral taste than with tonic water.

Create Your Own Carbonated Water

Though $1 for a one-liter bottle is reasonable, making your own carbonated water can help save money for your business. A soda siphon and charger can be used to create seltzer easily and affordably. The soda siphon is a one-time purchase, and you only need to replace the chargers every so often.

Now that you are aware of the variances between club soda, seltzer, and tonic water, you can rest easy when choosing what to stock in your bar. Delight your guests with a new and special cocktail on your beverage menu by combining liquor, juice, and your choice of sparkling water.

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