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Lifestyle

5 Leftover Wine Hacks You Should Have Learned Forever Ago

This article is written by a student writer from the Spoon University at Losangeles chapter.

Sure, you’ve heard it all before (because what millennial with access to the internet doesn’t know it all?). White wine is “good” for the skin while red wine is “good” for the heart. Despite these so-called facts having a touch of self-grown fantasy tangled within, they are overused hacks that could use some mind-blowing replacements. Wanna know even more wine hacks to share with your friends? Keep reading.

1. Red Wine Produce Rinse

leftover wine hacks

Gif by Francesca Katafias

Some people are totally disgusted with the pesticides that are in their “organic” produce. Others couldn’t care less about the toxins coating their beloved grapes. Regardless of the preference, it’s safe to say both sides would happily drench their produce in leftover wine. After all, wine holds many sterilizing properties in it because alcohol.

2. DIY Fruit Fly Trap

leftover wine hacks

Gif by Francesca Katafias

Leave your fruit out once, shame on you. Leave your fruit out twice, shame on you. Leave the freakin’ fruit out three times and you DESERVE the reign of fruit fly hell. For those who have been condemned to this particular hell… have no fear (you have a fourth and final chance).

Use your leftover red wine and pour it in a glass with plastic wrap on top (with holes punched through). Fruit flies will be attracted to the fermented grapes in your glass, but will be unable to escape, forcing them to drown in your stale leftovers. Two words: Redemption. Rules.

3. Red Wine Removal

leftover wine hacks

Gif by Francesca Katafias

Let’s be honest: you’ve been drunk at least ONCE in your twenty-something years of life. Alcohol obviously makes you a total klutz with the reflexes of a sloth stuck in molasses (that’s extra slow for those of you who haven’t caught on). With that said, accidents happen. When your drunken accident happens to involve spilling red wine all over a white fabric based surface – have no fear. Pouring white wine immediately over a red wine stain counteracts the stain and erases your mistake (if only it could erase other mistakes, too).

4. Holistic Kitchen Disinfectant

leftover wine hacks

Gif by Francesca Katafias

Before you start thinking this world has lost its mind, hear me out. As a *seasonally broke* college graduate, I find myself putting cleaning supplies on the bottom of my grocery list each month. The consequence: I have no cleaning supplies.

But while I’m learning that Windex and Clorox are the real homies, I have also learned that my top spot grocery list item – white wine (and in this case the left out overnight on accident kind) – works as the PERFECT kitchen disinfectant. If left out to go bad, the acidic properties in white wine kill germ-infested surfaces while also leaving behind a glossy shine. But fair warning, do NOT use white wine on granite surfaces. Otherwise, your granite will be jacked up.

5. Non-Toxic Glass Cleaner

leftover wine hacks

Gif by Francesca Katafias

While you’re slaving away using the leftover white wine you “accidentally” left out last night, here is your fifth and FINAL hack for using bad wine. Along with washing your fruit and disinfecting your kitchen, spoiled white wine oddly acts as the perfect non-toxic glass cleaner. As a total fangirl of this particular hack, I can personally attest to the quality of shine spoiled white wine gives your glasses. Don’t believe me, I dare you to try it.

Currently on a "seefood diet". I see food... and then eat it.