1

Rust remover

Image: Bekky Bekks

Did you know that if your metal objects are rusting, you can bring them back to life by soaking them in Coca-Cola overnight? The next morning, you'll find that you can easily clean them and even recover their shine!

Rust removal on old tools, screws, cutlery, coins, bicycles, and even car engines is believed to be due to the sodium benzoate present in Coke. This ingredient is a food preservative that inhibits the growth of bacteria, yeast, and mold. Additionally, studies suggest that it acts as a corrosion inhibitor .

2

Window cleaning

Image: Pixabay

Cleaning glass with a dark, sticky liquid? Sounds silly, doesn't it? Well, believe it or not, the citric acid in Coca-Cola makes for an excellent window cleaner. This is especially true for car windows, which tend to accumulate a lot of dirt and debris.

Pour a can of Coke into a spray bottle and apply it to the window surface you want to clean. Rub it with a rag, and if necessary, scrub it with a soft toothbrush. Then, wipe it all off with a damp cloth to ensure no sticky residue is left. Voilà—enjoy your crystal-clear windows!

3

Cooking

Image: Leighann Blackwood

Since its invention nearly a century and a half ago, Coca-Cola has been the perfect match for a cheeseburger or a slice of pizza. But did you know it can also be used in cooking? Its peculiar and characteristic flavor, along with the sugars and acidity of its secret formula, combine especially well with meats .

It’s ideal for mixing with BBQ sauce to create an excellent marinade or even for baking a whole chicken. Like wine or coffee, Coke can also be used to prepare delicious desserts, such as brownies and ice cream shakes.

4

De-blacken pots

Image: Dan Meyers

Over time and with multiple uses, pots and pans develop a blackened color on the bottom and sides that is difficult to remove.

To restore your favorite kitchen tools to like-new condition, just apply a glass of effervescent Coca-Cola and put it on the stove on low heat. Let it work for at least an hour to loosen the dirt. Then, scrub as usual—you’ll never believe the results!

5

Clean greasy clothes

Image: Annie Spratt

Everyone knows that grease stains are difficult to remove from clothing. Commercial stain removers can be expensive, contain many chemicals, and don’t always work. But there is a much simpler solution: one of Coca-Cola's alternative uses is removing grease stains from clothing .

Just add a can of Coke to your washing machine cycle or apply it directly to the affected area. Coca-Cola can even help deodorize smelly clothes !

6

Remove paint from furniture

Image: Ivars Krutainis

If you have a piece of furniture that has fallen victim to a paint stain —or an innocent marker drawing made by one of your children or grandchildren—and you want to make it look as good as new, dip a rag in Coca-Cola and rub it hard on the affected area.

To finish, simply wipe the area to prevent it from becoming sticky. Yes, it’s as easy as it sounds!

7

Drain cleaning

Image: Semevent

There are mixed feelings about the effectiveness of this trick, but there’s nothing better than trying it yourself to see if it works. Many suggest that applying Coca-Cola to drains can help clear clogs . Simply pour a bottle of the drink down the drain and let it work. Then, finish by pouring a cup of hot water down the drain.

You may be wondering: Is there any scientific evidence to support this claim? One of the ingredients in the most famous soda in the world is phosphoric acid , an anticorrosive that, in the case of Coca-Cola, is used for flavor. But don’t worry—the amount of phosphoric acid in Coca-Cola is safe for human consumption!

8

Insect repellent

Image: alleksana

No, it’s not about applying it to the skin, but using it as bait . If you’re going to be outdoors in an area with lots of insects, pour a glass of Coke into a shallow dish and let the bugs be attracted by its high sugar content (according to studies, one can contains the equivalent of ten teaspoons). You’ll see how they stay there and don’t bother you.

This alternative use of Coca-Cola is great for reducing the need for chemical pesticides in your garden. You can even pour the leftover liquid onto plants that thrive in acidic soil, like camellias and rhododendrons.

9

Relief from bites

Image: Ximena Mora

What happens if you forget to set the Coke bug trap beforehand? If you’re too late and get bitten by a mosquito or a bee, the solution can still be Coca-Cola.

Pour the soda over the bite area (or, better yet, soak a cotton pad and apply it to the specific spot) to help reduce the swelling and provide some relief.

10

Remove gum from hair

Image: Natalia Olivera

Gum stuck in hair can be a great frustration for parents or grandparents of naughty children. Believe us, a trick like this will save you from a big headache! But how does it work? The phosphoric acid in Coca-Cola reacts with the hair's natural oils, affecting the gum's properties. As a result, the gum won’t be able to adhere to the hair and, with the help of a comb, will come off easily.

While the gum may be easy to remove, the hard part is getting the kid to stay still for the duration of the process!

11

Cleaning the bathroom

Image: PeterKraayvanger

Have you run out of cleaning products and have guests coming over? Don’t panic—that abandoned Coke can at the bottom of your fridge is about to save you from the embarrassment of having a dirty toilet. Coca-Cola can be used to clean bathroom wall tiles, the toilet, and the bathtub.

A simple and practical way to do this is to use the spray nozzle from an old cleaning product, screw it onto a bottle of Coke, and spray the soda on the walls. Wait a few seconds, then wipe with a cloth or sponge... and it will be as good as new.

12

Make a science experiment

Image: Lucas Santos

Creating a geyser by mixing Coke and Mentos is practically a rite of passage for most kids—it's explosive, messy, and lots of fun! But how does it work?

Strange as it may sound, it's not a chemical reaction but a physical phenomenon . Mentos have thousands of tiny pores that disrupt the polar attractions between water molecules, creating thousands of nucleation sites ideal for gas molecules to congregate. The bubbles increase in size, causing the liquid to shoot out and rise to the surface, creating a spectacular effect that appeals to both children and adults alike!

1

First presidential candidate: Victoria Woodhull

Image: Daria Kraplak

In 1870, a publisher and stockbroker on Wall Street, Victoria Woodhull, stepped up to do something no woman had ever done before. In a letter to the New York Herald, she announced her intention to run for president of the United States. Some laughed, others scoffed, but Woodhull never flinched.

Her message was revolutionary for its time: equal rights for women, fair pay for workers, and an end to hypocrisy in politics. No electoral votes went her way, but that wasn’t the point. By daring to run, she opened the door for future generations and secured her place as the first woman bold enough to chase the presidency, long before the law recognized her right to vote.

2

First member of Congress: Jeannette Rankin

Image: C. T. Chapman, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1916, Montana elected a woman to Congress for the first time. Jeannette Rankin was a suffragist who had already helped secure voting rights for women in her state before most of the nation even dreamed of it. When she arrived at the Capitol to take her seat, the gallery overflowed with onlookers buzzing with curiosity and disbelief. Rankin, calm and resolute, didn’t shout to be heard; she spoke with the steady conviction of someone who knew she belonged. Her presence proved that a woman’s reasoning could command the same respect as any man’s voice, and once heard, it could never again be silenced.

3

First U.S. senator: Hattie Caraway

Image: Stephen Walker

She started out almost unnoticed. In 1931, when Arkansas senator Thaddeus Caraway died, his widow, Hattie, was appointed to fill his seat, a move many assumed was merely symbolic. But Hattie had no interest in being a placeholder. The following year, she launched her own campaign, traveling dusty southern roads and shaking hands with quiet confidence.

Against all odds, she won, becoming the first woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate. Dubbed "Silent Hattie" for her reserved manner, she wasn’t known for fiery speeches or flashy gestures. Through persistence and integrity, she proved that results, not rhetoric, are what truly echo in the chambers of power.

4

First woman mayor: Susanna Salter

Image: LSE Library

This is the story of a prank going sideways. In 1887, a group of men in a tiny Kansas town slipped the name of 27-year-old Susanna Salter onto the mayoral ballot in Argonia, confident that voters would laugh her off. To their dismay, when the ballots were counted, Salter had won.

Overnight, she became the first woman mayor in U.S. history. Far from feeling overwhelmed, Salter handled her duties with grace and sharp practicality, earning the respect of the same townsmen who tried to embarrass her. By the end of her term, she’d turned a bad joke into a precedent.

5

First state governor: Nellie Tayloe Ross

Image: Roman Manshin

Wyoming’s nickname, the Equality State, seems well deserved. When voters chose Nellie Tayloe Ross as governor in 1925, the nation watched as a woman stepped into a role no one of her gender had ever held before. She wasn’t the fiery campaign type; her strength came from quiet precision and an unwavering sense of duty.

Ross believed that leadership meant doing the work well, not making noise about it. Her calm authority and financial prudence won over even the most skeptical. Years later, as the first female director of the U.S. Mint, she literally shaped the nation’s currency, an apt legacy for a woman who always knew the worth of patience, persistence, and steady hands.

6

First cabinet member: Frances Perkins

Image: The New York Public Library

At the beginning of the 1930s, when breadlines stretched around city blocks and hope felt like a luxury, a female labor leader and consumer advocate came to the rescue. President Franklin D. Roosevelt saw in Frances Perkins not just a reformer, but a force of nature. As Secretary of Labor —and first woman ever to hold a Cabinet post—Perkins walked into the men-filled halls of power and quietly redrew the map of American work.

She championed fair wages, safer conditions, and limits on child labor, all while helping craft the Social Security system that still anchors millions of lives today. Decades later, her influence lingers in every pay stub, every pension, and every law that insists work should come with dignity.

7

First Supreme Court justice: Sandra Day O’Connor

Image: Stephanie Rhee

It’s hard to picture the dusty plains of Arizona leading to the marble halls of the Supreme Court, yet that’s exactly where Sandra Day O’Connor’s story began. Raised on a remote cattle ranch miles from the nearest town, she learned the value of hard work, clear thinking, and a level head. All these qualities would serve her well when, in 1981, President Ronald Reagan nominated her as the first woman justice in U.S. history.

O’Connor brought that same frontier pragmatism to Washington, preferring reason over rhetoric and humor over ego. "I’m just trying to do the right thing, one case at a time," she once said. For a quarter century, her voice became the Court’s steady center, proving that fairness stretches farther than politics.

8

First U.S. Secretary of State: Madeleine K. Albright

Image: sohail shaikh

Madeleine Albright, born in Czechoslovakia and raised on the idea that words alone could shape nations, found a clever way to make hers sparkle beyond her famous brooches. She could easily become a spider when negotiations grew tense, and a gentle dove when peace was within reach.

Albright believed diplomacy could be both art and strategy. When she became the first woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of State in 1997, she blended intellect with unmistakable flair, commanding global respect. She showed that courage, conviction, and strength can coexist with a warm personality occasionally sparkling from a lapel.

9

First major party’s presidential nominee: Hillary Rodham Clinton

Image: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

It took nearly a century and a half after Victoria Woodhull’s daring run for president before another woman would stand beneath the spotlights of a major party convention. In 2016, Hillary Rodham Clinton walked onto the stage with the spirit of the suffragists who had paved her path.

That night meant history was catching up. Smiling at the crowd, she declared, "We’ve reached a milestone, but we still have glass to break." Whether she won or lost mattered less than the fact that she stood there at all. Clinton’s campaign turned a dream whispered for generations into something tangible.

10

First elected vice president: Kamala Harris

Image: Manny Becerra

Fast-forward to 2020. A California senator steps up to the microphone, smiles, and thanks "the women who paved the way." Kamala Harris is the daughter of immigrants, a former prosecutor, and now the first woman ever elected Vice President of the United States.

Her voice carried the weight of generations who’d been told to wait their turn. Echoing the suffragists who once marched so she could stand there, Harris reminded America that progress is a relay, not a sprint. Her message rang clear and timeless: dream boldly, even when the trail ahead is foggy.

1

Singin’ in the Rain

Image: Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

According to the American Film Institute, Singin' in the Rain is the greatest movie musical of all time . Its centerpiece is the film's title song, written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown and performed by the brilliant Gene Kelly.

The scene in which this melancholic melody is played has become a staple of American culture. "Singin' in the Rain" was later featured in dozens of films and remains a source of joy for many today.

2

Moon River

Image: Trailer screenshot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The theme song for Breakfast at Tiffany's was composed specifically by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini to be performed in Audrey Hepburn’s dreamy voice . The balcony scene in which Fred discovers Holly Golightly playing the song on the guitar is one of the most iconic moments in Blake Edwards' film—and to think it was almost removed from the final cut!

"Moon River" is such a timeless tune that it even won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and has been recorded by many other artists since its release in 1961.

3

Let The River Run

Image: David Jones

Remember those aerial shots of New York paired with the gorgeous music of "Let The River Run" in the title sequence of Working Girl ? Just epic!

The main theme of the 1988 film, directed by Mike Nichols, is one of the greatest of all time. Thanks to this song, Carly Simon became the first person in history to win an Oscar , a Golden Globe , and a Grammy for a track composed, written, and performed entirely by a single artist.

4

I Will Always Love You

Image: Hunters Race

Dolly Parton wrote "I Will Always Love You" in 1973. While it was a commercial success for the country legend at the time, it is Whitney Houston’s version of the song for The Bodyguard that everybody remembers.

Houston's 1992 pop ballad stayed at number one on the Billboard chart for 14 weeks and became one of the best-selling singles of all time. It also became the actress’s signature song.

5

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Image: Stainless Images

According to the American Film Institute, the greatest song in the history of cinema is "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from _The Wizard of Oz_—and no wonder! The 1939 song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and was later inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for its cultural significance.

The ballad was written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg with Judy Garland in mind . At just 16 years old, Garland delivered a masterful performance as Dorothy, and the scene remains one of the most iconic in film history.

6

What a Feeling!

Image: Juli Kosolapova

Written by Giorgio Moroder, Keith Forsey, and Irene Cara for the 1983 film Flashdance , "What a Feeling!" is one of the most defining songs of the decade. It’s fair to say the film includes other great tracks, like Michael Sembello's "Maniac" and Laura Branigan's "Imagination."

Yet, the main theme, played during the iconic audition scene, became a worldwide bestseller. It spent six weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song.

7

Stayin' Alive

Image: NEOSiAM 2024+

The Bee Gees contributed several songs to the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, but without a doubt, the most famous is "Stayin' Alive." This 1977 hit tune, along with John Travolta's iconic dance moves, defined the disco era .

"Stayin' Alive" became one of the British group's most popular songs, earning widespread recognition , including a Grammy Award and a spot on several "greatest songs of all time" rankings.

8

GoldenEye

Image: Quang Viet Nguyen

As its name suggests, this song, performed by the great Tina Turner , was written for the 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye . It was composed by Irish musicians Bono and The Edge from U2 with Turner in mind.

Depeche Mode were originally asked to compose the film’s main theme but were too busy at the time. "GoldenEye" reached number two on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 when it was released as a single and, along with "Live and Let Die" by Paul McCartney and "You Only Live Twice" by Nancy Sinatra, is considered one of the best 007 theme songs !

9

It Must Have Been Love

Image: Malin Kettil, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The soundtrack of Pretty Woman , one of the best romantic comedies of all time, features several great songs—including Roy Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman."

However, this time, we’d like to highlight "It Must Have Been Love," a bittersweet tune by Roxette . Originally released in 1987, the song was reintroduced when Touchstone Pictures wanted to feature a track by the Swedish pop duo in the 1990 film. Thanks to this re-release, it became a smash hit in the U.S. and around the world.

10

Eye of the Tiger

Image: Dolo Iglesias

Originally, Sylvester Stallone wanted to use Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" as the theme song for Rocky III . When permission was denied, he turned to the American rock band Survivor to write an original song.

Since then, "Eye of the Tiger" has achieved massive success and will forever be associated with Rocky Balboa . It remains one of the most frequently used songs at sporting events and is undoubtedly one of the greatest movie songs of all time.

11

My Heart Will Go On

Image: Courtesy of NOAA/Institute for Exploration/University of Rhode Island (NOAA/IFE/URI)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Performed by Celine Dion, "My Heart Will Go On" is one of the most listened-to and best-selling songs of all time. Originally composed by James Horner as a motif for the Titanic soundtrack , it was later developed into the film’s official theme song.

This catchy tune, which won multiple Grammy Awards, is the perfect complement to Jack and Rose's tragic love story.

12

As Time Goes By

Image: Geert Pieters

Of course, we couldn't leave out of this list one of the most emblematic songs in film history: "As Time Goes By" from Casablanca . Play it again, Sam, and let us relive Ilsa Lund and Rick Blaine's unforgettable love story.

Originally composed by Herman Hupfeld for the 1931 Broadway musical Everybody's Welcome , the song achieved international fame thanks to one of Casablanca 's most memorable scenes. It became the foundation of the film’s soundtrack and was ranked No. 2 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs list.