Chalk is an unexpectedly versatile crafting material with numerous uses around the house that can simplify your life. Although you might associate it primarily with children’s drawings on sidewalks or driveways, chalk is a little miracle-worker for various household hacks, ranging from odor control to pest management. Composed mainly of calcium carbonate, chalk’s slightly abrasive texture and natural moisture absorption capabilities allow it to perform multiple roles beyond just being a writing tool or a child’s toy.
If you’re already familiar with household baking soda cleaning hacks and DIY natural cleaning solutions, you’ll find many of these chalk tricks even easier to implement when it comes to cleaning. In other instances where cleaning isn’t necessary, chalk can make even the most irritating tasks simpler. Additionally, this calcium-rich material can be used in both the garden and tool shed, showcasing its versatility. Here’s an exhaustive list of how you can utilize those chalk stubs effectively.
Keep silver from tarnishing
Silver tableware, while elegant, can tarnish with exposure to light, moisture, and air. A few pieces of chalk can help mitigate this discoloration. Place chalk in the drawer or box with your silverware (or silver jewelry) to absorb moisture and reduce humidity. While it may not completely prevent tarnishing, it significantly slows the process, reducing the frequency of the laborious polishing task.
Keep your clothes smelling fresh
Placing a few pieces of regular chalk in an open baggie at the bottom of your hamper helps combat the unpleasant odors from dirty laundry. Like with silverware, the chalk absorbs moisture, preventing that mildew-like laundry smell from permeating your bedroom or laundry room. Replace the chalk every few weeks or once a month to maintain freshness. This trick can also be applied in your closet to absorb humidity and prevent stale smells on your clean clothes.
Keep ants away
Chalk acts as a natural ant repellent by disrupting their scent trails, which prevents them from crossing lines drawn on the ground. Make subtle marks near entry points such as window sills and door thresholds to deter ants from entering your home. Use regular chalk for this purpose and avoid insecticide chalks, which are banned in the U.S.
Clean your locks
Locks can accumulate dust and grime over time, making them sticky and hard to use. To clean them, coat your key in crushed chalk dust, insert it into the lock, and move it around. Repeat several times until the key moves smoothly. The chalk absorbs dirt, grime, and moisture, clearing the way for your keys.
Prevent your screwdriver from slipping
Chalk can add friction between a screw and screwdriver, preventing slippage. Rub a piece of chalk onto the screw’s head, ensuring not to obstruct the surface with excess chalk, and watch how the screwdriver cooperates with your task.
Craft crushed chalk paint
If you have leftover chalk stubs, you can extend their usefulness by making DIY crushed chalk paint. Crush the chalk in a sealed baggie with a hammer and add water. Mix and match colors for a fun crafting material for children or use it as chalk paint for household projects.
Make DIY polishing paste
Create an all-natural polishing paste using chalk to clean tricky surfaces. Crush chalk bits and mix them with vodka until paste-like. Apply to surfaces, let set, then clean and buff to reveal a shine.
Rescue white clothing
For white clothing that gets stained, chalk can help. Rub white chalk on discolored areas, let it sit for 10 minutes, then wash. The chalk absorbs grease and discoloration, restoring your clothing’s appearance.
Quick wall or furniture fixes
While not a permanent fix for scratches on furniture, floors, or walls, chalk can temporarily camouflage imperfections. Use chalk matching the item’s color to draw over dings until you can tackle a larger repair project.
Sharpen scissors
Sharpen craft scissors by cutting through pieces of chalk. Chalk’s abrasiveness sharpens the scissors by wearing down buildup and filling blade marks. This quick fix is handy for completing projects.
Label items in your pantry
Chalk can be used to write on metal or glass surfaces, making it a useful tool for labeling pantry or fridge items. Unlike permanent markers or labels, chalk allows for easy removal and reuse of containers.
Remove oil-based stains from leather
Chalk can lift oil stains from leather items. Rub chalk on the stain, cover with paper towels, and apply pressure with a heavy object. Let it sit overnight, then remove the chalk to reveal spotless leather.
Rearrange furniture easily
Chalk aids in furniture rearrangement by allowing you to sketch design ideas on the floor. Outline item placement to visualize your room before moving heavy furniture. Once satisfied with the layout, simply wipe away the chalk.
Hang a frame
Chalk helps in hanging picture frames accurately. Rub chalk on the frame’s hangers, press the frame to the wall to transfer marks, and insert nails or screws in the marked spots. This method is especially useful for gallery walls.
Untangle jewelry
Chalk can assist in untangling jewelry knots. Sprinkle crushed chalk on the knot, which acts as a dry lubricant, easing the knot loose. Although it may still take time, chalk simplifies the process.
Cover paint mistakes
Chalk can camouflage paint splatters or drips on ceilings, walls, or floors. Use chalk matching the surface color to hide imperfections, particularly effective on white surfaces, until a permanent solution is applied.
Enhance your garden soil
Chalk’s calcium content benefits garden soil by promoting the growth of calcium-loving plants. It acts as a light fertilizer, potentially warding off blossom-end rot, similar to traditional garden lime.
Prevent rust on your tools
Chalk can help prevent rust on metal tools by absorbing moisture in toolboxes. While it slows rusting, if rust appears, there are easy solutions for removing rust from gardening tools.
