Why is cola able to clean oil/grease stains?

If you've got some greasy, difficult stains on your clothing, it turns out Coca Cola might be able to solve the problem. read more

Grease stains are famously difficult to remove from clothing and stain removers can be very expensive. Here is a cheap solution: empty a can of coke into your wash along with the usual detergent and run it through a normal cycle. read more

Little did you know that cola is great for cleaning tile grout! If you have dirty, dingy grout, pour a bit of cola onto the area, let it sit for a few minutes, and wipe clean. For tough stains, use a cleaning toothbrush to scrub the grout before wiping the area clean. Cola Cola can also be used on carpet stains. Pour cola onto the area, let it sit for a few minutes then scrub to remove the stain using a scrub brush. read more

Gasoline and ether will dissolve grease nicely. Alcohol can do it but with lesser efficiency. Detergents are special in they have a molecule that has one polar side and one nonpolar side. The nonpolar side can stick to and dissolve grease while the polar side can dissolve in water and be carried away by the water, bringing the grease with it. read more