# How valid are these "facts" defacing Coke (the drink, not the nose candy)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 11, 2002, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valid-are-these-facts-defacing-coke-the-drink-not-the-nose-candy/127893 "2002-09-11T01:37:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![freewill39](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d2c977/32.png) [@freewill39](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freewill39)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valid-are-these-facts-defacing-coke-the-drink-not-the-nose-candy/127893/1 "2002-09-11T01:37:19Z")
Hello, all. So, here is some information that I have received in an email about America’s premire soft drink, Coka-Cola. Can anyone comment on the validity (or lack there of) of these supposed facts? And here’s the guy with the funny hat, just 'cause I like him: ;j I look forward to your responses! Thanks… - Freewill39. 1. In many states (in the USA) the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the trunk to remove blood from the highway after a car accident. 2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of coke and it will be gone in two days. 3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl and … Let the “real thing” sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china. 4. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a crumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola. 5. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals. Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion. 6. To loosen a rusted bolt: Apply a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes. 7. To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before the ham is finished, Remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy. 8. To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent; run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your windshield. FYI: 1. The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. Its Ph is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days. 2. To carry Coca-Cola syrup (the concentrate) the commercial truck must use the Hazardous material place cards reserved for Highly corrosive materials. 3. The distributors of coke have been using it to clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valid-are-these-facts-defacing-coke-the-drink-not-the-nose-candy/127893/2 "2002-09-11T01:40:13Z")
Might I offer [www.snopes.com](http://www.snopes.com) ? Go there and search for Coke. For the most part, all those things you have listed are B.S. ---
**Author:** ![freewill39](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d2c977/32.png) [@freewill39](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freewill39)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valid-are-these-facts-defacing-coke-the-drink-not-the-nose-candy/127893/3 "2002-09-11T01:54:37Z")
Yes, so I figured. (-: But I thought I’d ask. Thanks for the site! ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valid-are-these-facts-defacing-coke-the-drink-not-the-nose-candy/127893/4 "2002-09-11T01:57:43Z")
I can put a t-bone steak on the counter in my kitchen and it will be gone in five minutes, if I don’t keep an eye on the dog… Even if any of these “facts” are true, how are they detrimental to Coca-Cola? Club Soda is one of the most useful household cleaners, but I still drink it… ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valid-are-these-facts-defacing-coke-the-drink-not-the-nose-candy/127893/5 "2002-09-11T01:59:55Z")
I can put a t-bone steak on the counter in my kitchen and it will be gone in five minutes, if I don’t keep an eye on the dog… Even if any of these “facts” are true, how are they detrimental to Coca-Cola? Club Soda is one of the most useful household cleaners, but I still drink it (with a little whiskey in it to kill the germs). ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valid-are-these-facts-defacing-coke-the-drink-not-the-nose-candy/127893/6 "2002-09-11T02:38:54Z")
For those who are curious, the entire email from the OP can be found, debunked, at [Snopes](http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/acid.asp) (they have a whole section on “cokelore”) ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valid-are-these-facts-defacing-coke-the-drink-not-the-nose-candy/127893/7 "2002-09-11T03:41:48Z")
I especially liked the one about cleaning corrosion from battery terminals. Most people don’t realize that Coke is _made_ from battery acid.[sup]1[/sup] This would just corrode the terminals even more… [sup]1[/sup] OK, maybe not, but it sure tastes like it. So does Pepsi. ---
**Author:** ![da\_pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ba0ec/32.png) [@da\_pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/da_pope)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valid-are-these-facts-defacing-coke-the-drink-not-the-nose-candy/127893/8 "2002-09-11T04:42:14Z")
Coke, or even Pepsi, makes a wonderful glaze for a ham. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valid-are-these-facts-defacing-coke-the-drink-not-the-nose-candy/127893/9 "2002-09-11T04:58:41Z")
I’m with you, Dtilque. Down with Cola!