Household Hints: Helpful Uses for Vaseline

Vaseline is one of the leading skin care and first aid products available. Like many common health and beauty aids, Vaseline has many uses which have absolutely no relation to its uses for health and beauty aids. Because of the oily nature of Vaseline, many of the common household uses involve loosening sticky items.

Alternative Uses for Vaseline #1-Removing Gum from your child's hair
Every child has gotten gum stuck in their hair at some time. Vaseline is one of the easiest items to remove gum from the hair. Rub a gob of Vaseline through the hair near the gum. The petroleum jelly will remove the gum from your child's hair.

Alternative Uses for Vaseline #2-keep Curtains opening easily
Over time, dust and moisture can cause curtain rods, particularly shower curtain rods, to become rough. This makes curtains harder to open and close. To prevent staining of curtain rods, smooth in a thorough coating of Vaseline.

Alternative Uses for Vaseline #3-The Cheating Spouse's Best Friend
Vaseline helps to remove lipstick, makeup, and mascara stains from clothing before the stain sets in. Rub a generous coat of Vaseline over the stain and pat the stain with a soft wet cloth of plain water. This will at least by you some time before your spouse catches on to your dirty little game.

Alternative Uses for Vaseline #4-keeping Your Ashtray clean
If you smoke, you have no doubt seen the bottom and sides of your ashtray turn black as the ash from the end of the cigarette falls out. Coat your ashtray with Vaseline inside and out. Let the ashtray dry overnight, and never have to worry about your ashtray turning black again. Coat the ashtray once every few months to prevent black staining.

Alternative Uses for Vaseline #5-Prevent nail polish caps from sticking
As nail polish is used, excess nail polish can harden and dry on the outer edge of the bottle, causing the cap too harden with the nail polish. Put a thin coating of Vaseline on the outer edges of the cap, and you can open the bottle of nail polish every time you use it.