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Top 21 Unique And Creative Ways To Use Baby Powder Around Home
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Think baby powder is only for those who have babies? Not true! Everyone loves the smell of baby powder and it can actually do so much more than stop diaper rash. In fact, there are so many different uses for baby powder, you might be a bit shocked when you read this list.
Baby powder really is a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to being helpful with those little things around the house and making life just a bit easier. Baby powder is also super inexpensive (especially generic brands). If the smell alone isn’t enough to make you want to keep some around, you will want to keep reading. Check out our list of the top 21 unique ways to use baby powder.
1. Natural Car Deodorizer
Are you tired of paying $3 to $5 for those car air fresheners that only work for a few days? Try baby powder! Put some baby powder in a deep box with no lid and place it under one of the seats. It’s OK if it spills; it vacuums up easily and is non-toxic to your kids or pets. Replace as needed. Baby powder is inexpensive, so even if you replace this every weekend after you wash your car, you won’t break the bank.
2. Protect Your Flower Bulbs
When you buy new spring flower bulbs, take just a minute to dust them with baby powder. Baby powder will help to ward off moles, grubs, voles, and gophers from making your bulbs an afternoon snack. It will also protect the bulbs from mildew and rot. You can place a few bulbs in a Ziploc bag with a few tablespoons of baby powder and shake well. Alternately, you can place about a teaspoon of baby powder in the dirt when you plant your bulb. Many expert gardeners use baby powder to help protect their bulbs.
3. Anti-Ant Powder
Ants won’t cross over baby powder! So keep them away from your picnic by sprinkling a line around your table or blanket. This is a great alternative to using dangerous and toxic pesticides.
To keep them out of your house, sprinkle a line around the perimeter of your house, across window panes, the thresholds of doors, under basement windows, or anyplace where ants tend to get into your house. If it rains or gets wet, you will need to replace it, but baby powder is so cheap, you won’t care.
4. Cool Those Sheets
Soft cotton sheets on your bed feel so nice on those hot summer nights, don’t they? But what about those nights that are so hot even the sheets feel warm? You don’t have to suffer with those hot sheets, simply sprinkle a little bit of baby powder on those sheets and you will enjoy a much cooler feeling night. It doesn’t take much; just a sprinkle all over will do the trick. This is also a great way to make a guest bed super inviting and fresh smelling.
5. Make a Dry Shampoo
When you don’t have time to wash your hair for whatever reason but your hair is looking a little greasy, baby powder is a terrific dry “shampoo.” It will absorb the oil and leave your hair smelling super fresh. Sprinkle just a bit on your brush and brush through you hair. You can also try sprinkling just a little bit on the oily parts of your hair, allow it to sit for a minute, then shake out the excess and brush as you normally would. This works best on blondes and grey hairs. If you have auburn hair, add a touch of cocoa powder to the baby powder to make it less noticeable. Redheads can probably get away with a bit of cinnamon. Your hair will look, and smell, as if you just washed it and get you by until your next shower.
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6. Easily Untangle Necklaces
Did you put some of your necklaces in a bag or purse and now they are just one big knot? It can take forever to untangle them and you need to do so carefully so you don’t break them. Well, the next time this happens to you, simply reach for that bottle of baby powder. Sprinkle it over the knotted parts and be sure that you get it into all the little crevices and nooks. Now when you try to undo that tangle, you will find that the powder not only loosened the knot, it makes the chains just seem to slip apart.
7. Prevent Chafing
If you like to run or exercise in the hot summer months, or if you live in a location where it’s frequently hot and humid, chafing is sometimes a problem. You can stop chafing right in its tracks and even prevent future outbreaks by rubbing baby powder into any area that tends to get chafe before you go exercise or run. Baby powder will reduce the sweating and eliminate friction, keeping your skin smooth and dry.
8. Pet Shampoo
If you think baby powder works great as a dry shampoo for humans, imagine what it can do for your pet! If you want to freshen up your pet between grooming sessions, or if you haven’t had time to actually give them a proper bath, baby powder can work wonders. Just rub a handful or two into their fur (depending on their size). Allow it to sit for a few minutes, and then brush it out. Baby powder will absorb oil and make them look freshly washed. To top it all off, it will make them smell great.
9. Perfect Sand Remover
If you are planning a beach vacation, or if you live near the beach, you should get in the habit of putting a bottle of baby powder in your beach bag. Just before you head back home or before you get in the car, sprinkle those sand covered feet, arms, and legs with baby powder. Wait just a few minutes, and then brush it off with a dry towel. Baby powder will make it much easier to remove that sand before it gets into the car or into your living room carpet.
10. Ease the Pain of Waxing
If you are a self-waxer, you can ease some of the pain from waxing by applying some baby powder first. Simply apply some to your legs, for example, before you apply the wax. Baby powder will absorb moisture, which not only allows the wax to work better; it will protect your skin. Using baby powder will leave your skin smoother, less red, and less painful.
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11. Freshen Up Moldy Books
If you have some favorite books that have gotten a bit of mold or have a moldy smell because they were stored someplace damp, you can rejuvenate those books with a bit of baby powder. First, open up those books and allow them to dry out in the sun for a day or so. Once dry, sprinkle just a touch of baby powder between each page. Stand them upright and let them sit for about 24 hours. Now take a dry rag and dust off those pages. Voila! Sweet smelling books minus the mold.
12. Pump Up the Volume
If you want longer, fuller looking lashes, but hate the thought of using those awkward false eyelashes, all you need is a bit of baby powder. Dust a tiny bit of baby powder on your lashes before you apply your mascara. Baby powder will stick to your lashes, making them appear naturally fuller, thicker, and longer.
13. Quiet Down
If you have one of those oh so annoying squeaky floorboards and nothing else has seem to work, baby powder can come to your rescue. Sprinkle baby powder over your floor, and then sweep it into the cracks and spaces between the planks. It will lubricate the noisy area or take up the space that is causing the problem. Oh, it will also stop ants from making an entrance through the floorboards, so this is a double whammy of goodness!
14. Cool Things Down
Baby powder makes a great smelling, effective, yet inexpensive aftershave for both men and women. After you shave your legs, arms, or face, simply rub in a small handful of baby powder into the area. It will naturally cool your skin and stop any irritation that shaving might have caused. It’s the perfect aftershave for those with sensitive skin. If you regularly get razor burn because you have sensitive skin, baby powder might be the answer you have looking for. Find out why to use coconut oil as an aftershave.
15. Emergency Deodorant
If you run out of deodorant or find that you forgot to pack some in your suitcase when traveling, but you don’t have time to go buy more, baby powder can come to the rescue. Put a small handful of baby powder in your hand, and then rub it into your underarm. This helps keep the area dry and when it is dry, odor causing bacteria cannot grow. It smells great and should keep you feeling dry and clean until you can get to the store.
16. Freshen Up Your Clothes
If you find that your closet or dresser drawers have taken on a musty smell, you can freshen up as well as dry up the area by using baby powder. Pour some baby powder into an open container and set it down in your closet, then close the doors. You can also put some in a sachet, or a very shallow container and place it in your dresser drawers. This is a great way to dry out the air and freshen it up at the same time.
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17. Freshen Up Your Home Also
When you want to make your house smell super clean and fresh and eliminate smoke or pet odors, very little will work as well as baby powder. Sprinkle it over carpets and allow to sit for 20 minutes, and then vacuum as you normally would. You can also sprinkle just a tiny bit on other types of flooring before you sweep or vacuum. Don’t use too much on dry floors or they will appear dirty. On a dry floor, a little bit goes a long way. Read more about amazing ideas for making your home smell great naturally.
18. Eliminate Stinky Shoes
While we are talking about removing odors, let’s talk about shoes! A closetful of stinky gym shoes is something no one looks forward to. You can stop the stinky shoe problem, however, by putting baking soda inside shoes before putting them away. Don’t be afraid to put a few tablespoon’s worth inside them! Give them a slight shake to be sure you get all the way down to the toes. This will absorb sweat and odors. Simply shake out the excess before you put them on. This will also help to keep your feet cool, dry, and odor free while you wear your favorite shoes the next day.
19. Makeup Tip
Put a bit of baby powder in a cup. Using a large makeup brush, set your makeup with the baby powder once you are finished. Use just a tiny amount so it looks as translucent as possible. The powder will stop makeup from running or bleeding and since it absorbs excess oil, it keeps that shine away.
SEE ALSO: Top 20 Useful Ways to Recycle and Reuse those Old Tea Bags
20. Remove Grease Stains
A grease stain does not mean that it’s the end of a garment. As soon as you can, apply some baby powder to the stain. Allow to sit for a few minutes, then dab at the stain with a clean cotton ball. Repeat this until you can barely see the stain, then pour some Dawn dishwashing liquid directly on the stain and launder as you normally would. This should remove almost any greasy stain you come across.
21. Unstick Those Playing Cards
The problem with playing cards is, after years of being handled with greasy potato chip fingers, being laid on beer-or soda-soaked card tables, they sometimes get so sticky that they stick to each other and it seems like nothing will pull them apart. Don’t pitch them! Baby powder them! Put the cards in a Ziploc bag with a few tablespoons of baby powder. Close the bag, and then shake gently. Very quickly, the powder will coat the cards and they will separate themselves easily.
Always use the proper amount for best results. Adding too much baby powder to your hair, for example, will only make it look dusty and dirty. However, too little powder in shoes will not deodorize them sufficiently. Start will less, as you can always add more.
