Baby oil is one of those products that can sit in the back of a bathroom cabinet for years, especially once you no longer have a baby in the house. But there are plenty of reasons to keep that bottle around.
Because baby oil is primarily mineral oil, a small amount can loosen sticky residue, add shine, lubricate stubborn parts, and make several everyday messes easier to deal with. Here are some surprisingly practical ways to use it around the house.
Quiet a Squeaky Door Hinge
That squeak you hear every single time someone opens the door may only need a drop or two of oil. Apply a small amount to the hinge, move the door back and forth several times, and wipe away anything that drips.
Make Stainless Steel Shine Again
Fingerprints and smudges can make stainless steel appliances look dirty almost immediately after you’ve cleaned them. After cleaning the surface normally, put a tiny amount of baby oil on a soft cloth and buff it in the direction of the grain to bring back the shine.
Polish Chrome Fixtures
Baby oil can also give dull-looking chrome faucets and fixtures a quick refresh. Use only a drop or two on a soft cloth, buff the surface and follow with a clean cloth so you’re not left with an oily finish.
Remove Paint From Your Hands
Painting projects have a way of leaving almost as much paint on your hands as they do on the walls. Massage a little baby oil over dried or stubborn paint to help loosen it, then wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Get Grease Off Your Hands
Working on a car, bike or greasy household project can leave your hands covered in grime that regular soap struggles to remove. Rub baby oil into the greasy areas first to help loosen the mess, then follow with a thorough handwashing.
Remove a Stubborn Bandage
Pulling off a strongly adhered bandage can be unpleasant, particularly when it’s stuck to hair. Work a little baby oil around the adhesive edges, wait a few minutes for it to loosen, and slowly peel the bandage away.
Get Rid of Sticker Residue
You finally peel the price tag off a new vase or glass jar only to discover a sticky patch underneath. Rub a small amount of baby oil over the residue, let it sit for a few minutes to soften the adhesive, then wipe it away before washing the surface.
Unstick a Stubborn Zipper
Before giving up on a jacket, bag, or cushion cover with a zipper that refuses to move, try a tiny amount of baby oil. Apply it carefully along the zipper teeth with a cotton swab, keeping the oil away from surrounding fabric, and gently work the zipper back and forth.
Get Gum Out of Hair
Gum tangled in hair doesn’t automatically mean you need to reach for the scissors. Work baby oil into the affected strands, let it sit briefly and then gently separate the gum from the hair a little at a time before shampooing thoroughly.
Related: Surprising Uses for Hairspray That Have Nothing to Do With Hair
Loosen a Ring That’s Stuck on Your Finger
When your fingers swell from heat or other temporary causes, a normally comfortable ring can suddenly refuse to come off. Massage baby oil around the ring and finger to create some slip, then gently twist rather than force the ring off; seek help if the finger is painful, numb, or significantly swollen.
Get Sticky Labels Off Glass Jars
If you like saving pretty food jars for storage, those stubborn labels can be the hardest part of reusing them. Peel away as much paper as possible, work baby oil into the remaining adhesive, then wash the jar thoroughly with dish soap.
Help a Sticky Wooden Drawer Slide
Older wooden drawers sometimes drag against the frame instead of opening smoothly. A very small amount of baby oil applied to the areas where unfinished wood rubs against wood may help, but test it somewhere hidden first because oil can darken or stain certain finishes.
Give Some Leather Items a Quick Refresh
A tiny amount of baby oil can temporarily improve the appearance of some finished leather items that look dry or dull. Always test an inconspicuous area first, since oil can darken, stain, or otherwise change certain types of leather.
Remove Crayon From Some Hard Surfaces
A rogue crayon mark on a smooth, nonporous surface may loosen with a little baby oil. Dab a small amount onto a cloth and gently work it over the mark, testing an inconspicuous area first, then clean away the oily residue afterward.
