10 Top (legal) Things to Do If You Find Yourself Holding a Jar of Vaseline
by Anne Lyken Garner on Jul 25, 2008 with 23 Comments
A list of useful things anyone could do in one afternoon with a simple jar of Vaseline.
Vaseline is the branded name for Petroleum Jelly. The raw material for this versatile product was first discovered on an oil rig in Pennsylvania, USA. Through the years we have found some amazing uses and have discovered numerous cosmetic advantages for this remarkable every-day product. It would be a gigantic challenge to find a simpler product with more varied uses than Vaseline.
Yet, if you find yourself holding a jar of Vaseline, what could you do that would give a quick fix to your life and home, with long term effects?
- Flit around the house applying some of the magical product on all your squeaky door hinges. It also protects them from further rusting.
- Lightly spread a bit on the soft pads of your cat’s paws so that he/she can lick it off while grooming. The secret to this is that it reduces retching when they’re expelling hair balls.
- Put some on your eyebrows to keep them perfectly in place, (for men and women).
- Apply some of the versatile white stuff on a piece of soft cloth and rub on all the water stains on wooden floors and furniture you can find. Leave overnight and wipe clean in the morning. Stain is gone!
- Wash out and dry your bin, then rub a thin layer of Vaseline at the bottom, sides and around the edges. Replace your bin liner. This layer of Vaseline not only aids bin liner removal, but also prevents little bits of stray food and rubbish sticking to the bottom of the bin the next time you empty it. Do the same for cigarette ashtrays if you smoke.
- Add a bit of salt to the Vaseline and exfoliate your hands. They’ll feel softer for days to come.
- If you happen to be painting, use Vaseline instead of masking tape, especially in small bendy areas like windows and doors frames etc.
- Now for the outside. Go to the shed and apply some to the cylinders of your kids’ skateboard and roller skates they roll more smoothly and effectively.
- You’ll probably feel a bit sticky after all that, but before you get into the shower, rub some Vaseline on your shower curtain rods to prevent corrosion, and so that it could run with more ease.
- Now that you’re in the shower, apply some to your scalp then wash your hair. Let me explain this one carefully. Do not rub the Vaseline on your hair! Part your hair in four or six parts, rub a tiny amount on the part lines in your scalp, then wash your hair normally. This gives your hair instant conditioning, brings out your colour vibrantly, and adds a glorious shine. I’ve done this hundreds of times and it really works. I’ve got curly hair and my kids’ hair varies from straight to curly. I use it on them too!
Hope you had a productive few hours with your jar of Vaseline, next time you go shopping, grab a tin of salt, we’ll be racing around the house soon, doing jobs with that. Take care till then.
Check out Darlene’s (other) uses for vaseline .
My blog, The Relationship Supermarket.com also stocks some similar articles.
My other articles in this series are:
- 10 Top (Legal) Things to do if You Find Yourself Holding a Bottle Of Vodka
- 10 Top (Legal) Things to do if You Find Yourself Holding a Jar of Salt
- 10 Top (Legal) Things to do if You Find Yourself Left Holding a Bottle of Baby Oil
- 10 Top (Legal) Things to do if You Find Yourself holding a Pack of Toothpicks
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Published in: Homemaking
IcyCucky | Jul 25, 2008 | Reply
The title crack me up..and the article gives so many useful tips. I learn some new ones today! Thank you..
Glynis Smy | Jul 25, 2008 | Reply
Made me smile
If the black plastic surround on tv etc looks a little white through drying out vaseline helps that too, great tips here, off to get some salt 
valli | Jul 25, 2008 | Reply
I learned some useful tips here.
Darlene McFarlane | Jul 25, 2008 | Reply
I thought the title was a good idea too. When I did my article on things you can do with Vaseline…there were quite a few I had to delete.
These are great tips too. Many of them are new to me.
amanda | Jul 25, 2008 | Reply
Actually, it’s probably not wise to use vaseline in your hair… I tried this once and it took something in the vicinity of 50 washings to get it out… but it’s wonderful for a lot of other things.
Anne Lyken-Garner | Jul 26, 2008 | Reply
Actually, I’ve put it in my hair, hundreds of times. Part it in four and put a tiny bit of vaseline in the scalp on the parting lines, just a little bit. I’ve got curly hair and it works wonders!
RJ Evans | Jul 26, 2008 | Reply
This is one of those articles that you just have to click on when you see the title! Very good!
Now, Anne, can we have the 10 illegal things now? The title of this article seems to intimate that there must be a few, at least!!
Shergill | Jul 26, 2008 | Reply
Good useful article. This easy to obtain product
“Ten Nursing uses” seem to come to my mind. RJ Evans “illegal uses could feature prominentaly in forensic studies”.
Well done Anne.
Anne Lyken-Garner | Jul 26, 2008 | Reply
Oh Behave! HA! ha! I will not dwell on the illegal things, I don’t think Triond would publish it.
Johann | Jul 26, 2008 | Reply
You forgot masturbation!
As far as I know, it’s perfectly legal, und much more fun zan any of your other suggestions.
Judy Sheldon | Jul 26, 2008 | Reply
Anne, thank you for the “cleaner” version. lol Great tips. And you are right about vaseline for the hair and scalp. I would not recommend it for my hair, because it is baby fine, but have used it on my grand children’s when out of their favorite products, to reduce dryness and promote softness.
Take care.
Tanya Urbane | Jul 26, 2008 | Reply
tip #10 is every hair stylist nightmare. This is the kind of bad practice that ruins your scalp, making the hair to thin and fall out. Seriously talk to your hair dresser.
Tanya Urbane | Jul 26, 2008 | Reply
cool title, I forgot to say.
Ruby Hawk | Jul 26, 2008 | Reply
One thing none of you mentioned is, its good for little chapped cheeks and noses in winter, your own chapped hands, and its also good for your face as a night cream after washing. Just remembert a little goes a long way.
Nicki B. | Jul 27, 2008 | Reply
It’s amazing how useful these household items can be.
Sun Meilan | Jul 27, 2008 | Reply
I love the picture!!
Juliane Elliott | Jul 27, 2008 | Reply
This is a great piece with a fantastic title!
I always enjoy reading your pieces and it is good to see you in the top ten again.
Best regards.
Diane | Jul 27, 2008 | Reply
I enjoyed this, as well as the salt ideas because I’ve been doing this for 50 years, and it all works 100%.
I’ve save lots of $$$$$; salt, vinegar, vaseline, ammonia – so inexpensive, and so many ways to utilize them in your home!
Glad to see someone else sharing…….
Athlyn Green | Jul 27, 2008 | Reply
Awesome tips, Anne.
Mike Crowl | Jul 27, 2008 | Reply
You appear to have missed one vital use of vaseline: stopping your nose from bleeding by inserting a little dab onto the blood vessel that’s broken.
ricky bobby | Jul 27, 2008 | Reply
i publish on triond and never get more than 3 “i like it”!!!!
What am i doing wrong
Nice article by the way
Karen Gross | Jul 28, 2008 | Reply
Back in the 80’s, we used vaseline as a cheap alternative to lip gloss. No wonder I didn’t get kissed much in that decade!
Anne Lyken-Garner | Jul 28, 2008 | Reply
Thanks everyone for your contribution to making this article better. There are a few things I should point out.
1. Yes, I maintain it’s good for hair since I’ve been using it for that purpose all my life.
2. Mike, I know that one but didn’t include it because I read that inhaling petroleum jelly can be very bad for your health. (But you’re right, many people use it for this purpose).
3. Ricky, read my ‘How to Get on Triond’s Hot Content List’ and I’m sure you’ll find some helpful tips.
4. Karen, I still use it on my lips, but I sugggest you keep a little jar on your night stand (bed-side table)and put it on your lips last thing before you go to sleep. Whenever I have to prepare for a photoshoot, I put a little bit extra on my lips two weeks in advance and I have baby smooth lips for the shoots.