9 Amazing Things You Can Do With A Pumice Stone

uses for a pumice stone

I’ve used pumice stones in the past to remove dry, rough skin from my heels, but there’s something about rubbing that rough stone on my feet that gives me the heebie-jeebies. Luckily for me, there are plenty of ways to put a pumice stone to good use, but let’s start with some background first.

What Is Pumice?

Pumice is a type of volcanic rock formed by cooled lava. The open pores in pumice are caused by gas bubbles that were trapped under pressure in the lava, similar to when a bubbly, frothy mess escapes from a shaken can of soda. When frothy lava cools before all the bubbles pop, pumice is formed, and the pores inside it allow the stone to absorb water without breaking or becoming damp.

Pumice is extremely lightweight, but strong enough to be used as an abrasive. Most people think of pumice as a tool for removing dead skin cells, corns, and calluses from your feet. That’s true, but as you’ll soon learn, it can do a lot more than just get rid of dead skin! 

9 Amazing Things You Can Do With A Pumice Stone

uses for a pumice stone

1. Remove Pills From Sweaters

To remove pills from a sweater, gently rub the stone across pilling areas, then use a lint roller to pick up the pills. I recommend using a high quality pumice stone like this one, as cheaper ones will flake off on your clothes. 

uses for a pumice stone

2. Clean Your Toilet

Can’t seem to get the yellow ring off your toilet bowl? A pumice stone will surely do the trick (and you can even find pumice stones with a handle if you don’t love the idea of having half your arm inside your toilet). Just remember to soak the stone in water for a minute or two before using, or it will scratch the porcelain.

Related: The Only Recipe You Need To Keep Your Toilet Clean

uses for a pumice stone

3. Clean Your Oven

Make sure your pumice stone is wet and supple, then use it to gently buff off greasy and burnt-on messes, continually wetting the pumice stone to avoid scratching. You can use it with your standard oven cleaner, but some people think it’s an efficient alternative to standard oven cleaning products, so it’s worth trying solo too.

uses for a pumice stone

4. Remove Per Hair From Upholstery And Carpets

Use quick, short motions in one direction to lift pet hair off of carpets and upholstery, including car seats, couches, rugs, etc. A pumice stone is rough enough to lift pet hair off of fabrics, but not so rough that it will damage it.

uses for a pumice stone

5. Add It To Potting Soil

Pumice makes a great soil additive for succulents and cacti that require fast-draining soil. Learn how to amend your potting soil with pumice at this post from Grow Organic.

uses for a pumice stone

6. Remove Unwanted Hair

Did you know you can remove body hair with a pumice stone? This unconventional method is easy to do and surprisingly gentle on skin. Soak a pumice stone in warm water for about 5 minutes, then lather skin with soap and gently rub the wet stone in a small circular motion for 1-2 minutes. (Don’t scrub—light pressure is sufficient.)

Rinse off the soap and dry off, and as always, be sure to apply moisturizer after any kind of hair removal. Read more about this method here.

uses for a pumice stone

7. Distress A Pair Of Jeans

Grab a pair of your old jeans, then take a pumice stone and start gently rubbing the area you want to distress, which will start loosening the fibers in the fabric. Keep going over the same area and experiment with levels of force until small frays and holes start to form.

uses for a pumice stone

8. Use It As An Essential Oil “Diffuser

Put 15-20 drops of your favorite essential oils on a pumice stone, then place it in a dish or bowl and set it in any area that could use some freshening. The porous stone will slowly release the oils into the air like a low-tech diffuser.

uses for a pumice stone

9. Prep For A Manicure

Use a damp pumice stone to help remove excess skin from cuticles before painting your nails.  Again, gentle pressure is enough.  Tough skin like stubborn calluses on your feet can handle it, but most other places on your body can’t.

Choosing The Right Pumice Stone

Because the pumice stone industry is not regulated, distinctions between natural and synthetic pumice stones are fuzzy. Most consumers assume that a natural stone is made entirely from cooled lava while synthetic stones are made from other materials, but it’s not really as simple as that.

So if using an organic stone is important to you, make sure you do your research when deciding which one to buy.

Natural Pumice Stone

Volcanic pumice stones are often marketed as volcanic lava pumice stones.  They usually have an earthy color (brown, grey, or black) and are pretty tough.  Volcanic lava stones are a type of igneous rock, so they last a long time, and they are a good choice for a stone to use on your body because they don’t contain extra chemicals.

Synthetic Stones

Synthetic stones are usually made from recycled glass, and they’re often manufactured so that one side has large pores and the other has small pores.  They are less expensive than natural pumice stone (especially if you can find them at a dollar store) and are an excellent all-around choice for most applications.

Do you have a pumice stone at home, and what do you use it for?

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Jill Nystul (aka Jillee)

Jill Nystul is an accomplished writer and author who founded the blog One Good Thing by Jillee in 2011. With over 30 years of experience in homemaking, she has become a trusted resource for contemporary homemakers by offering practical solutions to everyday household challenges.I share creative homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make your life easier and more enjoyable!

About Jillee

Jill Nystul

Jill’s 30 years of homemaking experience, make her the trusted source for practical household solutions.

About Jillee

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