15 Practical And Problem-Solving Uses For Vaseline

There Are So Many Things You Can Do With Vaseline

Intensely moisturizing and gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin, petroleum jelly has many benefits and can be used in a dizzying number of ways! Today I’ll be sharing some of the best uses for vaseline with you, including quite a few that are real life-savers when you’re in a bind!

But before we dive into that list, I wanted to quickly address some of the confusion regarding the safety of petroleum jelly (sometimes referred to as Vaseline, the name of a widely available brand of petroleum jelly).

Is Petroleum Jelly Safe To Use?

Petroleum jelly is a byproduct of petroleum production, so can petroleum jelly cause cancer? The short answer is no.

Vaseline, one of the most widely available and popular brand name petroleum jelly products, is purified three different times during the production process. This ensures the final product is free of impurities, including any cancer-causing compounds.

The EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, which rates the potential hazards of cosmetic products, rates Vaseline with a score of 1, or “low hazard.” (But if you’d still prefer to avoid petroleum jelly, my two-ingredient “non-petroleum jelly” will work just as well for any of the uses I’ve listed below.)

15 Practical Uses For Vaseline

1. Lubricate Fridge Drawers

If your fridge drawers aren’t gliding smoothly, opening and closing them can get infuriating very quickly! But luckily for us, all you need is a bit of vaseline to fix it!

Spread a thin layer of vaseline on the outer edges of the drawer where it slides along the track. This added bit of lubrication will help your fridge drawers glide much more smoothly!

2. Heal A Chapped Nose

It’s almost impossible to avoid chapped skin when you’re frequently using tissues to wipe or blow your nose — no matter how soft or lotion-packed your tissues are!

Applying a bit of petroleum jelly to the chapped areas of your nose can help immensely. Not only will it help heal the chapped skin, but it will also help prevent further dryness and cracking too.

3. Stop Blister Pain

It happens all the time — you wear a new pair of shoes to an event, only to realize that they’re giving you blisters an hour later. Having a bit of vaseline in your bag can be a lifesaver in this situation!

Just apply a bit of it to the area of your shoe that is causing the blister. It’s not a perfect fix, but it can help prevent the blister from getting worse before you’re able to remove the shoes.

4. Make A Scrub

A little manual exfoliation can help keep your skin soft and moisturized. Make a simple body scrub by mixing together petroleum jelly and sugar (or sea salt!)

Scoop the paste-like mixture into your hand and massage it over damp skin in a circular motion. When you’re finished, wash yourself off with soapy water and apply a generous amount of lotion.

5. Treat Dry Paw Pads

Just like our skin can start cracking if it gets too dry, your pet’s paws can get dry and cracked too. Treat the dryness and help heal the cracks by applying a thin layer of vaseline to the area. (It can help to use a recovery collar to keep them from licking it off!)

6. Control Unruly Eyebrows

A dab of petroleum jelly can tame unruly eyebrows that are determined to misbehave. Those unruly brows will stay put all day, and look sleek and glossy to boot!

7. Hide Scuffs On Furniture

Many visible marks and stains on wood furniture are caused by moisture issues (either too much or not enough). Apply a bit of petroleum jelly to stains, rings, scratches, or scuffs on your wood furniture and let it sit for 24 hours. The next day, wipe away any excess jelly and give the area a good polish. Good as new!

8. Prevent Dye Stains

Before dyeing your own hair or someone else’s at home, grab your jar of vaseline! Smear it liberally around your hairline to prevent wayward drips and splatters of dye from staining your skin.

9. Soften Dry Lips

Apply a liberal amount of petroleum jelly to your lips and let it sit for a few minutes. Then gently scrub your lips with a clean, soft toothbrush and rinse clean.

Related: The Best Fix For Chapped Lips Might Surprise You

10. Remove Gum From Hair

I suspect that dealing with a “gum stuck in hair” scenario is some sort of rite of passage for parents. It’s been years since I’ve had to tackle that one, but I must have done it half a dozen times when my kids were younger!

But removing gum from hair is one of the best uses for vaseline! All you have to do is apply it generously to the gum and the hair it’s stuck to, then work it through with your fingers until you can slide the gum free. (This also works for silly putty, play doh, and all sorts of other things kids find a way to get stuck in their hair!)

11. Unstick A Ring

So you discovered the hard way that a ring is too small, and now it’s stuck on your finger. Never fear! Just apply some jelly to the area around the ring, then gently slide the ring back and forth until you can slide it off.

12. Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeders

Hanging bird feeders can attract all sorts of wildlife to your yard, including crafty, feed-stealing squirrels! If your feeder is hanging from a post, you can coat the post in a layer of vaseline as a squirrel deterrent.

When the squirrels try to climb the post, they’ll just slide right off! And it won’t bother the birds, who can still settle comfortably on the feeder itself.

13. Treat Dry Skin Overnight

An intensive, overnight petroleum jelly treatment is one of the fastest and easiest ways to heal patches of dry or cracked skin. Smear jelly onto any dry patches before you go to bed, and by morning, your skin will feel so much softer!

Related: This Simple Hack Can Do Wonders For Dry Skin

14. Fix Sticky Shower Curtains

If your shower curtain keeps getting stuck on the rod, you can use a bit of jelly to fix it! Just apply a thin layer of jelly to the top of your shower curtain rod.

Open and close the shower curtain a few times, and it should start gliding smoothly.

15. Add Shine To Hair

For those of us whose hair is on the dry end of the moisture scale, frizziness and flyaways can be a frequent problem. Take care of both issues by dabbing a tiny amount of petroleum jelly to the topmost layer of your hair!

And not only will the jelly make flyaways stay put, but it will also add an enviable shine to your hair!

What are your favorite uses for vaseline?