I was going through my list of frugal living tips the other day and I was amazed by how many of the items were ones that I keep stocked up on. I’ve decided to see what other common food items I might have in my pantry that can do more than just being used in recipes. This week I chose butter, because I remember using it when I was pregnant to remove my wedding rings. If it could remove a wedding ring then it has to to have other unusual uses.
 |
| Picture from: Dustin Mayer Fitness |
Health
- Pills – to help them go down easier, coat the pill with a
little butter first. -
Rash – to treat, apply a generous amount of butter twice a
day and let it remain for an hour before cleaning.
Beauty
- Cuticles – to soften, rub some butter on them and then wash.
- Dry Skin – to soften, rub a small amount of butter on the area, then wash.
- Feet – to soften, massage your feet with softened butter, wrap in a warm towel and wash after 30 minutes.
- Fingernails – to treat brittleness, rub some butter on the
nails and let in sit for 10-15 minutes before cleaning. - Hair – to add shine, comb a little butter through your hair
after shampooing and rinse with warm water. - Hair – to condition, comb a little butter through your hair after
shampooing, and rinse with warm water. - Hair – to remove gum, work some softened butter into the gum
and slide it out. - Hands – to remove fish smell, rub some butter on your hands
before washing with soap and water. - Shaving – for a close shave, apply butter to wet skin.
- Skin – to remove sap, rub the area with butter and clean
with soap and water.
Cleaning
- Cast Iron – to shine, rub some butter on it with a soft rag.
- Leather – to shine, rub a little butter on it.
- Wood – to remove watermarks, apply softened butter to
the wood and let it sit overnight and wipe off in the morning.
In the Kitchen
- Hard Cheese – to keep it fresh, apply a light coat of butter
on the cut edge before wrapping. - Pasta – to keep it from boiling over, add a tablespoon of
butter to the water. - Sticky Food – to cut without sticking, wipe the knife with
butter before cutting.
Miscellaneous
- Car – to remove sap, rub some butter on the spot and use a cloth
to wipe it away. - Doors – to keep them from squeaking, rub some butter on the
hinges. - Glue – to remove from skin, rub a little butter on it before
washing with soap and water. - Necklace – to untangle, rub it with a little butter and use
a safety pin to work out the knots. - Rings – to remove, rub a little butter on your finger to
easily remove.
Do you have any unusual household tips for using butter?
* If, by some small miracle, you worked at Amway in Ada, MI in the 1980’s and were the person my mother loaned the notebook to, please Contact Me. The notebook is a small (aprox. 6″x9″) black leather, 3-ring binder, and contains hand drawn patterns (teddy bear), recipes and household tips and tricks. It would mean so much to my family to have it back.
Using butter on the end of cheese is a great idea! Its sad how many great tips haven't always gotten passed down through the generations!
I just eat it! LOL! I wonder if it really works on water rings on wood? That would be great! I will try it out next time one of us leaves a water glass on one of my tables. I will report back…
I grew up during WWII. My brother was a Corpsman (medic) in Okinawa. I remember that butter was almost impossible to buy. Everybody was using oleomargarine and we had to use rationing stamps for all purchases.