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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.
Saxon @ Lets Drink Coffee, Darling says
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!
Julia Klimek says
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…
CW NuYawka says
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.