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Earlier this week I was running out of ideas of what to write about for the Frugal Living WWII Tips series. When I started this I thought that it was going to be a long running series but all of a sudden I ran into a writers block. For the life of me I couldn’t think of anything, I knew there were more tips but they just weren’t coming to me. I think I was having writers block because I wasn’t feeling very good; sore throat, headache, body ache. I called my mom, that’s what I do when I’m not feeling good and she told me to rub some Vick’s on my throat and wrap it with one of my hubby’s clean socks. All of a sudden my writers block was gone, this was one of the many things that my grandma did with Vicks VapoRub.
Vicks VapoRub was something that we always had in our medicine cabinet when we were growing up, I also remember it being in my grandmas. I began calling family members to get their ideas for this WWII topic. Much to my surprise they remembered my grandma using it for a bunch of different reasons. I was shocked at how versatile this little jar of vapor was. By the way, the Vicks and sock cured my sore throat.
- Sore Throat – rub on your throat and wrap with a tube sock.
- Decongestant – rub on your chest and under your nostrils.
- Coughs – to minimize coughing, rub generously on your feet and cover with socks.
- Sore Muscles – massage a generous amount on sore muscles.
- Headaches – rub a small amount on your temples and forehead.
- Ear Aches – to relieve pain, apply a small amount to a cotton ball and place in ear.
- Nail Fungus – rub on infected toenails. The nail will turn a dark color as it kills the fungus. The dark color will go away as the nail grows out.
- Mosquito Repellent – rub a small amount on exposed skin.
- Itchy Bug Bites – rub on bite and cover with a band aid.
- Cracked Heels – rub on feet in the morning and at night.
- Acne – to clear it up, dab on zit.
- Cold Sores – rub a little on the area when you begin to feel one coming on.
- Splinters – to remove, apply to the splinter and cover with a band-aid before going to bed. The next morning the splinter will be on the band-aid.
What unusual ways have you used Vick’s VapoRub?
** If, by some small miracle, you worked at Amway in Ada, MI and were the person my mother loaned the notebook to, please contact me. The notebook is a small (approx 6×9), black, 3-ring binder, and contains hand drawn patterns (teddy bear), recipes, tips and tricks. It would mean so much to my family to have it back.
We always have a jar of Vicks around, too, but I had no idea there were so many uses for it. Thanks for sharing!
Will also work after one or two applications as a drawing salve on boils and cysts.
That’s great to know! We’ve always used milk and bread for cysts and boils.
That’s interesting Laura. Can u tell me how. Ty
We used to use sugar and bar soap that had softened due to laying in wet dish and put it on boils and such. Works good
Some of the old home remedies work better than what we use today. I’m going to add this one to my post on sugar.
We would cut a raw potato in two and tape it in the boil overnight. Do this for several nights until to starts looking better. It has always worked for my brother. I’ve never had a boil
I had worts on my fingers, my mom was addicted to mashed potatoes. Every night I was forced to rub the potato shins on my warts they fell off when I got in the pool 2 weeks later.
I don’t know how to reply on Robins original
Post but we have a GREAT vicks hack! Put vicks in your belly button and cover with a bandaid before a car trip. It prevents car sickness! It totally works. My boys all had car sickness on the windy roads. Not when we used Vick’s!!
That’s interesting! One of my sons suffers from terrible motion sickness. We will definitely be giving this a try.
We've used it on feet for coughs and it really does work. One of those crazy old wives' tales that actually works!
Us too. It's amazing.
Is it okay to just put in a handful for each feet? I don’t havea jar of vicks vaporub, I just have the pocket version of it and I really have bad coughs. I’m taking medication but I’m willing to try other alternatives to lessen the pain.
I’ve used generic vaporub and it works just as good.
Great tip for the nail fungus – eww, I know it sounds gross, but I've just started to notice this on my toes, and the commercial stuff to fix it is really expensive. PS: I hope you get your notebook back.
I came over from Chicken Chick's blog hop. I love these ideas. I haven't heard of any of them. I'm excited to try them on the next one of my family to need it. Thanks!
Visiting from YOLO. Thanks! Good to know! We have a bottle of the baby vicks and need to be using it more often for my baby girl's cold and cough! I'm going to dig it out tonight and get to work with it!
Jen
My 10 uear old recently had strep throat, and I used the vicks on her throat, and put a little under her nose and it sure helped her with the pain that the strep was causing. I felt so bad because nothing was helping…not even Tylenol or Ibuprofen helped her pain. Then I reached for the vicks and figured what do I got to loose lol and sure enough she managed to stop crying and fell asleep shortly after. Thanks for the advice.
awesome tips!! love vapor rub
I had no idea how versatile it was!
We had a vaporizer as a kid which was similar to a humidifier and it had a spot to put some Vicks in and as the mist went up, it would take the Vicks smell with it. It sure helped you breath better. Good memory of being a kid that I had totally forgotten until now :o)
Yep, we had one of those as well. 🙂 Worked wonders.
My parents had the same vaporizer 😌.
I have often wondered why this idea was no longer used. Not to long ago I did find a vaporizer on Amazon with the ability to for you to put Vick’s in it. I jumped on it.
I keep Vick salve all the time. It helps with a stuffy nose, cold, and congestion. I rub it on the chest, a little in the nose, or under the foot of a small child. It will open them up and help with breathing.
Vaporizer for kids with asthma. Get a vaporizer from Wal Mart. It’ll tell you how to use it with water, and salve in top.
You wonder why we don’t use tried and true remedies any more ? It’s because of big Pharma, the government, kick backs, Drs, guilting you into buying from the pharmacies. lost knowledge of how to take care of ourselves, but most of all the ALMIGHTY $$$.
We did too and I had it for my kids when they were little.
great tips, my little one is coughing I will have to try it
That is an impressive list of ways to use it! I never knew how many things it can be used for. Thanks for the share!
Yes, good advice, try them.
Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week; I hope you’ll join us again!
Cheers,
Kathy Shea Mormino
The Chicken Chick
What great ideas. I need to get a bottle. Always had it around but never used it. I see several ways I can put it right to work, right now. Thanks!
I've heard a few of these, but not all. Love these – especially about the zits and heels!
Thanks for the advice!
Oh, my gosh, I remember using Vicks also as a child when I was sick with a cold. My Mother would rub it on my chest. Another thing we had back then was Noxzema. Maybe you would like to do a post on Noxzema. I still use Noxzema to take the burn out of a sunburn. If you cover the skin area right away and keep it covered Noxzema takes the burn out. Aren't these old remedies great? Thanks for the post. Linda
Novena was great stuff and my mom used it on my redheaded sunburnt sister. The best for sunburn that she ever used and we still use as grandparents, is white vinegar. Just put it on a paper towel or a soft cloth and pat it on the burn. A few layers of vinegar and the pain is eased. You smell like a pickle but . . .
This is great! I have never seen these uses, very good to know. Thank you so much for sharing at Pretty Things this week!
xo, Tanya
twelveOeight
Who knew? Popping by from Rae Gun Ramblings Suzanne
I had no idea you could use it for so many things!
Oh yes! I think Vicks is one of the best things invented. I also use it to decongest my sinuses and ears when my allergy medicine isn't enough. I just spread a bit on my sinus area on my head and face and a bit around each ear and about an hour later all is better. This is also great to use on ticks. Just dip a cutip in vicks and apply to the back of the tick which will cause the tick to let loose easily because it can not breathe.
Debbie
Visiting from the Clever Chicks Blog Hop. We always had Vicks Vapor rub growing up and I still keep some in the cabinet. But I only knew of using it for chest and under nose. Oh, and Grandmas would swallow a small dab if she had bronchitis. I never could stomach that…but she swore by it. It is very cool to learn all of these other uses. Thanks!
I use the Vick with small dab in the mouth. It works. My wife says I crazy and it’s not good for you. I’m 69 years old and it works better than cough medicine for me. I’m still alive. The flannel and put Vick on my throat and chest cover it and go to bed..
Vick’s is pretty great, but I don’t know if I would ever put it in my mouth. I’d definitely talk to my doctor before I did.
I agree. It is not intended to be ingested.
My Dad swore by Vicks for the sinus troubles:) Pinned!
I can testify that it works for coughs, by rubbing on bottom of feet. Didn't kick it completely, but definitely a noticeable reduction.
Stopping by from the Bloom Designs Link Party! Love these ideas! I've used several of them in the past, but not the zit one or the headache one–those really piqued my interest! Thanks for sharing!
Cindy
crazylou
Love these tips! Thanks for sharing, this is awesome!
My mother would always pull this out when we had a cold and put it on a hankerchief and pop in our shirt to breath in. Worked a treat so long as you did not put too much on – then your eyes would just run!
I can almost smell it, gosh, I haven't seen Vicks in years! My mom always put it under my nose or on my chest as a rub when I was little and sick.
This is such a fun post. I could definitely use this for my cough right now. I'm thinking about trying it 🙂
I am so going to try this on the heels of my feet, never knew it could be used for that! I came by via the blog hop and now follow you on GFC, hope you can check out my blog and follow back if you like what you see. Angela
I love Vick's when I have a bad cold. I remember my granny rubbing our temples with it when one of us had a headache – it worked!
wow who knew -we called it 'giggle juice' cause it tickled when it was rubbed on our chests as kids. There was always a jar in the cupboard as kids
Great list – I never knew most of these things on this list! Thanks for sharing!
I didn't realize all that it helps. Thanks for sharing at Rustic Restorations Weekend.
I knew some of the uses, but definitely not as many as you have listed! Thanks for sharing 🙂 {Pinned – from the Pin Me party}
We love Vicks here too! Thanks for linking up to And Sew We Craft Together
Great tips!
Mom had us do the same thing growing up. She used a washcloth instead of a sock. I remember her safety pinning it in the back. The Vicks always did the trick. I have to share a funny story. One day I was at my girlfriends house. We were either 6th or 7th graders. Her little brother came in with a Kotex pinned to his neck. That's what her mother used for her Vicks Vaporub sore throat treatment. Of course he had no idea, but all us girls could do was giggle. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
thank you for adding your wonderful blog to the Thursday Favorite Things hop. xo
Stopping in from Share it Saturday.
I have been using Vicks in several of these ways just this week as my household has a bug with fever, cough and stuffy noses. 🙂
I'm a Mentholatum girl myself — but DH swears by his Vicks! It does have a lot of good uses! Thanks so much for sharing on Busy Monday!
Great info! Thanks for sharing on The Creative HomeAcre Hop!
Hope to see you tomorrow on the next hop!
Wow! Who knew? Thanks for sharing I'll have to give some of them a try. Thanks for linking up at Transformed Tuesday. Hugs, Peggy. I'm a new follower.
My Mother-in-Law sure believes in Vicks – she'd love this – I think there's a couple of uses that she might not be aware of! I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
Kathy
An ear ache? Really? COOL!
I am just loving your whole WWII series!
Congrats! I will be featuring you at my Super Link Party tomorrow (Wednesday)! 🙂
I remember my mom doing the rub and sock on me. I always seemed to work however I have never tried it on my kids. I should they all have sore throats right now.:( However I often rub it on their chests and feet.
I wish I had seen before all 3 of my kids have become sick. I am definitely picking up a jar for next time.. (or in case I am next.. LOL) You have been chosen as today's Dare to Share Feature of the Day.
Great ideas!! We always had Vick's in my house growing up! Thank you so much for sharing at A Bouquet of Talent this week. So thrilled to have you share. Hope you are having a great week. 🙂
Hugs
Kathy
Thanks for the great tips, will have to try them. Thanks for linking up to Artsy Corner 🙂
Oh wow, thanks for sharing!! 🙂
I would like to invite you to my linky party Thrifty Thursday!
appleofmamaseye.blogspot.com
Hope to see you there!
-Lindsey
Newest follower here! I found you through the blog hop. I love your blog, its super cute 🙂
You can find me at meandmr.com
-Melanie @meandmr.com
Believe it or not, we have no Vick's on hand. Looks like I better add it to my shopping list.
I've used it when my boys had a fall and got a bump on the head. It brings the swelling down and keeps it from bruising if you get it on quick enough. Tip from my mom. 🙂
Another use for Vicks is to rub on furniture if you have puppies as they dont like it and your furniture is safe. Wish I had known this before my foster had pups. From Ros, in Australia.
Feels great on fresh tattoos as well!
I just caught a terrible headache and my mother told me to put some Vicks and I put the Vicks and to my surprise I could not believe it the headache went away the pounding went away the sharpness and I had went away and I had to look it up to see if it’s true and to my surprise could be used for a lot of things
It does work great for headaches, it’s pretty amazing stuff!
I have always used it for chapped lips… put little on lips before bed in morning lips are super soft no more chap lips☺
My mom does the same thing and swears by it.
Bil
just be careful with applying around nostril and mouth, use only a small amount, Vicks has petroleum in it and
if it gets in your lungs you will have it there until your dying day. If you don’t believe me just ask your Dr.
Rub Vicks on your feet and ankles in the summer time and the ticks will stay away. They HATE IT! I was doing this to help me sleep at night when I discovered that my husband always had tons of ticks on him ,and I hardly had any! I wondered if it was the vicks, so the neck time I found one on his shirt, I picked it off and put it in the sink and smeared a thin circle around it with Vicks, to see what it would do. It was losing it’s MIND–running all around, trying to figure out how to get out of that circle, but not ever touching it, or crossing the line. It was a literal fence, keeping it in. Then, I pushed it into the vicks “fence” , and within a few minutes, it was dead.
Ticks breathe through their exoskeleton–they find us by our scent, and the smell of eucalyptus is too much for them. It just shuts them down.
My elderly Aunt used Vicks vapor rub to get rid of hemroids!
Putting Vicks on your uh… down there? I’d think that’d be extremely painful… If anyone reading this is gonna try using Vicks for this, I’d be careful!
I always use vicks on hubby and kids if they are feeling bloated. Just rub on their tummies snd keep warm. Relief within a few minutes.
Good to know, I hadn’t heard that one before.
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I am in a medical field but I’ve always believed how these stuff really works!
My mom proved it so many times how amazing VicksVaporub is since I was young.
Tho, I haven’t heard of using it for sore throat and wrapping with tube socks. I have a really bad sore throat since yesterday. It is so painful to swallow that I actually lost my appetite. I tried searching for the best way to solve my problem and I found this amazing trick. Tried it actually jst a couple hrs ago and now I am able to eat! Pain is MUCH bearable! Love this trick and will totally recommend it.
I also tried rubbing some on my feet and wore socks. Maan… these stuff are amazing! So blessed to find these! Thank you for sharing!
When young I feel off my bicycle several times a day and always landed on my elbows (which were always bloody with broken skin). My Mother would put Vick’s on them. It was amazing how the pain went away and the healing
scabs began. Best thing in the world for cuts and scrapes.
A really unusual trick. We had a male Siamese cat who was trying to tear our door down to go out to woo a female kitty in heat. Using a minuscule amount of Vicks rub I spread it gently around his nose. It worked to cool his ardor but to the day our Sassy cat went to heaven – anytime one of used vicks, he sought us out. It must have been a fond memory for him!
Wow, now that’s one that I never would have thought of! It did give me a good laugh though.
I use the vicks on my feet almost nightly, works great! I’m going to have to try it for sore muscles
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Amazing!!
Thank you! I especially like the one for coughs, it works great!
Can I please get on uour mailing list?
My mom and I use it to clear up bruises and for headaches, since it dilates the blood vessels.
Your giving unsound advice. You should never apply it under or in the nostrils. Neck and chest only. Never for children under two. Ingesting Vicks can cause a fatal reaction. Vicks, campho-phenique, and Ben-Gay can also cause fatal poisoning in children. Getting it in your eye can damage your cornea. Camphor must be used with caution. Backwoods remedies should be avoided and consultation with a medical professional is always advisable. The information I supplied can be found on the reputable Mayo Clinic website, as well as other medical websites.
I have used Vick’s for years and always will. My kids were raised on it. A little on the chest and it sure does help you sleep. I even tried it on my feet for a cough and it helped. Thanks for the many uses.😊
It’s amazing stuff!!
A generous amount on a deeply buried tick, will have it letting go in a short time. The petroleum jelly in the Vick’s shuts off its air supply and the active ingredients stops the irritation from the bite.
Its a good fire starter. I use it to start my stove fire or camp fire. Use this on cotton balls.
What a great use, I’ll have to add it to my list.
Thanks Maddy.
That’s what I came on here to try to find out, if it could be used as a fire starter.
It also works on Chapped lips. Just rub a bit on lips before bed, and in the morning, brush lips with an old toothbrush. Lips will be soft and smoothe again.
My Uncle swallowed a doll up everyday, and lived to be nearly 80. I’ve been called a Vicks addict my entire life. It literally saved my life (and burning hot steamy showers) when I had covid in late 19 here in Silicon Valley where the first cases in the USA were diagnosed.
That’s interesting, I’ve never heard of anyone swallowing it before.
Two more ideas: I sleep SO much better when I put a small amount of vicks in each nostril before bed.
Using Vick’s in each nostril eases my need to cough during allergy season, it “catches” the particles floating around in the air I’d otherwise breathe into my lungs.
My mother used to do the same thing, she swore it helped her breath better at not and lessened her snoring.