Vaseline is one of those inexpensive products that has probably been sitting in your bathroom cabinet for years. Most of us associate petroleum jelly with dry lips and skin, but I’ve found that some of its best uses have absolutely nothing to do with either.
Around the house, a small dab can solve quite a few of those little problems that are irritating enough to notice but not serious enough to warrant buying a special product. From a zipper that refuses to budge to the sticker residue left behind on a thrifted find, here are 13 annoying household problems Vaseline may be able to help with.
Squeaky Hinges
That squeak you hear every single time you open a cabinet or interior door may only need a little lubrication. Apply a very small amount of Vaseline to the hinge or moving joint, work it back and forth a few times, and wipe away any excess.
Zippers That Won’t Budge
Before giving up on a bag, jacket, cushion cover, or other item because the zipper keeps sticking, try a tiny dab of Vaseline. Carefully work it along the zipper teeth, avoiding the surrounding fabric as much as possible, then slowly move the zipper back and forth until it starts sliding more easily.
Rusty Tools
Moisture can be rough on tools stored in garages, sheds, and other humid spaces. Wiping a very thin coating of petroleum jelly over clean, dry metal can create a moisture barrier that helps protect it from rust between uses.
Scratches on Wood Furniture
A small scratch can suddenly become the only thing you see when you look at a table or dresser. For minor surface marks on some finished wood, rubbing in a tiny amount of Vaseline and buffing away the excess may make the scratch less noticeable, though it’s always smart to test it somewhere inconspicuous first.
Water Rings on Wood
Forgot to use a coaster again? For cloudy moisture marks on finished wood, apply a small amount of Vaseline to the affected area, let it sit, then gently buff it away with a soft cloth.
Sticker Residue That Won’t Come Off
Price tags and stickers have a way of peeling off while leaving half their adhesive behind. Rub a little Vaseline into the sticky residue to soften the adhesive, then gently wipe or scrape it away with something that won’t scratch the surface.
Nail Polish Bottles Glued Shut
If you’ve ever fought with a nail polish bottle that seemingly sealed itself permanently shut, dried polish around the neck is usually the culprit. After cleaning the rim, wipe a very thin layer of Vaseline around the threads to help keep the cap from sticking the next time you use it.
Dull Leather Shoes and Bags
You don’t necessarily need to pull out a specialty leather polish every time a pair of shoes starts looking dull. On compatible finished leather, a tiny amount of Vaseline buffed with a soft cloth can temporarily restore some shine, but test it on a hidden spot first, since it can darken or alter certain leathers.
Paint Stuck to Hardware
Painting around doorknobs, hinges, screws, and other small hardware can turn into a tedious cleanup job. A light coating of Vaseline on exposed metal before you paint can help prevent stray paint from sticking, making cleanup much easier afterward.
A Light Bulb That Keeps Sticking in the Socket
Removing an old bulb can be frustrating when the base seems determined to stay behind. For compatible fixtures, an extremely thin coating of petroleum jelly on the threads of a cool, unplugged bulb can help reduce sticking, but follow the bulb and fixture manufacturer’s guidance and never apply it to electrical contacts.
Drawer Tracks That Stick
A drawer that requires a full-body tug every time you open it gets old very quickly. Depending on the drawer material and construction, a small amount of Vaseline on appropriate nonporous sliding contact points may help it move more smoothly, although wax is generally a cleaner choice for unfinished wood-on-wood drawers.
Get gum off hard surfaces
A little petroleum jelly can help loosen gum stuck to some nonporous surfaces by working around its edges. Test the surface first because petroleum jelly can leave an oily mark on porous materials.
Make stubborn curtain rods or closet rods slide more easily
For compatible metal hardware, a light coating can reduce friction where pieces slide against one another.
