More than fifty years ago, the first shampoo specifically designed for shampooing babies' hair without irritating the eyes burst onto the market, but the uses for baby shampoo don't end there. Before you put the bottle of baby shampoo back on the tub ledge, consider some alternative uses for the shampoo in your home.
Wash the Dog
Baby shampoo is as gentle on dogs as it is on babies and is often cheaper than pet-specific shampoos. Because dogs tend to wiggle and shake when wet, you usually run the risk of getting soap in the dog's eyes; but when using baby shampoo, you no longer have to worry about soap burning the dog's eyes.
Makeup Removal
The no-tears formula isn't only for infants. A drop of baby shampoo and a little warm water makes a gentle solution for washing away eye makeup, particularly waterproof mascara.
Shaving Cream
If you forgot to purchase shaving cream on your last trip to the supermarket, use baby shampoo instead. Baby shampoo creates a gentle lather and softens your skin like it does a baby's hair.
Remove Gum from Fur
Dogs are known for rolling in gum or other sticky substances, then bringing them back inside on their fur. Before Rover can transfer the sticky treat onto your couch, squeeze a bit of baby shampoo onto the sticky substance and gently pull it off the strands of fur.
Fix a Shrunken Sweater
No matter how careful you try to be, sometimes garments get thrown in the dryer that should have been air-dried. If your favorite sweater is the victim of a laundry faux pas, fix it with baby shampoo. Simply fill your kitchen sink with warm water, add a bit of baby shampoo and stir the water with your hand to mix it up. Let your sweater soak in the water for 15 minutes, then rinse it with cool water. Press the sweater flat to squeeze out excess water, and then stretch it back into shape.
Bubble Bath
At the end of a long, hard day, fill the bathtub with hot water, squeeze in a little baby shampoo and slip into a relaxing bath of tear-free suds. The shampoo will clean your skin and soften it, too.
Stuck Metal
If you have a zipper or a nut or bolt that won't budge, baby shampoo may be the answer. Place a drop of baby shampoo on a stuck zipper and rub it into the zipper with your finger. In a couple of minutes, the zipper should move easily. Wipe away the excess baby shampoo with a cotton ball and don't worry about the residue; it will wash away the next time you launder the garment. For stubborn nuts and bolts, place a drop of baby shampoo on top of the bolt thread and allow it to seep under the nut. Wait a couple of minutes, then loosen the nut as usual.
Bandage Removal
You don't have to shut your eyes, count to three and rip a bandage from your skin any longer. Simply apply a drop of baby shampoo to the bandage and rub it over the surface so that it seeps through the air holes. Wait a couple of minutes, then pull the bandage off with no fanfare.
References
- Johnson & Johnson: Transformational Ideas
- CBS News: How to Wash Fido
- "Everyday Cheapskate's Greatest Tips"; Mary Hunt; 2005
- "Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things"; Marilyn Bader, Serena Harding, Beth Kalet, Kathryn Kasturas, Michael Kaufman, Steven Schwartz, Anita Seline, Angelique B. Sharps, Delilah Smittle, Amy Ziffer; 2005
Member Comments