Sounds silly, I know. But I consider cotton balls to be the least wasteful for cleaning up little messes. Sure, they’re universally known for gently taking off eye makeup, cleaning scrapes, dabbing cuts, sanitizing tools and removing nail polish. But what about their less obvious uses?
Here are some of mine, and some I never knew:
—Spot clean toothpaste splatters on mirrors.
—Shine shoes with a little shoe polish and/or water.
—Soak in essential oils for natural air fresheners in drawers, shoes, car vents.
—Dip in petroleum jelly and store in waterproof container for lightweight fire starters in camping.
—Soak in witch hazel and citronella or eucalyptus as insect repellant for outdoor areas.
—Wedge between doors and frames to prevent slamming doors.
—Place in jewelry boxes with baking soda or chalk powder to slow or prevent tarnishing.
—Soak in 50/50 white vinegar and water, wrap around faucet bases to descale mineral deposits. (This works!)
—Soak in essential oil and drop in vacuum bag or cannister for pleasant scent.
—Soak in peppermint to repel mice and insects(ants).
—Soak in bleach to clean hard-to-reach corners of shower/tub, then rinse.
—Dampen with vanilla extract and place in the back of fridge to neutralize odors.
—Soak in distilled white vinegar and scatter in garden to repel critters, like bunnies.
The list goes on and on…and I intend to try more of these ideas. While I have always needed cotton balls, NOW they are something I have to have.
Click reply and tell me how you use cotton balls.