9 Aspirin Repurpose Hacks
This common pain reliever can be used long after that headache goes away. Aspirin is more than just a pain reliever. Variations of aspirin have had a variety of other uses, going back to the ancient Egyptians. We've asked around and here are some ways that you can use aspirin long after that headache goes away. Discover a few unusual ways to use Aspirin at home.
1. Revive dead car batteries
If you get behind the wheel only to discover that your car’s battery has given up the ghost—and there’s no one around to give you a jump—you may be able to get your vehicle started by dropping two aspirin tablets into the battery. The aspirin’s acetylsalicylic acid will combine with the battery’s sulphuric acid to produce one last charge. Just make sure that you drive to your nearest service station pronto to find a longer-term solution.
2. Remove perspiration stains
Before you give up all hope of ever getting that perspiration stain out of your good white dress shirt, try this: crush 2 aspirins and mix the powder in 1/2 cup (125 ml) warm water. Soak the stained part of the garment in the solution for around 2 to 3 hours.
3. Restore hair color
Swimming in a chlorinated pool can have a noticeable, and often unpleasant, effect on your hair coloring if you have light-colored hair. But you can usually return your hair to its former shade by dissolving 6 to 8 aspirins in a glass of warm water. Rub the solution thoroughly into your hair and let it set for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse.
4. Treat hard calluses
Soften hard calluses on your feet by grinding 5 or 6 aspirins into a powder. Make a paste by adding 1/2 teaspoon (2 ml) each lemon juice and water. Apply the mixture to the affected areas, then wrap your foot in a warm towel and cover it with a plastic bag. After staying off your feet for at least 10 minutes, remove the bag and towel and file down the softened callus with a pumice stone.
5. Control dandruff
If your dandruff problem is getting you down, keep it in check by crushing 2 aspirins into a fine powder and adding it to the normal amount of shampoo you usually use. Leave the mixture on for 1 to 2 minutes, then rinse well and wash again with plain shampoo.
6. Apply to insect bites and stings
Control the inflammation caused by mosquito bites or bee stings by wetting your skin and rubbing an aspirin over the spot. Of course, if you are allergic to bee stings—or have difficulty breathing, develop abdominal pains, or feel nauseated following a bee sting—seek expert medical attention at once.
7. Help cut flowers last longer
It’s a tried-and-true way to keep roses and other cut flowers fresher longer: put a crushed aspirin in the water before adding your flowers. Other household items that you can put in the water to extend the life of your flower arrangements include a multivitamin, 1 teaspoon (5 ml) sugar, a pinch of salt, and baking soda. Don’t forget to change the vase water every few days.
8. Use as garden aid
Aspirin is not only a first-aid essential for you, but for your garden as well. Some gardeners grind it up for use as a rooting agent, or mix it with water to treat fungal conditions in the soil. But be careful when using aspirin around plants; too much of it can cause burns or other damage to your greenery. When treating soil, the typical dosage should be a half or a full aspirin tablet in 1 quart (1 l) water.
9. Dry up pimples
Even those of us who are well past adolescence can get the occasional pimple. Put the kibosh on those annoying blemishes by crushing an aspirin and moistening it with a bit of water. Apply the paste to the pimple and let it sit for a couple of minutes before washing it off with soap and water. The aspirin paste will reduce the redness and soothe the sting. If the pimple persists, repeat the procedure as needed until it’s gone.