9 Baby Oil Repurpose Ideas

Baby oil is useful for a lot of things beyond baby bottoms. It'll smooth, soften, lubricate, refinish, clean, and so much more. It also has some usual uses for which it really oughtn't be used. Read on for some tips and tricks that'll help you step your baby oil game up.

1. Remove a band-aid

You can eliminate —or at least, significantly lessen—the ‘ouch’ factor, and subsequent tears, when removing a child’s band-aid by first rubbing some baby oil into the adhesive parts on top and around the edges. If you see the band-aid working loose, let the child finish the job to help them overcome their fear. Adults who have sensitive skin may also want to try this.

2. Buff up your golf clubs

Don’t waste your money on fancy cleaning kits for your chrome-plated, carbon-steel golf club heads. Just keep a small bottle filled with baby oil in your golf bag along with a chamois cloth or towel. Dab a few drops of oil on the cloth and polish the head of your club after each round of golf.

3. Slip off a stuck ring

Is that ring jammed on your finger again? First lubricate the ring area with a generous amount of baby oil, then swivel the ring around to spread the oil under it. You should be able to slide the ring off with ease.

4. Polish leather bags and shoes

Just a few drops of baby oil applied with a soft cloth can add new life to an old leather bag or pair of patent leather shoes. Don’t forget to wipe away any oil remaining on the leather when you’re done.

5. Hide scratches on dashboard plastic 

You can disguise scratches on the plastic lens covering the odometer and other indicators on your car’s dash by rubbing over them with a bit of baby oil.

6. Remove acrylic paint from skin

Did you get almost as much paint on your face and hands as you did on the bathroom you just painted? You can quickly get acrylic paint off your skin by first rubbing it with some baby oil, followed by a good washing with soap and hot water.

7. Make your own bath oil 

Do you have a favorite perfume or cologne? You can literally bathe in it by making your own scented bath oil. Simply add a few drops of your scent of choice to 1/4 cup (50 ml) baby oil in a small plastic bottle. Shake well and add it to your bath.

8. Clean your bathtub or shower 

Remove dirt and built-up soap scum around your bathtub or shower recess by wiping surfaces with 1 teaspoon (2 ml) baby oil on a moist cloth. Use another cloth to wipe away any leftover oil. Finally, spray the area with a disinfectant cleaner to kill any remaining germs. This technique is also great for cleaning soap film and water marks from glass shower doors.

9. Shine stainless steel sinks and chrome trim 

Pamper your dull-looking stainless steel sinks by rubbing them down with a few drops of baby oil on a soft, clean cloth. Rub dry with a towel and repeat if necessary. This is also a terrific way to remove stains on the chrome trim of your kitchen appliances and bathroom fixtures.