15 Ways Baby Powder Can Solve Your Household Problems

Baby powder, also known as talcum powder, can solve so many problems. This magical tool can do far more than just soften your baby’s skin. You can apply some under your arms on a hot day to avoid sweating, and it will even have your armpits smelling great! You can also use it as pet shampoo, and it can even eliminate those nasty odors emanating from your shoes.

Today, Bright Side is going to tell you about the many ways you can use baby powder to make your life at home easier and more pleasant.

1. Use as a pet shampoo

Most of us have seen how baby powder can be used as a dry shampoo for humans, and this amazing powder can also be used as pet shampoo too.

After playing around all day, your dog may have a lingering odor. To get rid of this smell and oil buildup, just rub some baby powder on their fur, then let it sit for a couple of minutes before rubbing it off. This will have their coats looking so fresh and so clean.

2. Eliminate odors from shoes

When worn a lot, shoes tend to have a bad odor because we are constantly sweating in them. To get rid of the gross smell, sprinkle some of this magic powder in your shoes overnight, and when you wake up, remove it before heading out. As the powder absorbs moisture, it will eliminate any bad odors.

3. Keep those ants away!

It seems like ants aren’t the biggest fans of baby powder! Sprinkle some in areas of your home where ants congregate, like in the floor cracks, to keep them at bay. This is especially useful when you’re having a picnic — just sprinkle a circle of baby powder around your food to avoid having to share any with those annoying ants.

4. Refresh your skin

Baby powder is a great aftershave, for both men and women. After shaving, apply some to your skin to avoid irritation. This is especially useful for people with sensitive skin that tend to get razor bumps. It is much cheaper than your regular aftershave, and it does the job just as well.

5. Quiet squeaky floorboards

Squeaky floorboards can be extremely annoying, and to finally put them on mute, sprinkle some baby powder into the cracks for a more peaceful and quiet home.

6. Use as a deodorant

If you’re out of deodorant, you don’t need to go about your day worrying about the bad smells coming from your armpits. Rub a handful of baby powder under your arms after a shower to have you smelling great. Also, it will keep your underarms fresh and help you avoid the buildup of any bad odors.

7. Moisturize your skin

Baby powder is great at moisturizing, especially after removing the dead skin from cracked heels and other rough patches. Rub a little baby powder on the affected area to eliminate irritation and keep your skin looking and feeling good.

8. Keep your closet smelling fresh

When closets or drawers get a little musty, it can cause an unpleasant, lingering odor. Put some baby powder into a jar and leave it in your closet for a few hours or overnight.

This will absorb the moisture and have your closet back to smelling like it should. It can also be used on carpets and to remove the stubborn smells from cigarette smoke.

9. Make your playing cards feel smoother

Applying baby powder to your deck is an old school trick to keep your playing cards smooth and easy to shuffle. New cards often tend to stick to each other, so put them in a Ziploc bag with some baby powder, give it a nice shake, and voila! This will make them much smoother and easier to handle.

10. Avoid chafing and skin irritation

This trick is particularly useful to joggers who live in warm climates as they are prone to chafing and skin irritation. Before heading out for a run, sprinkle the powder onto areas that are usually affected and it will create a smooth barrier, helping you to avoid friction and chafing as you exercise.

11. Avoid swollen feet

There is nothing classier than heels, but any woman will tell you that wearing them for a long time is far from comfortable! It can make your feet swell, and to avoid this common problem, sprinkle some baby powder in them before wearing them. This will also prevent you from getting irritating blisters.

12. Prevent your flowers from rotting

To protect your precious harvest and keep your plants from rotting due to annoying pests, sprinkle some baby powder over the roots to keep insects at bay.

13. Soothe your eczema

If you suffer from eczema and feel like the affected areas become itchy and hot during the day, apply some baby powder to soothe the symptoms and avoid itchiness (and the scratching that follows), which makes the condition worse.

14. Make lipstick last longer

To help your lipstick stay on for longer, after applying, put a sheet of tissue over your lips, and lightly dust some baby powder over the tissue. Then, apply a second coat of lipstick, and you’re good to go!

15. Freshen up the litter box

Sprinkle baby powder into your feline friend’s litter box to never have it smelling bad again. Also, to keep it smelling good between cleanings, keep a jar or cup of baby powder on top of the litter box.

Do you have any baby powder lying around? If you do, have you ever used it in any of the ways listed above? We would love to hear about your experience in the comments! Also, if you know of any other great uses for baby powder, please let us know!