Most people associate petroleum jelly or Vaseline strictly with skin care routines using it to heal chapped lips or dry hands however this versatile product has numerous applications around the house that many are unaware of. It acts as an excellent lubricant and cleaning agent which can save time and money when dealing with common daily annoyances. One of the most practical hacks is using it as an instant shoe shiner for leather footwear. If you run out of shoe polish simply applying a small amount of petroleum jelly and buffing it with a clean cloth will restore the shine and make the shoes look brand new.Another frustrating problem that can be solved with this product involves stuck zippers on jeans jackets or bags. Instead of tugging effectively and potentially breaking the mechanism one can apply a thin layer of jelly along the zipper teeth to lubricate them allowing the slider to move freely again. Similarly petroleum jelly is highly effective for silencing squeaky door hinges. The oil based composition penetrates the hinge joints and reduces friction stopping the irritating noise almost immediately without the need for expensive commercial sprays.For families with young children walls often become a canvas for crayon art which is notoriously difficult to remove. A surprising use of petroleum jelly is applying it over the crayon marks which helps break down the wax allowing parents to wipe the stains away easily with a cloth without peeling off the wall paint. Additionally it proves useful in the kitchen for mixer jars that become jammed due to food residue or rust. Applying some jelly to the base of the jar can lubricate the stuck parts and loosen the mechanism making the appliance functional again.
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