Shaving cream is something that everyone has a supply of in the home. We all need to shave, right? What most people don’t realize though is that there are dozens of alternative uses for shaving cream besides just helping you to shave.
In addition to its various skincare uses, there are all sorts of common household problems that shaving cream can fix too.
ADVERTISEMENT
From squeaky door hinges to carpet stains, this list will give you the lowdown on how you can make the most out of that can of shaving cream sitting in your cabinet. You might be surprised by just how many different uses there are for this everyday item. We’ve chosen 17 of our favorites to share with you today.
1. Get makeup stains out of your clothes.
It’s pretty easy to accidentally get a smudge of foundation on the collar of your shirt when taking it off. If this happens to you, don’t worry. Just pretreat the stain by spraying a little shaving cream on it. When you run the shirt through the wash afterward, the stain will come right out.
2. Treat carpet stains.
In the same way that shaving cream can help remove stains from clothes, it can also work on carpets. Apply the shaving cream to the stained area and scrub with a wet sponge. Then, let it sit overnight to dry. In the morning you can vacuum the remaining dried mess right up.
3. Remove dead skin from your feet.
Give yourself a pedicure at home with shaving cream and Listerine! First, apply the shaving cream to your dry feet to soften them up. Then combine equal parts Listerine and warm water in a bucket and soak a towel in the solution. With the shaving cream still on your feet, wrap them up with the towel and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then you can simply wipe away all the excess dead skin cells.
4. Polish chrome fixtures.
Shaving cream is a great way to get rid of hard water spots and grunge on the faucets and other chrome fixtures in your home. The good part about shaving cream compared to other cleaning solutions like Windex is that it is thick and will stay in place after you spray it on. It will have your faucets shining like new. In addition, shaving cream can also be used to polish stainless steel appliances like refrigerators.
5. Keep mirrors from fogging up.
We’ve all experienced it before. You step out of a steamy shower and the bathroom mirrors are totally fogged up. However, if you apply some shaving cream to your mirrors and then clean them off with a sponge and water, this will no longer happen. This tip should also work for shower doors and car windows.
6. Soothe sunburns.
Rub a menthol foam shaving cream over the burnt area just like you would lotion. It has a very soothing quality to it and will help to cool the burn. Let it sit for 30 minutes, then rinse. If the next day you still feel the burn, you might need to apply some more shaving cream for a second round of treatment.
7. Create a marble effect on fabric.
If you are artistically inclined, shaving cream actually works excellent for creating a cool marble effect on canvas or fabric. All you have to do is mix together shaving cream and fabric paint, then use toothpicks or pencils for swirling the paint. You can find the full tutorial with more detailed instructions here.
8. Clean up after painting your fingernails.
It’s much more gentle than nail polish remover. The shaving cream will remove any nail polish you accidentally got on your hands and fingers without affecting the coating on your nails. This technique works for cleaning house paint off of your hands as well.
9. Stop a door hinge from squeaking.
Squeaky door hinges are the worst. Luckily, shaving cream provides an easy fix. Spray some on the hinges and rub it around before wiping it off with a paper towel. This will provide some much-needed lubrication and prevent the squeaking in the future.
10. Get rid of red wine stains.
Shaving cream is such a versatile cleaning agent. In most cases, it’s even powerful enough to remove red wine stains from clothes. If you’ve accidentally spilled a glass and don’t know what to do, it’s worth a shot. The trick is acting fast. You want to massage the shaving cream into the stain ASAP and then get the clothing item into the wash.
11. Cleaning jewelry.
Shaving cream is strong enough to clean the grime and dirt off of jewelry items like rings and earrings without ruining the finish. It will leave them sparkling like new. Just place your jewelry in a bowl of shaving cream, rub it in, and let it sit for ten minutes before rinsing.
12. Make play foam for kids.
It’s one of the most amusing uses for shaving creams, although, potentially a bit messy. Add a few drops of food coloring to the shaving cream to make a colored play foam for kids. It’s best if they use it while taking a bath or while playing outside in the yard in their swimsuits so they can wash off afterward. The shaving foam and food coloring mix can also be used to paint on paper.
13. Fill up water balloons.
Another cool shaving cream activity for kids is to fill up water balloons with the foam. Shaving cream balloons are lightweight, fun, and won’t pop as easily as regular water-filled balloons. It’s a great way to mix things up and will provide the youngsters with hours of messy excitement. You can spray them down with the garden hose after they are done playing.
14. Remove grease from your hands.
You’ve just spent the afternoon completing a dirty DIY project or working on a car and now you are completely covered in grease. No big deal. Just reach for your can of shaving cream and spray some on. Work the cream around the grease spots for a while and the grease will rinse right off.
15. Break in a baseball glove.
New baseball gloves take a lot of breaking in before they finally become comfortable. Help speed up the process by rubbing some shaving cream on the leather. Then place a baseball in the glove amidst the shaving cream to help mold it to the right shape. Wrap the glove up tight with some cloth or twine and then let it sit overnight.
16. Use it as a hair gel replacement.
If you are in a crunch and out of hair gel or mousse, shaving cream can get the job done. It won’t have as strong of a hold as gels that are specifically designed for hair but it is reliable and will keep your hair looking nice and wavy. Start with a small amount and work it into your hair to get a feel for it, then apply more as necessary.
17. Get oil spots out of suede shoes.
Stains on suede shoes are hard to get out. However, shaving cream is a simple solution that some people swear by. Massage a small dab into the spot and then let it sit for a few minutes before wiping the area clean with a wet washcloth. After it dries, you might need to run a brush across the nap of the suede to unflatten it and get it back to its original look.
When we first found out about all these different uses for shaving cream, we couldn’t believe they were true. However, after some careful experimentation, we are now officially on board. It’s amazing how quickly shaving cream has become a regular staple in our household. It’s just so useful! Once you try a few of the items on this list out for yourself, you’ll see what we mean.