8 Extraordinary Uses of Baby Powder

Discover 8 extraordinary and simple ways to use a baby powder at home.

Give sand the brush-off

When you return from a day at the beach, do you find that some of the beach has come back with you? Minimize the mess by sprinkling some baby powder over sand-covered, sweaty, kids (and adults) before they enter the house. In addition to soaking up excess moisture, baby powder makes sand incredibly easy to brush off.

Cool sheets in summer

Are those sticky, hot bedsheets giving you the summertime blues when you should be deep in dreamland? Cool things down by sprinkling a bit of baby powder between your sheets before hopping into bed on warm nights.

Dry-shampoo your pet

Give your dog’s coat a waterless cleaning by rubbing a few handfuls of baby powder into his fur. Let it settle in for a couple of minutes and follow up with a good brushing. Your dog will look and smell great! You can also dry- shampoo your own hair with the same technique.

Absorb grease stains on clothing

Frying food can be a dangerous business—especially for your clothes. If you get a grease splatter on your clothing, try dabbing the stain with some baby powder on a powder puff. Make sure you rub it in well, then brush off any excess powder. Repeat until the mark is gone.

Remove mold from books

If your stored books have gotten a bit moldy or mildewed, here’s what you can do. First, air-dry them, then sprinkle baby powder between the pages and stand them upright, pages fanned open, for several hours. Afterwards, gently brush out the remaining powder in each book. Now, they’ll be in much better shape.

Slip on your rubber gloves

Don’t try jamming and squeezing your fingers into your rubber gloves when the powder layer inside the gloves wears out. Instead, give your fingers a light dusting with baby powder. Your rubber gloves should slide on as easily as they did when they were new.

Dust off flower bulbs

Savvy gardeners use medicated baby powder to dust flower bulbs before planting them. Place 5 to 6 bulbs with 3 tablespoons (45 ml) baby powder in a sealed plastic bag and give it a few gentle shakes. The medicated powder coating helps reduce the chance of rot and keeps away grubs and other bulb-munching garden pests.

Clean your playing cards

Here’s a simple way to keep your playing cards from sticking together. Place the cards in a plastic bag along with a bit of baby powder, seal the bag, and give it a few good shakes. They’ll feel fresh and smooth again.