11 Unusual Uses for Baby Oil

 by wilgubeast
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chapter_babyoil.jpg
Have you heard that joke about baby oil? The one that goes something like:

If corn oil is made with corn and peanut oil is made with peanuts, then what is baby oil made with?

The answer: Baby oil is made with mineral oil and fragrance by industrial professionals; babies don't have the fine motor skills or chemistry knowledge to create baby oil, duh.

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.
 
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Step 1: First, some don'ts

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Don't use baby oil as a "personal" lubricant, particularly if you are using a latex condom. (Just look at the next step to see who wins in the latex vs. baby oil battle royale.)

Don't use baby oil to tan. Melanoma looks bad enough without being shiny.

Don't eat baby oil. It has laxative properties and likely doesn't taste delicious. (Mineral oil is safe for human consumption, but only up to around 100 mg. Many of those milligrams come from food-grade mineral oil that's used in baking and other industrial food processing places because it's odorless and tasteless. My guess is that baby oil mineral oil isn't food-grade. Stay safe: don't guzzle a bottle of it.)

Don't use it in your 2-stroke engine.

Don't aim baby oil at helicopter pilots. Wait... that's for lasers. But you should still be careful around helicopter pilots with baby oil. It can be a slip-fall hazard, and pilots prefer the scent of aviation fuel.
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Lillfot says: Apr 11, 2013. 1:01 PM
Heh, it ain't winter here in Sweden if it's above -10°C. Tough it out! :)
miles-fisher says: Mar 27, 2011. 6:26 AM
Baby oil is also useful for stopping creaking floor boards. Just trickle a small amount on the joint and hey presto.
eight in reply to miles-fisherMar 27, 2011. 6:37 AM
Talc is far better !
dejure in reply to eightMar 27, 2011. 7:10 PM
While you are generally right, insofar as noise is concerned, it depends on the situation and effects you are seeking.

Creaking is the result of shrinking of the wood caused by loss of moisture. If appropriate, oil can swell the wood and reduce noise. On the West Coast, decks often look horrible in the summer, after they've dried and shrunk back down, revealing cracks and splits. Oil, when it soaks into the wood, has the same swelling effect as water, but without rot problems and it doesn't evaporate at the rate water does.

Similar to with decks, mineral oil is good for butcher blocks. I have restored them by merely slathering on mineral oil (not adulterated mineral oil, like baby oil). After soaking for a few days, all the separations between pieces and cracks from drying disappeared.
Bosun Rick in reply to dejureMar 27, 2011. 9:26 PM
If it's 'Baby Oil', how can it be 'adulterated', wouldn't it become Matured Oil?
I need to go to bed, this is getting to me!!
dejure in reply to Bosun RickJan 22, 2013. 10:24 AM
Groan
KittyF in reply to Bosun RickMar 28, 2011. 6:02 AM
baby oil has added scent, which wouldn't be a good thing for a Butcher block or cutting board where food is going to be prepared. using plain mineral oil is a better option in that case.
gloriaflower in reply to KittyFMar 28, 2011. 6:31 AM
using any petroleum based product near food is a bad idea.....walnut oil, etc. better for wood surfaces that are used for food.
KittyF in reply to gloriaflowerMar 28, 2011. 4:36 PM
well, that's very true and I'd never thought of walnut oil. I was only commenting on the inadvisability of adding baby oil scent to food. LOL next time I have trouble with a cutting board I'll find some walnut oil rather than tossing it.
static in reply to KittyFMar 30, 2011. 9:51 PM
Vegetable oils can turn rancid (and generally does in time), that's why mineral oil is recommended for wood surfaces that come in contact with food. Mineral safe for human use can be found at the pharmacy.
gloriaflower in reply to KittyFMar 28, 2011. 6:15 PM
good idea, I sometimes refinish wooden bowls, and walnut oil while somewhat expensive is really worth it, you really don't need much, just let it dry and buff it with a soft cloth
dejure in reply to KittyFMar 28, 2011. 5:22 PM
Just for reference, be aware walnut cooking oil is a hardening oil, whereas mineral oil is a non hardening oil.

Hardening oils include oils like tung oil and boiled linseed oil. While both would be poisonous to ingest. "Boiled" linseed oil is flax seed oil with heavy metals added to speed hardening (polymerization). It tends to darken wood. Tung oil often has heavy metals added too, but would be toxic without them. It and walnut oil do not darken wood like boiled linseed oil.

Hardening oils take time to harden. If they are pre-polymerized and have hardeners added, they will dry quicker. In any event, all excess hardening oil should be wiped off, or it will orange peel, and will take longer to dry.

Many people use olive oil to treat wood food preparation surfaces. However, olive oil goes rancid (lots of free radicals) from exposure to air. You can usually smell a breadboard treated with olive oil.

When any standard finish (e.g., shellac, polyurethane, lacquer, hardening oil) hardens, it is considered safe for food grade finishes.

While I agree mineral oil probably isn't something we should be drinking, the amount you would get on your food, after treating a butcher block or bread board would not be significant. Too, after treating with mineral oil, you can put a hardening oil or other oil compatible finish on to seal in the oil.
flamesami in reply to dejureDec 12, 2011. 11:24 AM
linseed oil does not have to be "boiled" to harden, it will just take longer (a few weeks instead of a few days) and therefore penetrate further. An example of a vegetable oil that stays liquid is sweet almond oil...almond and walnut oil can be toxic if not pressed a certain way though
dejure in reply to flamesamiSep 1, 2012. 4:17 PM
Linseed oil is not actually boiled. It is said it got its name because it appeared to be boiling, as air was blown through it to speed up polimyerization.

Linseed oil is made from flax seed. After it is put through a process, which often includes adding heavy metal driers, it is called boiled linseed oil.
flamesami in reply to dejureSep 13, 2012. 3:00 AM
huh, I didn't know that. Are you sure? I would think that if you blew air through the oil, it would harden pretty fast and would therefore not keep well. It was my understanding that heating the oil changed it so that it reacted faster with oxygen, but as long as it wasn't exposed to air, it would keep, without polymerizing (setting).
Like I said before, pure linseed oil will still harden/oxidize/set, but a lot slower than boiled linseed.
d_j_h in reply to eightMar 27, 2011. 5:38 PM
I second that talc is better. So is graphite.
While oil works perfectly well enough, in a floor it also attracts dirt and eventually becomes sludge whereas the dry lubricants do not.
The same goes for lubricating door lock keyholes.
dejure in reply to d_j_hSep 1, 2012. 4:37 PM
Talc works extremely well to stop squeaking resulting from two wood surfaces moving against each other. The most common example might be oak flooring. The squeaking could be from the flooring moving on the subflooring or movement against an adjacent board.

If the squeaking is from subflooring moving against the support beam, talc will do nothing to solve the problem, since the talc could not get to the trouble spot.
dejure says: Mar 27, 2011. 7:31 PM
For those of you interested in treating your furniture with lemon oil products, be aware the "lemon oil" products you purchase downtown are just mineral oil with a lemon scent. Using straight mineral oil will give you the same effect.

If your furniture isn't coated with wax, whether from Pledge or some other product, you can apply "tung oil finish," pure tung oil (polymerized is preferred) or boiled linseed oil. The latter two may emit an odor longer than the finish, which is just thinned linseed oil with resin, thus, a wiping finish. These will harden and, if thinned for application (the finish is already thinned), will soak in just as the mineral oil would.
gnach in reply to dejureMar 27, 2011. 10:48 PM
And the shiny oil attracts and holds dust which accumulates to grime.
dejure in reply to gnachOct 2, 2012. 10:50 AM
A day or so after application, the "shinny oil" finish no more attracts dust than does a varnish, shellac or lacquer finish.

Boiled linseed oil (just flax seed oil with [toxic] driers added, and which has been polymerized by blowing air through it so it appears to be boiling, thus the name "boiled linseed oil") and tung, or Chinese oil, as well as products that incorporate those names (e.g., "Tung Oil Finish") are hardening finishes. Boiled linseed oil and tung oil are common ingredients in high end finishes.
gnach in reply to dejureOct 2, 2012. 8:58 PM
But now you're you're no longer taking about mineral oil but catalyzing finishes. Baby oil doesn't harden and as the solvent evaporates you are left with the oily residue. FIY, back in the day and in the 5 gallon drum, linseed oil WAS boiled, hence the name, which caused the molecule chains to polymerize. We used to use it on wooden ladders, A frame and extension, in electrical service. A warm sunny day would soften the finish and give a little extra "grip".
dejure in reply to gnachOct 3, 2012. 10:19 AM
After more digging, it seems you are also correct, regarding some processes (e.g., boiling). It should be noted those information resources indicate very controlled conditions in the process (i.e., no oxygen). One site (http://www.sydneywoodturners.com.au/site/articles/finishing/oils.html) gives details.
gnach in reply to dejureOct 5, 2012. 9:10 AM
Thank you dejure. I wasn't contradicting you in my first reply. I was agreeing that lemon oil is just scented mineral oil as is baby oil. Modern technologies have made great improvements in finishes. It's come a long way from crushed beetle shells or tallow. And getting better all the time. I've been a fan of catalyzed oils for a long time but they still require maintenance to keep it's protection and appearance.
dejure in reply to gnachOct 3, 2012. 10:05 AM
Sorry, since your statement about "shiny oil" didn't make clear which oil referenced in my post would attract dust, I wanted to make clear the fact boiled linseed oil and tung oil, once hard and "shiny," would not.

Since the last of my post talked about hardening oils, as opposed to [non hardening] baby oil, I presumed people would note the difference, The difference in the types of oils is noted several posts down from this.

For reference, below is a quote from.jamestowndistributors site. Other sites can be found that describe the process. Batches could be ruined by overheating, such as by bringing them to a boil. That may be why a finish which would not normally melt "gave more traction when hot.

"'Boiled' linseed oil, though, is not boiled. The actual boiling of some varnish oils changes their drying characteristics. With linseed oil, though, it is the addition of certain solvents that causes linseed oil to dry more quickly, acting as if it were boiled. This makes it a better product for preserving tool handles, decks, and furniture. I suppose they should have named it "sort-of-boiled linseed oil", or "kinda-like-boiled-but-not-really-boiled linseed oil". Boiled Linseed Oil is used as a natural wood finish and preservative, either alone or with other oils and solvents. Mixed with oil based paints and varnishes, it increases gloss and improves leveling and durability. A mixture of 2 parts boiled linseed oil to one part turpentine creates a semi-gloss wood polish for furniture. Can also be mixed with mineral spirits."

As elsewhere noted, the term boiled, when applied to boiled linseed oil, is said to be based on that the oil appeared to be boiling, when air was blown through the oil to speed polymerization.
nax says: Mar 29, 2011. 10:49 PM
Why? Olive oil is much nicer.
dejure in reply to naxOct 2, 2012. 10:35 AM
Olive oil is prone to going rancid. For that reason, products to treat wood cutting boards/blocks and other surfaces use the petroleum based mineral oil.
muldoon man says: Mar 14, 2012. 7:31 PM
I've read that mineral oil is a non-conductive liquid. Because of this unique property I've seen people who have literally dropped a computer into a fish tank filled with mineral oil. Allegedly they work great, it's like poor man's liquid cooling.
rams666 in reply to muldoon manMay 3, 2012. 11:37 PM
it provides better cooling than fans and its noiseless and it has the possibility to be further cooled thus allowing you to overclock your system well above the norm
STCVKR says: Apr 6, 2012. 10:01 AM
Another use: Remove temporary tattoos from skin.
backscan says: Jan 9, 2012. 10:36 AM
A little less common use for baby oil is it's perfect for storing sodium or potassium as long as you make sure it's pure mineral oil (no perfumes)
evilution says: Dec 11, 2011. 3:30 PM
Baby oil is also very good for cleaning silicone "toys" and silicone hoses on your car.
wilgubeast (author) in reply to evilutionDec 12, 2011. 11:05 AM
Nice! I hadn't considered that. Bonus points for showing us a picture of the automotive cleaning use. (And by bonus points, I mean a 3 month pro membership.)
evilution in reply to wilgubeastDec 13, 2011. 2:48 PM
Hopefully this will have worked, it was just a quick wipe with baby oil and a dirty paper roll. Takes the dirt off and gives it the shine back.

Also, to add to the list again (and as unlikely as this sounds it's a good one)...

If you eat something really spicy and your mouth is burning and you can't stand it, if you swill some baby oil in your mouth and spit it out it will take the burning away.

This is because the capsicum is usually an oil so it's hydrophobic. Water has no reaction, doesn't suspend it so doesn't lessen the burning. Swilling baby oil suspends the capsicum, "waters it down" and allows you to spit it out.
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thinkiam says: Mar 28, 2011. 7:14 AM
My mom used to put warm honey in my ear when I had swimmers ear. The honey, which was denser than the water, would "push" the water out. I have no memory of how she got the warm honey out of my ear!?!
bryan3141 in reply to thinkiamDec 11, 2011. 9:46 AM
old diver's remedy for swimmer's ear: grab a bottle of rum, a shot glass and a thimble. Pour rum into the shot glass and the thimble. pour the shot down your throat, the thimble full in your ear. Repeat till no pain is felt.
wilgubeast (author) in reply to bryan3141Dec 12, 2011. 10:56 AM
That sounds like it would absolutely work over the short term. Until the rum's gone. Or until it gets too difficult to pour rum into a thimble.
MissCindel in reply to thinkiamMar 28, 2011. 9:01 AM
That's pretty cool = I have a version of Swimmer's Ear that water = a worse mess. And so far I see to be allergic to the commercial ear cleaner on the market. I use to go to the doctor's to be "flushed, and vacuumed" but that is really spendy. I switched to ear candling but that takes at least two people and makes a smokey mess.
All that to say: if you find out what cleaned out the honey = I'd sure like to know! :*)
Javin007 in reply to MissCindelMar 31, 2011. 7:02 AM
I would strongly, strongly, strongly recommend against ear candling. Ear candling is a farce. The physics alone make the concept that it "draws" ANYTHING out of your head completely and physically impossible. The wax found inside the cones after they've burnt is the wax from the candle itself, not from your head. Normally, I'd say, "If you wanna blow your money on a pointless, useless, hoax 'remedy' then no harm, no foul" except that many, many people have been permanently damaged by ear candling, have gotten severe burns INSIDE their ear canals, and have even ruptured ear drums when scalding wax manages to hit them directly. Ear candling has not only been completely proven that does not work, but it's even dangerous. For this reason, you can't even purchase ear candles (legally) in Canada.
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/med/ear-oreille-eng.php
MissCindel in reply to Javin007Mar 31, 2011. 11:06 AM
Thank you for your strong warning.
I have personal experience with ear candles and can say honestly that the draft created does remove wax from my ears. Once, out of curiosity, I purchased some just to unwind them and see if all the junk that I was seeing at the end of a session had already been snuck into the ear candle. None of the wax that appeared to have been removed from my ears was pre-existing in any of the four I disemboweled.
Do I think they are dangerous? I think anything involving fire has the potential to do great harm. The candles I've used do not contain excess wax, I know this because there have never been wax droplets after/during their burning. When I run the tip of my finger on the inside of the wide end of an ear candle I feel the material only because the wax coating is on the outside.
cjmills in reply to MissCindelMar 28, 2011. 12:08 PM
I've also used peroxide to "boil" my ears out when faced with swimmers ear/severe sinus infection that settles in my ears. It seems to have worked well with no ill effects thus far.
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