Introduction: 10 Unusual Uses for Butter
Not only can you smear butter on your food, but it has some great uses around your home. This just goes to show that butter goes well with everything.
So grab that stick, and let's go make Paula Deen proud!
Step 1: De-Sticks
The natural oils in butter are perfect for combating any and everything sticky. If you've been crafting and got some glue on your hands, first rub them with butter before washing with soap and water.
After your in-home wax treatment, your legs are hair-free but still have some waxy remnants. Just like with the glue, rub a bit of butter on it, and the whole mess will wash off with soap and water.
Gum in your hair? Never fear! Apply softened butter to your locks, and the bubble gum will glide off pain-free.
Maybe you parked your car under and especially sappy tree, or perhaps got a bit over-enthusiastic while tree-hugging. If you've got sap all over, dislodge it by rubbing some soft butter on the spot with a cloth. Wipe away, and wash with soap and water.
If you're needing to cut up some sticky food (pies, dates, toffee, marshmallows, etc) spread a knife very thinly with butter before slicing in. It will slide through easily without sticking - and add a few more delicious calories to your plate.
Step 2: Around the House
If you're out of WD-40, or don’t have any oil, you can stop a door from squeaking by rubbing a little butter on the hinge.
To shine up cast iron, a small dab of butter on a cotton rag will make your metal look like new. This works well with other metals, as well.
Butter can also be used to add shine to your leather baseball gloves, jackets, belts, wallets, purses, etc. Because butter contains proteins, it has plenty of amino acids and won't hurt the leather. Simply rub a small amount of butter on your leather goods for a nice shine.
Step 3: Tough Pill to Swallow
Some people swear a spoon full of sugar does the trick - but if you're swallowing down horse pills, you need something more substantial. Pills covered with a light layer of butter will help the medicine go down.
Step 4: Beautify
These same proteins that are good for you leather are good for your own skin, too! Rub a small amount of butter around your hands, or other dry/damaged areas of skin. Rinse off with a mild soap and water, and you'll feel the difference. Butter also keeps cuticles soft and flexible, and fingernails less brittle.
Butter is excellent for treating skin irritations like a nasty rash. Rub a generous amount of butter on these irritations twice a day. Allow it to air for an hour or so each day. Cover with a bandage after applying the second daily coating of butter, and within a few days, the wound should be gone.
If you run out of shaving cream, and need smooth skin in a pinch, use a knob of butter on wet skin and get a nice, close shave.
Butter is also be an excellent substitute for hair conditioners. It provides essential amino acids to fine, limp hair. Comb a little butter through your hair after you use your regular shampoo. Rinse the butter with moderately warm water for a shiny, healthy head of hair. Take that Pantene Pro-V!
Step 5: Cat Training
Hey cat people - next time you move, butter your cat's paws before you let them outdoors for the first time at your new residence. Instead of darting out the door in a panic, the cat will sit down to lick the butter, which gives it a little time to become aware of it's surroundings. Not only is butter a tasty treat, but your cat's coat will be glossier, and the grease from the butter will keep furballs at bay.
Step 6: Prolongs Shelf Life
Leftovers? Butter can help. If you're worried about how long your hard cheeses will last, apply a light coat of butter to keep them fresh and free of mold. Each time you use the cheese, coat the cut edge with butter before you reewrap it and put it back in the fridge. This trick also works well for onions. Rub butter on the cut surface and wrap the leftover onion in aluminum foil before refrigerating it.
Step 7: Don't Boil Over
Stop pasta water from boiling over by adding a knob of butter to the water when boiling
Step 8: Ring Removal
Ever tried on a small ring and experienced that moment of panic when you can't get it off? Next time that happens, remove the ring by gently rubbing a little butter around your finger joint and easing the ring off. You may have to do it a few times until it slides off.
Step 9: Something Fishy
Sure, your fishing trip was a big success, but now your hands reek of fish. Rub some butter on your hands, wash with warm water and soap, and everything will smell clean and fresh again.
Step 10: If All Else Fails...
...and you're left with an obscene amount of butter, go ahead and carve a sculpture . Or experiment with a deep-fryer .
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235 Comments
2 years ago on Introduction
Thus is so true! I heard this from my Mexican friend. He lived on a farm growing up in Mexico, and his mom wanted to keep certain cats around to mouse the yards. She would put oleo on their paws...and they would stick around.....
2 years ago on Step 4
I have really bad eczema and butter is the most beautiful skin food and it just melts in to your skin and it hydrates you for hours i have never found anything that is better Oh the relief
7 years ago
Come on people it's BUTTER , you put it on your toast , you put it on your veggies , you put a whole lot on cooked ronies then a little sauce but you all don't be putting it on your feet , your cats , your burns ,your sticky hinges , etc , etc ,etc . Wow I can't believe you all , it's butter ! Use it for what it was intended for !
Reply 6 years ago
dude, chill out
Reply 7 years ago
Or, you can use it for many other things with great results. Could you imagine if Facebook was only used for what it was intended for? The reason it stopped being a college only thing was cuz people were using all sorts of methods to get around having to be in a specific college.
6 years ago
Butter can be frozen--unsalted butter SHOULD be frozen, until you are ready to use it. Otherwise it will become rancid.
6 years ago
Thank you, Kazmataz, for writing the article. The butter trick for my hands worked awesomely! I'd like to point out honey is also for eating and so is oatmeal. But I love my honey and oatmeal facial masks I make myself. I'd rather skip buying expensive facial and skin products so I can buy more groceries. And if anyone thinks it's silly to do anything with butter other than eating, why read an article entitled "10 Unusual Uses for Butter?"
6 years ago
I prefer my favorite use,
EAT IT!
7 years ago
Years ago, our cat pulled down a strip of flypaper. It was pulling his hair out and he was totally freaked out. I rubbed butter into his fur to remove the glue, and the cat was willing to calmly remove any excess butter.
7 years ago
Deep-fried butter.
7 years ago
A lot of these are actually the same this, it works great as a lubricant, probably worth repeating though.
Also it's worth noting, butter is a damn sight better for you than margerine if you are going to do something as mundane as eat it.
7 years ago
My wife was horrified when she found out I used WD-40 to get gum from my son's hair. Worked great though!
7 years ago
Oh, Ice Cubes is what Mom used for gum in the hair.
Reply 7 years ago
My mom used peanut butter. The oils destroy the gum's stickiness.
Reply 7 years ago
Piff Paff does it also
7 years ago
Another old home remedy that actually does work is to rub butter on a young baby's head to soften up cradle cap and get rid of it, my daughter had horrid cradle cap and we tried this as a last resort. Although it does make the baby smell odd but a normal bath and wash fixes that.
7 years ago
I've heard of that butter trick for burns along time ago. And disagreed with it when I tried it on a burn I had. Too this day people still pass that advice along! From a military friend he said to keep a bag of flour in the refrigerator. He said make a paste out of it and smear it on the burn. It works. Try it next time. Youl'll be amazed.
Reply 7 years ago
putting butter on a burn is plain stupid, it increases the burning and the subsequent cooling time as it "cooks"
WATER only and a lot of it for at least ten minutes!
Reply 7 years ago
First Aid always comes before treatment. water, Water, WATER.
7 years ago
As far as the fish odor goes, you have the same problem if you work with photographic developer. If you make dinner with onions, no matter how well you soap wash it, as soon as it hits the developer, the odor comes back. There are several sources for a hunk of stainless steel that looks like a river rock, but any stainless steel can be used. Wash your hands with warm water, using a piece of stainless steel as you would a bar of soap, and odors will be a thing of the past.