Fix (or Renew) a Stick Deodorant

Intro: Fix (or Renew) a Stick Deodorant

This happened to me last week while on a business trip. My deodorant stick broke and I was unable to get a new one before my appointment. Needless to say, the Florida sun in conjunction with the humidity makes deodorant more than just a good idea.
A broken deodorant stick is as useless as lips on a brick...or is it?

For this experiment, I'm going to add to my current one with one that broke earlier.

Here is what you are going to need:

2 deodorant sticks if you are combining, or 1 broken one if fixing.
1 dry paper towel
1 damp wash cloth
1 microwave

STEP 1: Setting Up

Depending on your microwave, you may need to remove the carousel plate and dolly in order to accommodate the height of your deodorant stick. If so, do this now.
Crank the remaining part all the way down to the bottom of the container. Most sticks ride on a solid platform, some do not. This way you are covered in either case plus it lowers the containers center of gravity so is is less likely to fall over.
If you are repairing one, place the broken part in top of the platform and turn the knob so it is lowered as far as possible.
If you are adding to one, this is also the time to add bits of the older one.

**Important** roll the damp wash cloth up and wrap around the base of the container. This helps to stabilize the container and also control any leaks in the remote chance the container gets over microwaved.

STEP 2: Now You're Cooking!

Start the microwave on high power. Mine is about middle of the road power-wise, so be careful not to over-cook yours. If there is a spill, clean up is easy for clear sticks. Simply wait for it to harden and peel it off.

Generally, clear sticks take 15 to 25 seconds while solids take about 45 to 60 seconds to melt completely. If yours isn't completely melted in the container, continue microwaving in 10 to 15 second intervals until melted.

**Standard McClown Warning** Caution! Contents HOT!

Note of interest: This brand I used is called 'Axe' and it had a foil label. Notice I said 'HAD a foil label', since it doesn't anymore. The fireworks weren't devastating or even spectacular in the least, but they were still there. It is reminiscent of microwaving a cd or dvd. The reason I mention this is to add the fact that you should be careful of any metal in the container ( although it is rare that any is used in them anymore) and remove any non-microwavable material.

STEP 3: Almost Done

Once finished, carefully remove from the microwave and let cool on a heat resistant surface where it is safe from being accidentally knocked over. Some people like to put theirs in the fridge or freezer until solid, but I think it does better if left to cool at room temperature.

STEP 4: The Finished Product

Once solid and cool, crank up and use. The one shown here has a line because I wanted to illustrate what can happen if you rush things by placing it in the fridge. It's still very much usable, but MAY separate at that line during use.

Comments

[karnasiemsen]

worked FOR ME!!!! THANKYOU!!!!1

[evajosie87]

Tried this with a Mitchum (for women) and it didn't work for 2 reasons: the "platform" only goes halfway down the container and the platform has holes in it, so when the deodorant melted, it all went through the holes to the bottom of the container. :(

[dchall8]

Uh, how do you break deodorant?

[xfirexstarzx]

I've had deoderant break from being dropped on the floor and from my bags being bumped around. I use Axe too, so maybe its just a problem with their method of securing the stick.

[Hoopajoo]

When the stick gets low or gets hot as mine did on a long flight, it tends to separate from the base during use.

[dchall8]

On long flights you can expect the outside air temp to approach minus 22 degrees F. High altitude means freezing cold temps, not hot. Besides you are using heat to repair them so heat probably is not the problem. Maybe it's freezing solid and breaking??? I've never had that happen in 40 or so years with plenty of cross country and international flights. When the stick gets low, there is some waste. Are you saying you can combine the 'tailings' from several sticks and sort of reload one?

[Hoopajoo]

Absolutely. You can even combine a few you like and experiment with scents. As for the flight, I don't fly commercial if I can at all help it. Every time I do, I end up getting very ill from one of the other passengers. I have a Cessna 337 that I fly for business. With an aluminum body, a sealed compartment traveling at 8k feet about 250 - 300 mph can get pretty hot. When I fly for 'Angel Wings', we are told to keep any organs or blood product in the cabin with us just for this reason. Hope this clarifies things some. I didn't think I'd need to explain how it can happen, just how to fix it if it does.

[casey321b]

yea experimenting sounds cool. axe with tag and old spice. that would smell bad.

[Kaiven]

yeah... and put it in a butter pen lol!!

[sharlston]

what is a butter pen?

[Kaiven]

Look it up. It is an instructable :D

[casey321b]

I love butter pens I made a couple...

[Kaiven]

My mother won't let me. :( She says that something meant for your pits should never have food in it.

[casey321b]

I used a glue stick or chap stick for mini's work too. try it out. I mean its not for your pits. and chapstick goes on your lips.

[Kaiven]

Hmm.. yeah... but... I FOUND AN ALL NATURAL DEO STICK! by arm and hammer :P It has no warnings of ingesting the deo :D

[taraist]

There are lots of deoderant brands with more natural ingredients than arm and hammer. Toms of Maine, Jason, Dessert Essence, etc. Though if its a really big deal try getting a new one online that has never been filled with anything. Chapstick is a great idea except they usually are very small. There's a brand called "lipsyl" or something thats green and tan with bees that raise and lowers instead of using a screw through the middle. Plus it's a little larger. You could perhaps use it to store honey butter(since it's got the bees)!!

[sconniebabe]

deoderant breaks all the time. You drop it, and it breaks inside the tube. THen you get a nice little surprise weeks later, when you click it up, and it falls off...

[fizzle7033]

Aw man I hate when that happens! Thanks!