I recently witnessed a friend stick her newly engaged finger in a jar of mayonnaise — much to my surprise. As I applauded her for worrying more about losing circulation than about getting a little grease on her shiny, new bauble, I got to thinking, what other little miracles could everyday mayo perform? It turns out, it definitely earns its shelf space in the fridge. Here is a list of 9 ways to maximize your everyday mayo:
1. Gets gum out of hair
Forget the thick, gunky peanut butter. Take a bit of mayo and run through your strands of hair and around the gum. It will create a slick surface for you to gently slide the gum out.
2. Mini mayo manicure
Mayonnaise can soften cuticles. Dip fingers in a bowl of mayo and let soak about about 5 minutes. Nails and cuticles will be soft and ready for shaping.
3. Remove a ring
When your fingers swell when you’re wearing a ring, it can be frightening and even painful. Slather on a spoonful of mayo, rub in, and the ring will remove much more easily.
4. Dust Houseplants
Put a small dab of mayo on a paper towel and run over leaves of houseplants. You’ll have gorgeous, shiny, dust-free leaves for weeks. The same goes for piano keys!
5. Remove stickers
Bad choice of bumper sticker? Laptop case covered in out-of-style stickers? Cover any sticker you want removed with a layer of mayo and let sit for a few minutes. The sticker should come right up and the mayo will help you wipe away any sticky residue, too.
6. Kill lice
Kids come home from school with a nasty case of lice. Spring into action with a cheap, less toxic alternative to those expensive over-the-counter treatments. Massage mayo into scalp, and cover with a shower cap. Let sit overnight. Rinse out in the morning and you should be lice free.
7. silence that squeak
Squeaky door? Rub some mayo on the hinge for a fast and easy fix. Same thing goes for toys, tools, or just about anything that squeaks.
8. Remove paint splatter
Since oil attracts oil, dabbing mayonnaise on accidental paint drips on tile or other hard surfaces can make them easier to wipe away. Try to get to the spill before paint hardens. Mayo makes for a much less abrasive cleaner than paint thinner.
9. Emergency egg replacement
If you’re out of eggs but need to make a breaded dish, replace eggs with a layer of mayo on your eggplant or cutlets. It won’t affect the flavor, and your bread crumbs will stick just as well.
Also see, 10 surprising uses for vodka.
