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Last Updated on April 30, 2023 by Diane Hoffmaster
Have you ever bought a large container of baby powder? Have you ever actually used up the entire container? Probably not since some of those containers are huge If you have too much and are wondering what to do with it, here are some uses for baby powder, even if you don't have babies!
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How Long Is Baby Powder Good For, Anyhow?
I have a closet upstairs that is a convenient storage place for linens, towels and assorted cleaning supplies. It is like a black hole of stuff...I put stuff in there and 3 years later it reappears and I wonder why the hell I have it.
Eons ago I put baby powder in there. I must have found it on sale because I think there are 3 large containers of it in there. Why? I have no idea! My kids are teens so it isn't like I have been powdering baby butts recently!
In my quest to use old things in new ways, I decided I needed to find some creative uses for baby powder so I could get rid of it before hell freezes over! How long is baby powder good for? Baby powder will generally have an expiration date printed on the container. Many modern baby powders contain cornstarch instead of talc, which means their shelf life is limited. If the container doesn't have a printed date, you should assume it has expired if you've had it longer than three years.
Handy Uses For Baby Powder
What do adults use baby powder for? There are tons of ways to use up baby powder, even if you don't have babies at home! If you are looking for a few new uses for baby powder, here are a few that I have discovered and if you don't have any you can buy baby powder on Amazon!
Use Baby Powder to Get Rid of Sand
This is one of my favorite uses for baby powder, especially since we will be heading down to the beach this summer for a few days. Just sprinkle sandy children with baby powder and the sand will fall off as you brush the powder on.
Makeup Booster
Dust a small amount of baby powder on your eyelashes before you apply mascara. Your eyelashes will look much fuller. There are actually several ways to use baby powder in your beauty routine. You can even use baby powder as setting powder. Just use a large powder brush to set your makeup with baby powder. Make sure you only apply a small amount. The powder will also work to absorb any excess oil
More Easy Beauty Tips
- Bedtime Beauty Tips to Help Fight Aging
- Creative Uses for Olive Oil for Beauty Routines
- How to Get Healthy Lips in 5 Easy Steps
Simple Laundry Aid
If you splatter your shirt with grease, sprinkle on baby powder and let sit a minute or two. Brush off and repeat. Rub in gently and wash as usual.
Baby Powder Uses in the Garden
One of the uses of baby powder that I had never heard of was as a gardening product. Place 3 to 4 TBSP of baby powder in a zip to lock plastic bag. Put your plant bulbs in there and shake gently. Plant the bulbs as usual. The baby powder will help prevent rot and ward off moles and other underground root pests.
Get Rid of Ants
Sprinkle baby powder on an ant trail to repel all the ant's friends from finding it. Check out my post about how to get rid of ants in the kitchen for more ant killing techniques.
Baby Powder Fights Shoe Odor
Sprinkle baby powder in stinky shoes and help them smell fresh again. Check out my sneaker sachet DIY for more ideas for stinky shoes. You can use baking soda or baby powder in it. You might also enjoy these other odor control ideas.
Jewelry Therapy
How to use baby powder to untangle necklaces: Lay your tangled necklace on a flat cloth. Dust it with baby powder to make it easier to untangle. Gently pry the tangled bits apart with a pin until you can get your fingers on it.
Protect Hands in Rubber Gloves
If you wear rubber gloves to wash dishes or clean toilets, sprinkle baby powder in them to make them easier to slip on. What does baby powder do for your skin when your hands are in there? Baby powder can work much like a moisturizer to help soothe extra dry and irritated skin.
Baby Powder as Canine Skin Care
Sprinkle your dog with a bit of baby powder and rub into his fur. It will leave him fresh smelling and act as a dry shampoo for his fur. Baby powder is a great way to sooth a dog's dry skin. You can also check out my post on healthy dog coat tips for more pet care tips.
Wooden Floor Care
If you have squeaky floor boards just sprinkle with baby powder and brush into the cracks with a broom. The powder will help quite the squeaks.
If you find yourself with too much baby powder once your kid gets out of diapers, don't throw it away! Use baby powder in your beauty routine or around your home to save money and make your life easier!
Do you have any other uses for baby powder to share?
Diane is a professional blogger and nationally certified pharmacy technician at Good Pill Pharmacy. She has two college aged kids, one husband and more pets than she will admit to. She earned her BS in Microbiology at the University of New Hampshire but left her career in science to become a stay at home mom. Years of playing with LEGO and coloring with crayons had her craving a more grown up purpose to her life and she began blogging and freelance writing full time. You can learn more about her HERE.
Ellen Christian (@ellenblogs)
I had no idea it would repel ants. I need to try that.
Gretchen
I sprinkle a small amount in my hair for a dry shampoo. Fluffy hair , brush it through. Done! And it smells good. Especially if you have dark hair, don't use too much. White powder will show!
I also sprinkle some in my shoes or sandals if I chose not to wear socks. It keeps feet from sweating.
Diane Hoffmaster
I love the shoe tip. I can't stand sweaty feet in my shoes!
Patrice Stodghill-Smith
Cloth covered furniture? Sprinkle Baby Powder lightly,let ot set for a few minutes,use clean scrub brush over area,then vacuum the furniture. Body oil lifted,rooms smell fresh.
Diane Hoffmaster
Great idea! Thanks for the tip!
Lori M
I use baby powder with corn starch when my hair is dirty and I don’t have time to wash it. I sprinkle some in my hands, rub them together a little then rub into my scalp. My hair looks cleaner and fuller. I think it works better & is cheaper than those dry shampoo sprays. Note: if I get too much in my hair(I have dark hair) I rub my head with a towel to get the excess powder off.
Diane Hoffmaster
That is a great idea! Those fancy dry shampoos are expensive!
Barb
Do not use baby powder made with talc on women’s bottoms. As I recall, it has been reported to be associated with cervical cancer. Probably not a good idea to inhale talc either. If your container has been around a while it may be old enough to be talc, which I think mfg have stopped using, in favour of cornstarch.
Diane Hoffmaster
Correct. These suggestions all work just find for baby powder made from cornstarch
Del
It will stop a squeaking fan belt in your car.
Diane Hoffmaster
That’s great to know, thanks!