Mayonnaise, that tangy blend of eggs, oil, and vinegar that many of us can’t live without on our BLTs can be much more than just a sandwich condiment! There are a surprising number of ways to use it around the house, for everything from stain removal to hair conditioning.
I’ve put together a list of 17 different uses for mayonnaise (or mayo, as many folks like to call it) and I’m excited to share them with you today! I was certainly surprised by several of the uses on this list, and I think you will be too. 🙂
By the way, mayonnaise is surprisingly easy to make, and once you’ve tasted homemade mayonnaise you’ll never want to go back to buying it in jars, so give it a try!
Related: 9 Unexpected & Useful Things You Can Do With Vegetable Oil
17 Surprisingly Practical Uses For Mayonnaise
1. Dust Houseplants
If you have any faux plants around your home, you can give them a whole new shine with a clean cloth and a bit of mayo. Dust the leaves first, then put a small dab of mayo on your cloth. Then simply buff the leaves to a beautiful shine!
2. Remove Rings
Use mayo to remove a ring that’s stuck on a finger (whether it’s your child’s or yours, no judgment here!) 😉 Scoop a bit of mayo out of the jar, and slather it around your finger and the ring itself. Let it sit for a minute or so, and then the ring should slide right off!
3. Shine Stainless Steel
If your stainless steel is showing more fingerprints and smudges than shine, just grab a clean cloth and your trusty jar of mayo. Place a small dab of mayo onto the cloth, and use it to buff your stainless steel appliances until the marks are gone and the shine is restored.
4. Squeaky Hinges
A squeaky hinge can drive anyone up a wall! So at the first sign of a squeak, treat the hinge with a small amount of mayo. Just slather it onto the hinge using your finger, then open and shut the object several times to get it worked into the hinge. Then just use a paper towel or clean cloth to wipe up any excess mayo.
5. Remove Sticker Residue
I love repurposing old containers in new and useful ways, but getting the old stickers off can be challenging to say the least! Using mayo can help make the process significantly easier (though it does require a bit of patience.)
Remove as much of the sticker as you can, then cover the remaining sticker and residue with a thick layer of mayo. Let it sit for a few minutes so the fat in the mayo can start to dissolve the adhesive. When the adhesive has dissolved enough, just rub the rest of the sticker residue off with your fingers or a sponge!
6. Kill Head Lice
A mayo scalp treatment is a great way to kill head lice naturally. Apply a layer of mayo all over the scalp at bedtime, then cover with a shower cap and go to sleep. In the morning, comb the hair and wash thoroughly.
