7 things to do with baby shampoo, even after your baby grows up

The intoxicating smell of a new baby’s head lights up all the pleasure centers in a parent’s brain. And we keep our babies' heads smelling sweet by washing their hair with baby shampoo.

But after the baby grows up, we can keep buying baby shampoo, not just for sentimental reasons, but because it’s good for so much more than washing a baby’s hair — or your own hair. Here are seven things you absolutely need to do with baby shampoo.

1. Wash delicate laundry

I wouldn’t use anything else to wash my cashmere sweaters. Add a little baby shampoo to a sink full of cool water, and swirl your sweater around. Fill the sink with clean water to rinse, then squeeze the water out with clean towels. Don't twist or wring it. Dry flat, and your favorite sweater will come out clean and soft.

2. Remove an adhesive bandage

If you dread that awful ripping sensation that happens when you take off a bandage, rub baby shampoo into the adhesive sides of the bandage to melt the sticky stuff. Peel back the edge of the bandage to test it before you (gently) tug it off.

3. Cleanse your eyelids

You can remove eye makeup with this tear-free potion. But even if you don’t wear makeup, you can use it to wash your eyelashes. This is especially useful if you have dry eyes. Mix warm water with a few drops of baby shampoo, and wipe your eyes. Use a different clean, damp washcloth for each eye.

4. Wash your brushes

Fill the bathroom sink with warm water and a squirt of baby shampoo. Soak hairbrushes for five minutes. Rinse them off, and dry on a towel.

It's even easier to clean makeup brushes. Once a week, put a few drops of baby shampoo on a wet brush, work it in gently, then rinse in clear water.

5. Tend to your houseplants

To clean dusty leaves, mix a teaspoon of baby shampoo into a quart of water. Dip a soft cloth into the solution, and wipe the leaves carefully. Don’t try this on African violets — their leaves don’t like to get wet.

6. Bathe the dog

Wash your fur baby with baby shampoo, and his coat will smell clean and fresh. Dog owners think it's especially good for washing your dog's face, because it won't sting his eyes. This probably will not be your go-to pet wash, but it’s a good back up.

7. Keep the fog off your swim goggles

Don’t spit in your mask, because that’s disgusting. My son was on the swim team, and I've watched plenty of kids spit into their goggles, then rinse them off in the pool. Seriously? Yuck. And saliva doesn't even work that well to keep the fog at bay.

Instead, rub a tiny bit of baby shampoo onto the inside of each lens, rinse (under a faucet), and air dry before you get in the water. Scuba divers swear by this, too.

Related Video

{{ brightcove '4898078512001' }}