The oil in peanut butter makes it very useful for cleaning. But why not just use oil, you ask? The answer is because oil is too oily. Peanut butter has just enough oil, but not too much. The consistency makes it easy to work with, providing a little stickiness and drag where your fingers would just slide if using pure oil. Pure oil is also much more likely to leave an oil stain than peanut butter. If you or someone you know has a peanut allergy, nut or seed butters can be used instead for most of these tips. Be sure to only use the creamy kind though; the nut shards in the crunchy kind could scratch a surface, including fabric.
Scuff Marks
The black scuff marks often left on floors by rubber-soled sneakers, tires, or rubber furniture pads can often be removed with a little peanut butter. Spread some on the mark, let it sit for about 5 minutes, then buff it off with a soft cloth.
Tar
Arguably one of the worst things you can get on your clothes, your car, or even your skin, tar is incredibly sticky and adheres to most surfaces almost instantly. It’s no match for peanut butter though! Rub some PB onto and around the tar spot, let it sit for a minute, then gently rub the tar off of the surface. This process works so well, it can even be done on carpet!
Gum
Just like tar is a seriously sticky situation, gum can often be found firmly stuck in a kid’s hair, on the bottom of a shoe, or in the carpet, and it seems like the removal will be impossible. Unless you know to use peanut butter that is. Rub the PB onto the gum, then gently work the gum off of (or out of) the surface.
Tree sap
Sap is another tough mess that clings to cars, decks, and even clothing throughout the summer, but is easy to remove if you use peanut butter. Work the PB into the sap with your fingers, then wipe off the loosened sap. Repeat the process as many times as needed to remove the bulk of the sap, then wash the area.
Taffy
This tasty treat can be just as difficult to clean out of your carpet as it is to chew. As you now know though, when it’s time to take care of taffy trouble, it’s peanut butter to the rescue!
Chrome
Want to get a nice shine on your chrome items? Polish the surface with a mix of peanut butter and an equal amount of baking soda! Put the paste on a cloth and rub it gently onto the surface, then wipe it off.
Whiteboard
When dry erase markers actually dry, they can adhere to the board surprisingly well. Even if most of the marker does get erased, there are tiny flakes that can be left behind. Peanut butter works well to polish away those flakes (or entire marker lines), leaving the board shiny and clean. Wash the board afterward to remove the peanut butter residue.
Water Stains on Wood
If you set a cold drink on a wood table in summer without using a coaster, there’s a good chance you will pick it up later and see a white ring; a dreaded water stain left by the condensation dripping off the cup. Spread a thick layer of peanut butter over the stain, leave it on overnight, then wipe it off in the morning and the stain should be gone.
Stickers
Yet another sticky substance that peanut butter can tackle! Whether it’s a sticker on your shirt that went through the wash, tape residue left on a table, or a price tag stuck on a plastic container, a dab of peanut butter can help you remove the glue.
Band-Aids
Ripping off a Band-Aid can hurt. To prevent the pain, wipe some peanut butter over the sticky tabs and let it sit for a few minutes. The oil will help to dissolve the adhesive underneath, making it easier to remove.
Fish Smell in Kitchen
Peanut butter can also be used as a deodorizer to get rid of the foul fishy smell that sticks to kitchen surfaces when you’re pan frying fish. Just put a spoonful (teaspoon) in the pan and it will keep your kitchen from smelling like the sea.
Garlic on Hands
After chopping garlic, your hands could repel vampires all night. Or, you could rub some peanut butter on them, then wash it off and go back to attracting the vamps.
Scratched CDs or DVDs
Some say that a scratched disc can be revived by a quick polish with peanut butter. Spread some over the back of the disc, then wipe it off. Always wipe a disc from the center outwards in a straight line.
Dripping Ice Cream
Push a tiny bit of peanut butter into the base of your pointed ice cream cone before scooping in the ice cream to prevent drips from leaking out the bottom and making a mess.
Burnt Gravy
Good gravy can make a dish complete, just as bad gravy can ruin it completely. If you accidentaly cook the gravy too long, mix in a teaspoon of peanut butter to remove the burnt taste.
Shaving Cream
Out of shaving foam? Don’t reach for the soap! Slather on a thin layer of peanut butter and you can shave away!
Hiccups
This mishap can make a real mess of your day. Eating a large dollop of peanut butter is said to cure hiccups since eating the sticky substance and cleaning it out of your mouth causes your pattern of breathing to be disrupted.
Additional Tips
- After you use the PB, gently scrape the residue off the surface, then clean the area with a little dish liquid and water. The surface should be as good as new.
Sources
- Amazing Kitchen Cures by Joey Green
- Baking Soda by Vicky Lansky
- 99 Cent Solutions by Reader’s Digest
- Joey Green’s Cleaning Magic by Joey Green
- Haley’s Hints by Graham and Rosemary Haley
- 1801 Home Remedies by Reader’s Digest
Can I use peanut butter on antique gold picture frames?
P Haldane,
No, peanut butter should not be used on gold. The oil in the peanut butter can dull the gold in the same way as the oil from your skin or lotion.
Source: Jewelry Fix-ups by David McLoughlin