Peanut butter is an incredibly versatile ingredient – it can be used in sandwiches, to make cookies, for yummy sauces. But as it turns out, it isn’t just a delicious ingredient you can eat – peanut butter is great for so many other uses.
These 16 uses for peanut butter are a household game-changer.
From repairing wood scratches to cleaning leather – peanut butter is an excellent product for so many things. Allergic to peanut butter? No problem – try sunflower seed or almond butter, the natural oils should help achieve the same result.
1. Fix squeaky hinges or doors
A squeaky door or cabinet can be really annoying. Fix it in a jiffy with a little bit of peanut butter. Just use your fingertip to apply a dab to the squeaky hinge, open and close the door or cabinet to make sure the oils get worked in. Simply wipe off any excess.
2. Gum remover
When gum becomes stuck in hair, on carpet, or in fabric, it can almost be impossible to remove – unless you have peanut butter! Just rub a bit of peanut butter into the gum and surrounding areas, the oils should loosen the sticky substance after a couple minutes and it should slide out or be wiped away by a cloth.
3. Make a bird feeder
This is a fun craft for the kids. Take a pinecone and cover it with peanut butter, then roll the pinecone in birdseed. Hang the DIY bird feeder in your yard and watch the birds from your window.
4. Condition your hair
Massage smooth peanut butter into your scalp and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Rinse and wash with shampoo for incredibly soft and shiny hair.
5. Leather cleaner
Creamy peanut butter can clean and buff leather purses, shoes, and furniture. Use a soft cloth to rub the peanut butter over the leather in a circular motion. Wipe off any excess and your leather will be shining like new.
6. Substitute shaving cream
Out of shaving cream and don’t have time to run to the store? That’s okay! Just grab a jar of peanut butter instead. The natural oils will coat your skin to prevent nicks, and they also give your skin a dose of hydration.
7. Household lubricant
Just like how peanut butter helps get rid of squeaky hinges, it can also serve as a lubricant for lots of other things like tools and lawnmower blades.
8. Seal your ice cream cone
Before you scoop your ice cream into a cone, put a dollop of peanut butter at the bottom first – this will prevent any melting ice cream from dripping out the bottom and onto your hands. Plus, it’s a yummy treat once you reach the end!
9. Remove sticker residue
For some reason, stickers and price tags never seem to peel off perfectly. There’s always stubborn residue and bits of the sticker left behind. Rub a little peanut butter on the sticker residue and let it sit for a couple minutes, wipe away with a cloth and you’re good to go.
10. Out of butter? Reach for the PB instead.
If a recipe calls for butter and you forgot it on your grocery list, just reach for the peanut butter instead. Use the equivalent measurement of smooth peanut butter and it will give your recipe a nice nutty taste.
11. Trap ants
Do you have an ant problem? Make a DIY ant killer by mixing 2 teaspoons peanut butter, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, and a teaspoon of borax. Apply the mixture wherever you’ve noticed ants entering your home. If you have pets in the household, you’ll want to keep them away from this toxic pest killer.
12. Repair scratches on wood
Apply peanut butter to scratched wood furnishings, floors, or banisters – let it sit for approximately 30 minutes (up to an hour) before wiping clean. The scratch will be nearly impossible to see.
13. Disguise medication
Giving medication to kids or pets can be a nearly impossible task. Disguise pills or tablets by crushing them in a bit of peanut butter, and instead, the yucky medicine became a yummy treat.
14. Deodorize your house after cooking fish
Frying up some fish makes for a delicious dinner, but it can leave behind a pretty foul-smelling odor. After you’ve fried your fish, place a dollop of peanut butter into the frying pan and fry it for a minute or so – the fish smell will be eradicated and will have a pleasant peanut butter smell instead.
15. Bait a mouse trap
Instead of using cheese, bait mouse traps with peanut butter to rid your home of pesky mice. They find the ingredient impossible to resist and you’ll have better luck than any other bait.
16. Make vegan ice cream
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
Okay, so this one is food-related, but it’s too delicious not to share. Blend two frozen bananas in a food processor and swirl in some peanut butter. Feel free to add jelly for a delicious, frozen spin on a classic sandwich.
