Most people keep cotton swabs in their home to keep their ears clean. Some people say they can be dangerous for your ears when they aren’t used properly. Most people use them anyway.
But that’s not the only way people are using cotton swabs. This tiny piece of cotton on a stick can come in handy. Especially for detailing jobs.
Or getting into small spaces. You will surely be surprised by all the cool things you can do with cotton swabs. Here are 40 ways you never realized you could use cotton swabs:
Some ointments can be overdrying to your skin. This includes things like wart cream or acne treatments. To avoid drying out your surrounding skin, use a cotton swab to apply the medication to an isolated area.
2) Wipe away smeared mascara
Did you smear mascara over that nice eye shadow job? Use a cotton swab to wipe away the mascara. This way you won’t ruin your entire eye shadow job.
This hack is genius for when you don’t want to carry a full eye shadow pallet around with you. Just dip the cotton swab in some eye shadow and place in a plastic baggie. You can use the cotton swab to reapply when you need to.
4) Clean small electronics
Is your remote control filthy? Soak a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and use it to clean in between the buttons on your remote. You can use this method for your keyboard, computer, phone, and tablet.
This is a great trick to soothe puffy eyes. Run your cotton swab under some water then dip it in some eye cream. Toss it in a plastic bag and put it in the freezer overnight. Roll it under your eyes to reduce swelling.
Want the perfect lipstick application? Dip a cotton swab in some translucent powder and outline your mouth with it. It will seal in your color and prevent bleeding.
Is the wick on your candle low? Don’t burn yourself! Dip a cotton swab in alcohol and ignite it. Use it to safely light the wick.
Lint build up in the back of your dryer can break it. It can block the air flow, make it work less efficiently, and cause a fire hazard. Use a cotton swab to clean all that gunk out.
Makeup foundation can get stuck in our fine lines and wrinkles. This makes those imperfections more noticable. Use a cotton swab dipped in moisturizer to smooth this area out.
Is your remote control or laptop not working right? Is the battery dying too quickly? Wipe the battery contact with a cotton swab and some alcohol to clean it. This will help restore the battery’s contact with the device and should make it normally.
Is your zipper stuck? Dip a cotton swab in shampoo, oil, or petroleum jelly and smooth it over your zipper. Wiggle the zipper a bit to lossen it so it becomes free.
Cotton swabs are great for craft time. Need to paint some polka dots? Use a cotton swab!
13) The perfect smoky eye
Want to create the perfect smoky eye? First line your eye with a kohl eyeliner. Use your cotton swab to smudge the color and give yourself that smoky eye.
14) Keep eyebrows in place
Are your eybrows looking crazy? Tame them with a cotton swab. Just dip it in some petroleum jelly and run it over those unruly brows.
Stay smelling great while you’re on the go. Just soak some cotton swabs in some perfume and put in a plastic bag. Run them over your wrists or neck when you want to freshen up.
16) Touch up greys on-the-go
Did you spot a grey on your head? Don’t have time to dye your hair? Rub a cotton swab in some eyeshadow that matches your hair color and dab over the grey hair to cover it up.
Kids make a mess when they paint. Sometimes toddlers are too small to hold paintbrushes. Let them use cotton swabs instead. Adults can do this too.
18) Portable aromatherapy
Armoatherapy is great to help us relax and keep calm. Dip some cotton swabs in lavendar or your favorite essential oils and put them in plastic bags. Bust them out when you need a whiff.
Did you attempt to give yourself a manicure? Did you make a mess? Use a cotton swab and nail polish remover to clean it up.
Dipping your fingers into things like a jar of lip gloss is very unsanitary. You introduce bacteria to the jar every time you put your finger in. Use a cotton swab instead of your finger.
Use a cotton swab to detail your car. Spray it with some interior cleaner first. Then use it to wipe down hard to reach places like vents, gear shifts, and buttons.
Did someone scuff the wall or your car? You don’t need to bust out the paint brushes and create uneven color. Just dab the area with paint and a cotton swab.
Sometimes putting your jewelry in cleaner doesn’t do the job. Sometimes you need to scrub a bit. Cotton swabs are great for wiping your clean jewelry down.
24) Clean up chalkboard mess
Lots of people use chalkboard markers to create beautiful designs and signs. But sometimes our artwork doesn’t go the way we planned. Use a cotton swab to wipe away smears and mistakes.
Soak your cotton swabs in WD-40 or dip in petroleum jelly and put in a plastic bag. Light them up and use them as firestarters when you go camping. They’ll stay lit for a long time.
Rubbing medical ointment on a wound with your bare fingers can be unsanitary. Use a cotton swab instead. This will prevent the spread of bacteria.
27) Get dust out of your eye
Got something stuck in our eye? Dip a cotton swab in water and use it to gently wipe under the flap of your eye. This should dislodge it.
28) Clean your flashlight
Is your flashlight’s shine looking dull? Soak your cotton swab in alcohol. Use the cotton swab to clean the lens of the flashlight.
29) Clean your pet’s face
Cotton swabs are great for cleaning delicate areas. Including your pet’s eyes and ears. Just be very careful and gentle in these areas.
Cotton swabs can even be used to inspire the artist in you. You can make amazing sculptures out of cotton swabs. All you need is some imagination… and glue.
Using glue can be really annoying if you’re not careful. You can get glue your fingers together or suffer that annoying sensation of having glue stuck to your skin. Use a cotton swab to apply glue and avoid this.
Always messing up that cat eye? Perfect it with a cotton swab. Hold one at an angle against the side of your face and use it as a guide to make your eyeliner wing. Use it to clean up any mess or to smudge your liner in the right direction.
33) DIY teeth whitening applicator
Need your pearly whites to be whiter? Mix a dab hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and toothpaste with a cotton swab to form a paste. Apply to each tooth with a cotton swab and let sit for a few minutes. Brush with a toothbrush and repeat a few times a week until your teeth are whitened.
Did you make a mess with your hair dye? Mix hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to make a thick paste. Dip a cotton swab in it and rub the stain in a circular motion to remove hair dye from your skin.
Do you have a case of uneven self tanner? It can pool up in spots like between your fingers and create and uneven tone. Use a cotton swab to wipe a away excess spots like your cuticles, knuckles, knees, ankles, and elbows before it sets.
36) Remove shoe scuff marks
Is your favorite patent leather heel all scuffed? Dip a cotton swab in nail polish remover. Use this to wipe away the scuff mark.
Is the tile between your grout looking nasty? Upgrade it using cotton swabs. Get the full tutorial
here.
Is the chip in your tile floor driving you nuts? Find a paint that matches your color tile. Use a cotton swab to dab the paint and fill the chip in. Get the details
here.
39) Clean Kitchen Molding
Wiping down your cabinets doesn’t always get them clean. You have to make sure you get into the nooks of your molding. Use a cotton swab to do this.
40) Apply stain to woodwork
Most people use a paint brush to stain woodwork. But paintbrushes aren’t always ideal for details like swirls or creases. Use a cotton swab to apply or remove excess stain from these area. You can also use this method to stain over chips and imperfections in wood.
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