Household Uses for Soap

What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul.

1. A drawer will slide more smoothly and quietly if you rub both sides and the underside with soap.
2. To lubricate a stubborn zipper, rub soap on both sides while closed, then unzip it and rub soap over the opened teeth.
3. Protect windowpanes, doorknobs, hardware, glass doors, and switch plates when painting by coating them with soapsuds. Paint spatters will settle on the suds, and both can be washed away together.
4. A squeaky hinge gets the soap! Wedge moist soap between the doorframe and hinge, and work the door back and forth; also rub soap directly onto the hinge.
5. Place unwrapped soap in drawers, closets, and empty suitcases to prevent musty odors.
6. To make a saw slide more smoothly and easily, coat both sides with soap. The cutting edge will go through any wood much faster.
7. To halt squeaks in floorboards, work a little moist soap into the cracks between the boards.
8. Loosen a tight ring by rubbing soap over the finger. The ring will slide off when the hand is washed.
9. To pick up bits and pieces of broken glass safely, rub a damp bar of soap over the area where glass has splintered, then shave off the surface of the soap of which the glass has adhered. Wrap these soap “peelings” in newspaper and discard.
10. Prevent a watering can from dripping by rubbing moistened soap under the lip or spout.
11. To loosen a stiff door lock, lubricate the key by rubbing it with soap.
12. Rub sled runners generously with soap for a slicker ride.
13. Pins and needs will go through material more easily if you first stick them in a bar of soap.
14. To prepare paper logs for a cozy fire, roll old newspapers tightly into small logs, tie firmly, and soak them in soapy water. Stand them on end to drain and dry.
15. Planning to cook outdoors? First coat the bottom surfaces of pots and pans with soap; soot will wash off with the soap afterward.
16. To keep eyeglasses from steaming in cold weather, rub both sides of each lens with soapy fingers, and then polish.

Have you tried any of these tricks? Let us know!