10 brilliant uses for clear lip balm

1 Easily thread a needle

When it comes to sewing, sometimes threading the needle is the most difficult part! To make the task a cinch, cut a piece of thread to the desired length, then coat one end with clear lip balm. The product will stiffen the thread so it glides through the eye of the needle with ease.

2 Make a scratched DVD watchable

Argh! The family movie you picked up at the library is scratched and it keeps skipping. The quick fix: Rub lip balm over any scratches, then buff with a soft, clean cloth. The wax in the balm will fill in any nicks while buffing will remove dirt and oil from the surface of the disc.

3 Peel off a stubborn price tag

The serving platter you bought for tonight’s dinner party has a giant price sticker on the bottom that won’t come off. What can help: Smear lip balm over the tag and let it sit for 10 minutes. Oils in the balm will dissolve the sticker’s adhesive so you can peel it off in one piece.

4 Rust-proof garden shears

To ensure the garden shears you picked up at an end-of-season sale stay rust-free, reach for an old tube of lip balm. Carefully rub a thin layer of the product on the blades before storing the tool for the winter. The balm will create a protective coating that blocks rust-causing moisture.

5 Keep a pup’s cut from bleeding

Oops! Buster wiggled while you were trimming his nails, and now he’s got a tiny nick on his paw. To stop the bleeding, cover the cut with a small amount of lip balm. The wax will seal the skin and help the blood clot. (Just be sure to contact your veterinarian if the bleeding persists.)

6 Get a fire going in a flash

You’ll be cozied up by the fire in no time with this easy trick: Coat a few cotton balls with lip balm, then set them on the logs in the fireplace and light. The wax in the balm will ignite quickly and burn long enough for the logs to catch.

7 Remove makeup on the go

You’re in tears after watching the sweet video of a soldier’s homecoming that your sister posted on Facebook, and your mascara is smudged. To remove the makeup in seconds, rub your finger on the tip of a tube of lip balm, then wipe at the smudges under your eyes. Oils in the balm will lift the mascara without taking off the rest of your makeup.

8 Slide off a too-tight ring

You forgot to remove your ring before your morning walk, and now your fingers are swollen and it won’t come off! To get it to glide off your finger, coat the skin around the jewelry with lip balm. Then slowly move the ring up toward your fingertip. The waxy substance will cut down on friction between the ring and your skin, allowing you to wiggle the ring off— without damaging the metal.

9 Ensure drawers glide smoothly

If your dresser drawers tend to get stuck every time you open and close them, try this: Remove the drawers that are giving you grief and rub the tracks on both sides with a generous amount of lip balm, then reinsert and open and close the drawer a few times. The slick wax will lubricate the tracks so the drawers work properly. Problem solved!

10 Eliminate hat hair in seconds

Your new knit hat looks great when you wear it, but as soon as you take it off, you’re left with flyaways! To tame them, rub some lip balm on your fingertips, then work through the ends of your hair. The conditioning balm will moisturize hair and neutralize static.