26 Ways to Use Cotton Balls That Have Nothing to Do with Nail Polish
Updated: Dec. 02, 2022
You can use them for way more than taking off nail polish.
Use up the cotton balls
When you think of cotton balls your mind immediately goes to using them to remove nail polish, but there are actually many more ways you can use them around the house. Break out that bag of cotton balls from the back of your bathroom cabinet and try using them in these genius ways. Make sure to also try these extraordinary uses for household objects.
Keep ants away
If you have unwelcome visitors crawling around your BBQ, make a homemade ant trap. Mix together a tablespoon each of hot water and sugar, then add half a teaspoon of borax. Soak a cotton ball with the solution, and place it where ants are gathering. The sugar will attract the bugs, and the borax will poison them. These are other common items that can help get rid of ants.
Pack makeup
You won’t want to lug around full-size makeup bottles for just an overnight trip. For a solution that keeps your bag light, wipe a bit of blush, powder, and bronzer onto cotton balls and stash in a plastic baggie. During longer trips when you’ll want the full product, stick a cotton ball between the makeup and mirror in a compact to act as a cushion and prevent a mess of crushed powder. Don’t miss these other tips for packing makeup to avoid breaks and cracks during travel.
Make your rubber gloves last longer
If you use rubber gloves a lot to do dishes or while you’re gardening you know how easy it is to accidentally make a hole in one of the fingers. Instead of buying a new pair, but a cotton ball in the fingertip of the glove to extend their life a little longer and keep your fingers and nails protected.
Prevent blisters
When you’re breaking in a new pair of shoes, stick a cotton ball inside wherever it’s rubbing against your skin to add some cushioning and keep your feet pain-free. If a blister has already cropped up, just use a cotton ball as a barrier between the wound and your footwear. If you’re curious, this is why there are cotton balls in pill bottles.
Clean bathroom corners
Cleaning the corners of tubs and showers in the bathroom can be tricky, especially if there’s built of mildew or grime. Soak a cotton ball in bleach and place them in the corners and other difficult to clean areas. Let them sit for an hour or two and then rinse the area with warm water.
Remove permanent marker from your skin
If your kids get into your permanent marker stash during craft time, remove it from their skin using a cotton ball dipped in milk. They may need a bath after, but it’s better than being covered in marker. Also, try out these genius uses for hand sanitizer.
Remove water spots
Over time, faucets can get caked with mineral deposits from the unfiltered tap water. To dissolve those white marks, soak a few cotton balls in a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water, and place them on the area for several minutes. Rinse the faucet and dry with a soft cloth.
Deodorize your fridge
If your refrigerator has lingering odors from the rotting cheese you found a little too late, dampen a cotton ball with vanilla extract and place it in the back of your fridge. It will act as a natural deodorizer leaving your fridge smelling fresh.
Disinfect tricky household objects
Dip a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and use it to clean smaller objects around the house that can be difficult to get with a cloth or wipe. Try it on light switches, remote controls, or knobs on cabinets. The cotton ball will remove the grime and disinfect.
Treat poison ivy
For a bad run-in with poison ivy, drying out the rash can help. Brew a strong cup of tea, then soak a cotton ball with it. Rub it over the affected area and let the spot air-dry. Feel free to repeat as needed if you didn’t get the relief you wanted.
Help a sunburn
Depending on how big your sunburn is, you may need a handful of cotton balls, but dipping cotton balls in vinegar or a baking soda and water solution will help provide some relief from the sting.
Save your daffodils
It’s always a sad day when your daffodils die for the season. Keep them around a little longer with cotton balls. Fill their hollow stems with water and plug the top with a cotton ball and your blooms will last longer.
Battle mildew
Mold tends to pop up in areas or on items that get too much moisture, like in the bathroom or basement. To fight the mildew, leave a few bleach-soaked cotton balls where the mold likes to grow. Give them a couple of hours to work their magic, then clean the area with warm water after you remove them.
Trap mice
If traditional mouse traps haven’t been working for you, try luring mice in with a cotton ball soaked in vanilla extract. Rodents, be gone!
Create a simple fragrance diffuser
Dribble a few drops of vanilla extract or essential oil on a small bunch of cotton balls. Leave the cotton balls in a pretty bowl and place them on a shelf in your bathroom, fridge, or garbage can. The scent is mild but will keep things smelling fresh.
Save kid’s fingers
Save your kid’s fingers from slamming in drawers. Place a cotton ball on the inside of the drawer to prevent it from closing all of the way and slamming your little one’s fingers when they close it.
Ward off rabbits
If hungry bunnies keep nibbling your garden, keep them away with some cotton balls soaked with distilled white vinegar. You can either leave the cotton balls out in the open around your plants or place them in a small container, like a film canister or plastic takeout box, with holes poked in the top.
Germinate seeds
Gather a glass jar, a few cotton balls, and your seeds. Fill the jar with cotton balls and place your seeds on either side of the jar, add water to the jar (just enough to dampen the cotton balls), and watch your seeds become sprouts over the next few days. After about five days your seeds will be ready to be transferred to soil.
Impromptu earplugs
Cotton balls are a great way to block out sound. They’re soft and can easily mold to your ear shape too.
Perfect your pedicure
Sure you use cotton balls to remove your old nail polish, but they come in handy as you start your next pedicure too. Stick them between your toes to separate your piggies for a smudge-free paint job.
Apply and fix makeup
Because they can bend into whatever shape you need, cotton balls make a handy applicator when you want to sweep highlighter on a specific area along your cheekbones. You can also use a clean one to blend in any harsh lines while contouring or buff away blush when you accidentally add too much pigment. Using cotton balls could help you avoid these makeup mistakes that make you look sloppy.
Remove ink stains
If you ruined your favorite sweatshirt with an ink stain right on the front, grab a cotton ball, soak it in rubbing alcohol, and dab it onto the fabric to remove the stain. First, test the rubbing alcohol in an inconspicuous spot on the shirt to make sure it doesn’t ruin the fabric or create another stain. Try these amazing ways to use WD-40 that you never thought of before.
Save your jewelry
Use cotton balls to protect fragile jewelry when you’re storing it. Use them as a cushion or even roll them out to support smaller items such as earrings. They also work great to clean your jewelry, just dampen one with some rubbing alcohol and start cleaning.
Craft time
Cotton balls make the perfect animal fur, snow, or hair on people during craft time. They’re pretty cheap too, so you won’t feel bad letting your kids use them all.
Freshen up your drawers
Spray your favorite perfume or put a few drops of essential oils on a cotton ball and place it in your sock drawer (or any drawer that needs to scent boost). The cotton ball will retain and dispense the scent making your clothes smells great. Try these other simple deodorizers to make your home smell fresh.
Start a fire
When you can’t quite reach the wick in a jarred candle, twist a couple cotton balls until they form a sturdy stick-like shape. Light the end and use it to reach into your wick. During a camping trip, cotton balls also make for handy fire starters. Cover some with petroleum jelly, then light them on fire as you’re getting your bonfire going. The cotton balls will burn for about five minutes, giving you a chance to build a larger flame. Now, try these genius uses for vinegar.
