7 Surprising Household Uses for Mayonnaise

You may not know this, but mayonnaise isn’t just for sandwiches and salad dressings. There are a host of household uses for this tasty spread. From cleaning gunky gum, to salvaging wood from water, this condiment just might save the day. Consider it one more weapon in your chemical-free cleaning arsenal.

By Jennifer Noonan

Updated on Aug 18, 2015

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Clean Off Crayon

If a budding Picasso leaves some crayon graffiti on your wall, take a deep breath. Wipe the spot liberally with mayo and let it sit for a few minutes. Then wipe down with a wet cloth to remove any oily residue, blot with a dry towel, and allow it to dry. Avoid this method on flat paint finishes, as it may leave an oil stain. Now, hide the crayons!

Related: Ditch the Fridge—7 New Ways to Display Children’s Artwork

Silence a Squeaky Door

If you’ve got a noisy hinge, but no WD-40 in sight, grab a jar of mayo. It can be used as a lubricant. Remove the hinge pin and coat it with the mayonnaise. Then work it back into the hinge and remove any excess with a damp cloth.

Unstick Stickers

To remove a particularly sticky price tag, rub a bit of mayonnaise onto it and let it soak in. Then remove it easily with a cloth or soft-bristled brush.

Related: How To—Clean EVERYTHING

Remove Rings From Wood

The oil in mayonnaise can displace the moisture in a water ring on a coffee table or other wood surface. If you have water marks on wood, dab on some mayo, then let it sit for a few minutes. Then, wipe away and breathe a sigh of relief.

Related: How To—Clean Wood Furniture

Polish Plant Leaves

When the broad leaves of large plants get dusty, they look lackluster and can’t get all the nutrients they need from the sun. An old-timey trick is to polish them with mayonnaise. It brings a shine to the leaves, and gives the plant a better chance to photosynthesize.

Get Rid of Gum

Get gum off the bottom of your shoes before it gets all over the carpets. Work some mayonnaise into the treads until the gum starts to loosen. Then, pull it off with a knife.

Heal Cracks in Furniture

Believe it or not, mayonnaise can help to heal small cracks in furniture. Fill the crack with mayo and let it sit overnight. It will cause the wood fibers to swell, thus reducing the size and visibility of the crack. Wipe off any excess, and reapply if necessary.