A conditioner is key to having great hair. It locks in the moisture so your hair always shines. For most men and women, conditioner is an essential part of hair care – we all know that shampooing too much can cause your hair to get dry.
However, as it turns out, conditioner can do so much more than just condition your hair and lock in moisture. Its properties can help with many more things around the house and on other parts of your body. Here at Home Hacks, we always want to provide you the best life hacks to live by – so we collected the best uses for conditioner around that you wouldn’t expect.
Here are 35 unexpected uses for conditioner. If you know of any other great uses, let us know in the comments below.
Polish Leather Shoes
Who knew conditioner made such a good polisher? It can even be used to polish leather shoes. Be sure to rub it in with a soft rag.
Jewelry Shiner
Conditioner will make your jewelry shine so bright. You will be left wondering how you never heard about this sooner.
Unstick Zippers
If your zipper is caught, a little conditioner is all you need. Squeeze a tiny bit onto your fingertips and spread it across the metal. Finally, a way to unstick those pesky zippers!
Silence Squeaky Doors
The sound of a door squeaking every time it opens is the stuff of nightmares. Free your home of this awful sound using conditioner. Rub it on the door, and voila!
Hair Makeover
Conditioner isn’t just for inside the shower. Use it after you get out, too. This spray concoction will make your hair wavy and voluminous.
Untease Your Hair
Teasing your hair looks cool in the moment, but it is almost impossible to get out. Apply a little conditioner to your tangled hair while it is still dry. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes, then rinse the tangles out.
Anti Frizz
Fight frizzy hair by putting a thin layer of conditioner over the ends. Rub your hands together and gently flatten your hair. It will look great in no time.
Do Laundry
If you are camping or just don’t have access to a washer, you can do your laundry in a sink with conditioner. Soak the clothing in hot water and pour in a teaspoon of conditioner. Let the clothes soak for half an hour, then rinse and dry.
Straighten Hair
Conditioner can make straight hair even more straight. Mix together water, a teaspoon of conditioner, a teaspoon of salt, and a teaspoon of hair gel. Pour it into a spray bottle and shake well. Your hair will be straight but voluminous.
Foot Treatment
If your feet are dry and cracked, you need to soothe them with conditioner. Coat your feet in conditioner and leave the treatment on over night. You will wake up feeling SO much better.
Makeup Remover
This stuff actually removes waterproof eye makeup! Can you believe it? Just be sure not to get it in your eye.
Shines Stainless Steel
Conditioner is actually great at polishing stainless steal. Why stick to a traditional polish solution when there is a much cheaper option?
Unshrink Clothing
Have you ever dried something that wasn’t meant to be dried? We all know what a nightmare it can be when clothing doesn’t fit properly. Use conditioner to unshrink your clothes.
Strengthens Brushes
Conditioner actually strengthens the bristles of brushes in the same way it softens hair. When used to clean brushes regularly, it can extend the life of your favorite makeup brushes. This trick even works on paint rollers.
Protect Against Chlorine Damage
We all knew conditioner was good for your hair, but did you know that it helps to protect hair from chlorine? If you are an avid swimmer, coat the tips of your hair in conditioner before putting on your cap. After all, no one wants green hair.
Soften Yarn
If you love working with yarn, you’re in luck. Conditioner works to soften it, which makes it even easier to work with. Conditioning the yarn will prevent your masterpiece from becoming dry or itchy.
Condition Cuticles
Your cuticles say a lot about you. Save your money at the salon and put conditioner on your cuticles instead. They will look just as good for a fraction of the price.
Prevent Rust
Conditioner can help to prevent tools from rusting. Coat a thin layer of conditioner on your metal tools, and add another layer any time you find excess moisture.
Removing Bandages
Taking a bandage off is definitely a memorable event. Going slower only seems to make the experience worse. Minimize your pain by rubbing conditioner on the edges of the bandage.
Remove Stuck Rings
If your finger is swollen and your ring won’t come off, add in some conditioner. Rub it on the skin above and below the ring. It should slide right off.
Bath Time Moisturizer
You don’t have to rub conditioner directly onto your skin to feel its moisturizing effects. Add a few drops to the water before you take a bath. Your skin will feel rehydrated and refreshed.
Unclog Drains
Pour a little conditioner down the drain to loosen or remove a clog. For even better results douse it with hot water.
Soften Clothes
You don’t need expensive products to soften your clothes. Dab a little conditioner onto a wash cloth and throw it into the dryer. Your clothing will come out much softer.
Fabric Freshener
Conditioner does just about everything. It even freshens your fabric! Pour one part conditioner and nine parts water into a spray bottle, and enjoy.
Clean Greasy Drains
Conditioner works great to combat the grease that can build up in drains. Squeeze it onto the drain and let it sit for 20 minutes. Next run hot water over the drain. Much better.
Shaving Cream
Using conditioner as shaving cream isn’t as crazy as it sounds. It actually really works to moisturize your skin. No more dry skin for you.
Wash Undergarments
Dilute conditioner with water for a soft soap that can be used on your more delicate clothing. Not only will your clothes be softer than ever, they will smell great too.
Remove Temporary Tattoos
Remember the nightmare these things were to get off? If you have kids you are probably still stuck in this predicament. Use conditioner to take off the tattoos – it works like a charm!
Polish House Plants
If your house plants are looking a little dull, give them a shine with some super diluted conditioner. Add a drop to each of the leaves and gently rub. Your plants will look shinier than ever.
Protects Hair From Bleach
Bleach is super damaging to your hair. Nothing makes hair look frizzy like being damaged by bleach. Luckily conditioner is just the right solution.
Fights Wrinkles
You can make your own anti-wrinkle spray right at home. Mix together water, vinegar, and conditioner. Pour it into a spray bottle and spray over your clothing, laid flat. Boom, no more wrinkles.
Fix Shower Curtains
Having a sticky shower curtain is the worst. Use conditioner to clear that problem right up. Just rub some on the rod and you are good to go.
Clean Silk Garments
Fill your sink with warm water (or cold for colors). Add in a tablespoon of conditioner, then soak your silk for a few minutes. Next rinse it and hang it out to dry. Much better than going to a cleaner’s.
Sticker Remover
Kids like to put stickers on EVERYTHING. Unfortunately, that pesky adhesive part doesn’t always go away. Use conditioner to take that spare stuff right off.
Protect Leather
Not only does conditioner polish leather, it can even protect it from the effects of the snow. When your boots are completely dry, coat them a little bit at a time. Buff it out with a clean rag, and you’re good to go.
Conditioner has so many incredible uses, you’ll be surprised you’ve never heard of them before. Now that you know, your life will be so much easier.