Shampoo is still a relatively modern invention and was actually first developed around the end of the 19th century. The thing is, most of us don't actually need to be using shampoo every day, according to dermatologists. The necessity for shampoo in terms of the cleanliness of your hair varies from person to person and depends mainly on your hair type.
And while most of us are aware of this, what a lot of us don't know is that shampoo can be used for a lot more things than your hair. What's more, shampoo is often better at getting things sorted than the products that are actually designed for whatever purpose you're using them for!
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As it turns out, there are plenty of things you can use shampoo for. From cleaning tough and hard-to-remove stains to loosening stuck nuts and bolts that just won't seem to budge - shampoo really is much more diverse than we ever give it credit for. Take a look at these many alternative uses for shampoo:
- If a zipper on an item of clothing gets stuck, just put a drop of shampoo on a Q-tip and apply it to the zipper to help it slide more easily.
- If you have some laundry stains that won't come off, apply a few drops of shampoo, then give the stain a bit of a scrub before putting it in the washing machine as normal.
- Both shampoo and conditioner can be used as an alternative to shaving cream. Just lather up and start shaving. It will leave your legs feeling smoother than soap.
- You can use shampoo to remove body oil and other unwanted bits and pieces from your hairbrush. Remove any loose hairs and place the brush in warm water mixed with shampoo.
- If you mix shampoo with baking soda, you can use it to clean chrome on vehicles.
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- You can give your shoes a polish by applying a small amount of shampoo on a clean cloth.
- Removing a bandage can be particularly painful sometimes. So here's how to avoid any extra pain: apply a few drops of shampoo on to the adhesive part and the bandage should peel off relatively easily.
- Shampoo can also be used as a substitute for a bubble bath.
- Try using shampoo as an alternative to soap when washing your hands.
- To prevent your swimming mask from fogging up, use a few drops of shampoo and apply them to the inside surface and rinse.
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- Have a plant in your house that you quite like? Well, you can clean the leaves of the plant by using a wet cloth and a few drops of shampoo.
- For a deep clean of your bathtub, sink or shower head, use some shampoo and start scrubbing.
- You can also clean paint or makeup brushes using a few drops of shampoo and massaging it through the bristles.
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- If you've spilled something on a rug or carpet and it's left a stain, you can also apply a few drops of shampoo and then scrub it away with a towel.
- You can loosen stuck nuts and bolts with shampoo by letting it seep into the threads and the bolt should loosen easily.
So if you happen to find yourself in a bit of a tricky situation because you're just out of shaving cream or because you've spilled some wine on your new carpet, just get the shampoo out as it might just save you a whole load of hassle and money!