10 Household Uses for Butter That Go Beyond Cooking

By Editorial Staff Updated: October 2, 2019

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cooking,
hack

When it comes to getting the most bang for your buck, there are a few kitchen staples that can go a long way in terms of helping you maintain your home. Of those staples is butter, something we always have in the fridge for whatever recipe may call for a rich, decadent taste. However, the butter in your fridge can also be used for a number of household concerns from preserving freshly cut produce to taming an anxious furry friend. Check out the gallery below.

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Sliced Cheese Butter

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Keep sliced cheese from hardening.

With all of the delicious offerings of cheese at the farmers market this week, you decided to stock up. To keep the blocks fresh after you’ve sliced into them, spread butter on the cut sides, wrap in plastic and pop in the fridge. The butter seals in moisture so the cheese won’t dry out. This works best with hard and semi-hard cheeses like Swiss, Cheddar, Edam, and Gouda.
boiling water butter

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Stop a pot from boiling over.

When you have a lot going on in the kitchen, it can be hard to keep a watchful eye on a boiling pot. To ward off messy boil-overs, rub a bit of butter on the inside of the pot, about an inch below the top. Any bubbles that form as the liquid heats will dissolve as soon as they hit the grease.
Large Pills Butter

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Swallow large pills with ease.

Your doctor prescribed antibiotics to treat your sinus infection, but the pills are so big that you’re having trouble swallowing them! To make the horse pills go down more easily, roll each one in a bit of butter, then swallow it with a glass of water. The greasy spread acts as a lubricant, so the pill will glide down your throat without struggle. Much better!
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Calm a stressed cat.

You’re hosting a family party this weekend, but you worry Tiger will get stressed out by all the excitement. To soothe his nerves, rub a dab of butter on his front paws. He’ll immediately start licking it off, which will distract him from the commotion. Bonus: The butter will also help ward off hairballs.
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Remove a stuck ring in seconds.

Your wedding band is in need of a good cleaning, but when you try to slide it off your finger, it won’t budge. What can help: Coat the ring (and the skin around it) with a thin layer of butter. The oils in the butter will soften your skin, making it a cinch to remove the jewelry.
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Silence a noisy door hinge.

Every time someone uses the bathroom at night, the sound of the squeaky door hinge wakes you up, and you don’t have any WD-40 on hand. To the rescue: butter! Rub a small amount on the hinge. The slick spread will lubricate the metal, nixing the noise.
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Revitalize dried-out hair follicles.

If summer’s heat and sun have left your locks brittle and dry, try this: Massage a bit of butter into the ends of your hair, then cover your head with a shower cap. Let sit for 30 minutes, then shampoo and condition your hair as usual. The fat in the butter will seep into cuticles and nourish the hair, adding moisture and shine to your tresses.
preserve an onion butter

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Prolong the life of an onion.

The last time you tried to save half an onion in the fridge, it went bad before you could use it. To prevent this from happening again, coat the surface of the cut onion with a thin layer of butter, wrap it in aluminum foil and store it in the fridge. The butter’s fats will create an airtight seal to prevent bacteria from growing, ensuring the onion lasts.
remove watermarks butter

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Make watermarks disappear.

You got an amazing deal on a beautiful coffee table at a neighbor’s garage sale, but it’s got a few unsightly watermarks on the surface. To remove them, place a dab of butter on each mark and rub it in with a soft cloth. Let sit overnight, then wash away any excess with soapy water. Oils in the spread will seep into the wood, displacing the trapped moisture that’s causing the ring.
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Banish stubborn food odors from hands.

Your homemade spaghetti sauce is always a hit, but the garlic tends to leave your hands smelling funky. To nix the odor, rub a small amount of butter into your palms and let sit for 1 minute, then wash your hands with soap and water. When the butter’s fats seep into your skin’s pores, they will dissolve the oils causing the unpleasant smell. Bonus: The butter will leave your hands super soft!