10 Uses for Aspirin That Will Make Life Less of a Headache

Eliminate Stubborn Rust Marks

Oops! Your husband put a bottle of shaving cream on the bathroom sink, and it left behind a rust ring that you can’t seem to get rid of. To remove the mark, reach for aspirin. Simply wet the stain and sprinkle one crushed aspirin tablet over it. Wait 10 minutes, then scrub the marks using a wet sponge. Acids in aspirin will break down the rust, and the abrasive powder will help scrub it away. 

Banish Acne Overnight

To get rid of the pimple on your chin, crush an aspirin in a dish, add enough water to form a paste, and use a cotton swab to apply it to the blemish. Leave on overnight, then wash off in the morning. Aspirin calms inflammation and halts the production of prostaglandins — chemicals that promote irritation.

Repair Tiny Nail Holes

To mask a small hole in the wall without having to pull out the spackle, try this: Crush three aspirin tablets in a small dish and add enough water to form a paste. Then use a plastic spoon to apply the paste to the hole, smoothing with the back of the spoon. Once it dries, the thick paste will fill in the space without drawing any attention. Problem solved!

Lift Stains From Hands

It's almost time for Easter egg painting, but the food coloring will leave stains all over your — or your little ones — hands! What can help: Crush three aspirin tablets in a small dish and add 1⁄4 cup of lemon juice. Rub the solution onto their hands until the stains vanish, then rinse with warm water. Acids in the aspirin and the lemon will gently bleach hands to help break down the stain pigments. 

Ward Off Dandruff

To nix dandruff for pennies, crush two aspirin tablets and mix in with a dollop of your regular shampoo. Massage the mixture onto your scalp, let sit for three to five minutes, then rinse. Aspirin’s salicylic acid (which is also found in dandruff shampoos) will moisturize the scalp, reduce inflammation, and exfoliate, banishing flakes in no time. 

Get Old Jewelry Sparkling Again

Restore the shine to your favorite jewels by mixing two crushed aspirin with a bit of water and using a toothbrush to scrub the paste on the metal. Rinse with water. The aspirin will break down any discoloration. 

Note: Don’t use on plated metal, pearls, or opals.

Erase Sweat Stains on Clothing

You’ve kept up your resolution to exercise more, but the white T-shirts you wear to work out are sporting stubborn underarm stains. The fix: Place a few aspirin under running water to soften them, then rub on stains. Let sit overnight, then rinse with hot water and wash as usual. The salicylic acid in aspirin breaks down the sweat and antiperspirant residue that cause discoloration.

Keep House Plants Healthy 

For potted greenery that seems to be wilting, try this simple trick that gardening experts swear by: Dissolve one to two aspirin tablets in a gallon of water and use it to water your houseplants once a week. The salicylic acid in aspirin has been shown to help ward off pests and boost plants’ natural defenses against stubborn ­diseases and insects.

Nix a Wart For Pennies

Rather than buying a pricey over-the-counter product to banish a wart, crush one aspirin into a powder and rub it on the wart before bed, then cover with a piece of duct tape. Remove in the morning. Repeat daily until the wart disappears. Aspirin’s salicylic acid — an ingredient in many wart treatments — will dissolve the blemish, and the duct tape will deprive it of oxygen so it dries up. 

De-Gunk Cookware 

Your lasagna was a hit at the potluck supper, but you can’t get the cooked-on food out of your favorite pan. The save: Crush a few aspirin tablets, sprinkle them into the pan, and add enough water to make a paste. Then, dampen a washcloth and scrub the cookware with the solution. The slightly abrasive powder will lift stuck-on residue, and its acids will dissolve any grease. Wash with dish soap afterward.