This is a wonderful standby for more than just medical. When I was a police explorer many eons ago, when we would go into a particularly raunchy house, the officer I was with always handed me a small tube of menthal jelly to put under my nose so I wouldn’t get sick.

I also have hands that peel in the winter, they can peel so bad it bleeds. So when it gets uncontrollable I will get some thin cotton gloves and coat my hands with jelly, then put the gloves on so that while I sleep at night my hands have time to heal. This works wonders over the course of a night or two.

Below you will find other uses for it as well, and as usual please feel free to comment with what you have used it for. (yes, that is a picture of a petroleum jelly dumbbell)

>>Rub it on your hands to form an invisible glove for your next paint job or dirty chore. (The same trick works to protect your face when painting the ceiling).

>>Stop a squeaky door by coating the hinge-pin with the petroleum jelly. No danger of dripping as with oil

>>Put a thick coating on the threads of glue tubes or any screw cap where the ingredients can seal on the cap, for easy removal next time around.

>>Petroleum jelly shines patent leather.

>>Remove white water rings and hot dish marks from furniture by coating with the jelly and letting stand overnight.

>>A thin coating over the threads of light bulbs makes removal a cinch. (I have done this with my new CFLs and it works)

>>Instead of masking tape, use a Q-Tip to apply jelly to the panes of glass right next to the wooden parts

>>Petroleum jelly on the car battery terminals will help prevent corrosion.

>>A refrigerator door gasket that doesn’t quite seal can do its job better with a thin coating.

>>Nuts & bolts that must be removed come off easier when coated with petroleum jelly.

>>Don’t just put a tennis ball over a trailer hitch, coat the hitch with jelly and then add the tennis ball

>>Protect small stored metal parts and tools in a plastic sandwich baggie with enough petroleum jelly to cover the tool.

>>The attachments for your vacuum cleaner will be easier to remove and install if coated

>>Work in some petroleum jelly into your hands before you put your work gloves on and go outside to work. This helps with chapped hands

>>Coat the chrome on your car with petroleum jelly before you stash it away for storage

>>In an emergency, a lit birthday candle in a jar of petroleum jelly will burn for hours

How to make a non-petroleum Jelly
INGREDIENTS
2 ounces olive oil
1/2 ounce grated beeswax
12 drops grapefruit seed extract

1. In a double boiler over simmering water and medium heat, combine the olive oil and beeswax, and heat until the wax has melted.
2. Remove mixture from the heat and add the grapefruit seed extract.
3. Beat with a hand mixer until creamy.
Makes 1/4 cup; store in a glass jar with a screw-top. This jelly will keep for a year, so mark well.