8 Surprising Ways To Use Talc

Talc has many uses, although it is commonly used on the skin of young children to prevent diaper rash. Talc has a nice fresh smell that removes excess moisture. Recently, however, there has been a different debate about talc, as talc can be dangerous for babies when it enters the airways. In addition, talc can dry out sensitive skin.

Talc is still widely available, but its popularity when used on children’s skin is declining. The American Academy of Pediatrics therefore recommends that talc should not be used in the treatment of infants or young children. However, there are many other uses for talc in addition to preventing diaper rash, and talc is suitable for home use.

If you have a jar of talc in your closet that you want to get rid of, you can try the ingenious ways to use talc in this article.

Surprising uses for talc

1. Talc removes grease stains

If grease spreads on clothes or fabrics, it can be difficult to remove. You often have to resort to strong chemicals to remove stains. If grease spills on the shirt from the pan, you can conveniently remove the stain with talc.

If you want to get rid of grease stains quickly, you can sprinkle the talc directly on the stain and let it soak for a few minutes. Wipe the talc off and it will remove the grease as it goes.

Recommended reading: Homemade stain removers for fabrics

2. Mute the snarling shoes

Often when you buy a new pair of shoes, they tickle and snag while walking. This is due to the friction that occurs when materials are heated. Natina goes on every step and can be really annoying.

To silence new shoes, you can sprinkle talcum inside the shoe and repeat as needed. Often one application is enough to remove the staple. In addition, talc removes bad odors from older shoes.  Sprinkle plenty of talc inside the shoes and let it work overnight. Clean your shoes of talc the next morning and enjoy the fresh scent.

3. Save the kitchen gloves

Mold is easily spread on kitchen gloves, which breaks down the plastic and makes the gloves unusable.

To keep kitchen gloves in shape for longer and to prevent the growth of microorganisms inside the gloves, add a small amount of talc inside the gloves after each use. Talc absorbs excess moisture, preventing bacteria or mold from growing inside the glove. A small amount of talc is enough.

4. Silence woody wood floors

Old wood floors are a beautiful feature indoors, but unfortunately they creak easily. Just like with soaking shoes, talc can be used to silence wooden floors.

Apply talc to the gaps between the floorboards in the area where the creak bothers you the most. Go through the area with a brush or broom to allow even the smallest talc particles to settle in the crevices and cavities in the boards.

5. Expel the ants

Talc is a dangerous substance for ants, and ants cannot pass through the talc without being damaged. If you suffer from an ant problem in the kitchen or garden, you can spread the talc on the ant routes – this will definitely keep them at bay. Talc is a safer alternative to insecticides.

Sprinkle talc especially on windows, doors and other crevices where ants can enter the apartment. Also delimit the perimeter of the garden with talc. If ants are bothering you on a picnic or while in the park, you can carry a small talc pot with it and sprinkle it around the blanket: the ants stay visibly away from the picnic treats.

6. Shampoo for oily hair

In addition to removing grease stains, talc is suitable for the treatment of oily hair. Talc absorbs excess fat and makes hair airy and clean.

If your scalp is easily oily, you can dry it by applying talcum powder to your skin 15 minutes before shampooing. Let the talc absorb the excess fat and wash your hair as usual.

Talc leaves a fresh scent. You can also treat animal fur with talc, and your pet may not need a water wash after talc treatment.

7. After shaving

Talc soothes irritated skin from hair removal. Talc has a cooling effect that relieves irritation of the skin driven by the planer. If you have sensitive skin, you can use talc to prevent allergic reactions.

8. Remove the smell of cat litter

The purpose of cat litter is to absorb the smell of urine, but often cat litter begins to smell bad. To avoid this, you can add four tablespoons of talc to the cat litter container. Talc effectively removes odor.

All in all, talc is suitable for many different purposes at home and in the garden, and while it may not be recommended when used on baby’s skin, it can still be used for other purposes. If you have a jar in your toilet cabinet and don’t know what you would do with the talc, try the tricks featured in this article. Talc refreshes and cleanses and leaves a refreshing scent.