9 Surprising Yet Brilliant Uses For Vanilla

I think it’s safe to say that most of us have a bottle of vanilla extract in our kitchens. This natural food item comes in handy when baking a number of sweet treats, but did you know that it also offers a ton of other uses? Here are nine surprising yet brilliant uses for vanilla!

1. Refrigerator
Wipe down the inside with some vanilla to neutralize any smells. To keep it smelling fresh, soak a cotton ball in vanilla and place it in the refrigerator.
2. Air Freshener
Place one to two drops on a lightbulb, turn on the light, and the heat will fill the air with the scent of vanilla.
3. Paint
Neutralize the smell of paint by adding one tablespoon of vanilla.
4. Bug Repellant
Dilute one tablespoon of vanilla in one cup of water. Spray on skin to repel mosquitoes, ticks, and black flies.
5. Relieves Burns
Apply vanilla to the burn to relieve pain.
6. Relieves Toothaches
Dip a cotton ball in vanilla and apply to affected tooth.
7. Reduces Swelling
Apply directly to a bruise or swollen area.
8. Removes Labels
Soak the label with vanilla to remove it and the sticky residue.
9. Perfume
Dab a little vanilla behind your ears and on your wrists.
