Vick’s VapoRub is a very popular household item. However, most people believe that it only serves as a treatment for congestion caused by the common cold. Normally, you just rub it on your chest, but most people don’t really know that the little jar made up of eucalyptus oil, menthol, camphor, and other calming agents has more than one purpose. There are actually about 40 different uses!
Relieve Sore Muscles
Hack: Use Vick’s to relieve sore muscles
This is one of the uses indicated on the jar itself; however, it’s a forgotten use due to Vick’s being advertised for congestion. But it can relieve sore muscles too. The menthol in Vick’s is not only cool on the skin, but it improves circulation. If you have a sore muscle, grab a jar of Vick’s and rub it on that area.
Use it to Train Your Pets
Hack: Use Vick’s to train your pet not to make a mess in the house.
If your dog or cat is making a habit of marking his or her territory around the house, you can use Vick’s VapoRub to train them. Take a jar of Vicks VapoRub and place it in an area that your pet often makes a mess.
The product’s strong scent will have an effect on them by deterring them from making a mess again in that area. This is a gentle and easy method to house-train them.
A Form of Antiseptic
Hack: Use Vick’s as an antiseptic on wounds.
This hack is an alternative to Neosporin. If your kid scraped their knee and you ran out of Neosporin, then this is the perfect way to use your Vick’s. Spread a thin layer around the wounded area to help speed up the healing process. This also protects the wound against bacteria and germs. It will sting for a brief moment, but that should fade rather quickly.
Shower Bomb
Hack: Use the VapoRub as a shower bomb.
You may have heard of bath bombs before, but shower bombs are a great way to relax in the shower. There are products called “shower disks” that contain Vick’s VapoRub that you can buy. After you place the item in the shower, the vapor will gradually dissolve into the steam-filled air. The vapor paired with the steam from the shower will swiftly clear up any clogged sinuses that you may be suffering from.
An Alternative to Skin Moisturizer
Hack: Use Vick’s as a moisturizer.
Vick’s VapoRub can actually be used as a skin moisturizer – and a great one at that. It works well on extremely dry or chapped skin. VapoRub helps to restore moisture back into your skin. This can be used on your face, hands, and feet.
Healing Cooking Burns
Hack: Heal small cooking burns with Vick’s.
We’ve all been there. It’s not hard to burn yourself while cooking. The first thing you should do when you get burned is to put your burn under cool water. Let it cool down a bit, then take out your jar of Vick’s and apply some to the burn. It will help to soothe the burn, and it speeds up the healing process.
Relieve Itchiness
Hack: Use Vick’s to relieve itchiness.
Itchy skin is uncomfortable and annoying. Scratching only relieves the itch temporarily, but Vick’s can help. Use VapoRub on dry skin or bug bites. It will help to not only relieve the red and itchy skin, but also to prevent itchiness.
Soothe That Sunburn
Hack: Use VapoRub to soothe a sunburn.
Summer means that you will be outside in the hot sun. Being out in the hot sun brings awful sunburns. Being sunburnt can be miserable, and not everyone has a tub of aloe. If you have a jar of Vick’s, then you’re in luck. Vick’s is similar to aloe vera, once it’s applied your sunburn quickly begins to feel cool and soothed.
Help With Stretch Marks
Hack: Use Vick’s to help with unwanted stretch marks.
Stretch marks are a very common issue. Whether you’ve gained or lost weight, or are pregnant, Vick’s can help with stretch marks. The ingredients in Vicks help your stretch skin feel a lot softer including; the eucalyptus oil, cedar leaf oil, petrolatum, camphor, and turpentine oil. Vick’s will help keep stretch marks from standing out.
Prevent Skin Infections
Hack: Use Vick’s to prevent skin infections.
Having a wound infection is not fun at all. Not only can an infection be harder for the wound to heal, but it can also leave a scar. Anything that helps minimize an infection is something worth trying. So, of course, any hack that minimizes the headache of dealing with an infection is a good one. And yes, Vick’s can help with that.
Help Treat Acne
Hack: Treat acne with Vick’s.
Everyone has had acne at least once in their lifetime. Acne is unwanted and uncomfortable. Vick’s can actually help with acne. Put VapoRub on your pimples or other blemishes and leave it on overnight. When you wake up in the morning, wash it off, and the blemish should be less prominent.
Calming Bug Repellent
Hack: Use Vick’s as a bug repellent.
No one likes to have a bug bite. They are itchy and uncomfortable. It’s also not fun to be at a barbeque and to constantly swat at bugs. Apply a thin layer of VapoRub to your exposed skin. The smell should repel those pesky bugs. This hack is perfect for going camping.
Help Alleviate Bruises
Hack: help heal bruises quicker with Vick’s.
Do you bruise easily? Then this hack is for you. You will need some Vick’s and salt. With a pinch of salt and a dab of Vicks, rub it onto any areas of your skin that are bruised. Repeat this process until your bruise goes away. It will quickly dissolve the bruise.
Relieve Earaches
Hack: Help relieve the pain of an earache with Vick’s.
Do you have or get earaches? Vick’s VapoRub can help with that. Put a small amount of the VapoRub on a cotton ball and put it in your ear for a few hours. Do this several times throughout the day, until the pain goes away. This reduces the pain and it prevents potential infections. Earaches are painful and uncomfortable. This hack is certainly worth it to try and see if it works for you.
Relieve Headaches
Hack: help relieve the pain of a headache with Vick’s.
Migraines and headaches are painful and can make you feel miserable. Vicks can provide some migraine relief. Vick’s has the ingredient menthol, which can help with headaches. If your headaches aren’t improving at all, check with your doctor. The rub helps to cool off your temples and relieve the pressure. Headaches are very common. It’s worth it to give this hack a try!
Eye Makeup Remover
Hack: Use Vick’s for removing makeup.
Are you out of eye makeup remover? Don’t worry; all you need is Vick’s. Put a small amount on a cotton ball or pad to wipe the tops of your eyelids and around your eyes. Avoid wiping it directly on your eye or eyelashes- it could really sting. If you end up getting Vick’s in your eyes, just rinse with water or a saline solution.
Help Burn Some Fat
Hack: Try using Vick’s as a way to deal with cellulite.
Are you wanting to get rid of some fat and cellulite? Who doesn’t? Apply some VapoRub mixed with camphor, baking soda, and a little bit of alcohol can do the trick. Rub this mixture on the area you want to slim down and cover it with some plastic wrap. You may notice some results; however, this is a hack that would need to be done often.
Removing Lipstick
Hack: Use VapoRub as an alternative to lipstick remover.
Do you have matte lipstick on that you can’t take off? Is it just smudging everywhere? Then this hack is for you. Apply a thin layer of VapoRub on your stained lips and let it sit there for approximately 5 minutes before wiping it off. Your lips will go back to their original natural color, and Vick’s will also provide some much needed moisture to your lips as well.
Relieve Tennis Elbow
Hack: Use Vick’s to help ease the pain of tennis elbow.
Have you ever had tennis elbow? Then you know the pain. Luckily, Vick’s can help. Massage VapoRub onto your elbow until the ingredients, specifically the camphor and menthol, soothe the pain.
Stimulate Hair Growth
Hack: Help stimulate hair growth with Vick’s.
It’s said that Vick’s can help promote hair growth. Take a small amount of Vick’s and apply it to your scalp, you may start to notice some benefits. There are a few benefits to applying Vick’s to your hair including; that it stimulates blood flow to the scalp, it kills scalp bacteria, and it promotes hair growth. Apply it to your hair a few times a week.
Relieve Night Coughs
Hack: Use Vick’s to help with night coughing.
Normally, Vick’s is applied to your chest to relieve coughing and congestion. However, it can also be put on your feet as well to stop night coughing. This may sound odd, but put Vick’s on your feet before you go to sleep. Rub a decent amount of VapoRub all over your feet and cover them with socks.
Use With Your Bedtime Humidifier
Hack: Put Vick’s in your humidifier.
There are certain types of vaporizers and humidifiers that allow you to add extra elements. There are even some humidifiers that have a specific compartment for Vick’s VapoRub. Make sure you check that the humidifier has an aromatherapy compartment before buying it- if you are wanting to buy one. The humidifier will circulate the Vicks in the air, throughout the room. This hack will keep you breathing easily all night.
Fix a Squeaky Door
Hack: Vick’s can help with a squeaky door.
Do you have a squeaky door that is driving you crazy? Try using Vick’s VapoRub. Put Vick’s on the inside of the hinges. If they keep squeaking, try using a hammer and nail to tap out the pins inside of the hinges, and coat them with VapoRub. After that, tap the pins back into the hinges.
Hide Bad Smells
Hack: Vick’s can help mask bad odors.
Vick’s can be a great smell hider. There are different smells that you may want to cover up. The house can get stinky; from baby diapers to full garbage bags, and your pets’ messes. This hack works, and it actually can disguise some bad smells.
Treat a Dry Scalp
Hack: Use Vick’s to treat your dry scalp.
Vick’s is a great way to treat your dry scalp. Take a small amount of Vick’s and rub it onto the dry parts of your scalp. Do this right before you go to bed or after you take a shower. The oil from the eucalyptus and the petroleum work together as a balm for your scalp. It helps to take the itch and flakes away from your scalp.
Treat Hemorrhoids
Hack: Vick’s can even help treat hemorrhoids.
Hemorrhoids are awful and painful. If you have some right now, then grab your bottle of Vick’s. For small, itchy hemorrhoids, apply Vick’s and let the menthol drown the itch out. Before you try this hack, make sure you can tolerate the burn. Try testing Vick’s on another body part. If the sting is manageable, then you can try it out.
Keeping Your Horse Focused
Hack: Vick’s can help your horse stay focused.
Horses can become easily distracted by the scent of female horses. Apple some Vicks’ under his nose to help keep him focused. Going for a ride doesn’t need to be canceled, just because it’s mating season. Believe it or not-this has been a secret in the equestrian trade for years.
An Acting Aide
Hack: cry on cue!
Are you an actor? Do you find it hard to cry on cue? Then this is the hack for you. All you need is some Vick’s. If you need to cry for a scene, just grab some Vick’s and apply a little underneath your eye. This will help you to shed some tears.
Croup and Pneumonia Salve
Hack: Use Vick’s as a salve for pneumonia
In the 1890s, Lunsford Richardson, the original pharmacist in North Carolina, created and sold 21 home remedies under the “Vicks” name. The best-selling version was the Vicks Croup and Pneumonia Salve. The salve’s ingredients included menthol. People didn’t know that by rubbing it onto a person’s chest, body heat vaporizes the menthol, releasing soothing, medicated vapors.
Treatment for Chapped Lips
Hack: Use Vick’s as a way to heal chapped lips.
VapoRub can help with chapped lips, just like how it can help with dry skin. If your lips are dry, use Vicks to moisturize them. Avoid licking your lips, because it doesn’t have the best taste.
A Treatment for Psoriasis and Eczema
Hack: Help treat skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema with Vick’s.
Do you have eczema or psoriasis? Vick’s can help with that. VapoRub on your eczema will reduce the inflammation and itchiness. It will also make your skin feel smoother and more refreshed.