soft paraffin

Motor cleanser - dip a toothbrush in paraffin to get oil out of difficult nooks and crannies.

Manicure - use a soft toothbrush and soapy water to clean finger and toe nails.

Crevice cleaner - can be used with metal polish to clean intricate silverware, brassware etc. (use gently so as not to damage the item), or with furniture polish to remove dust from carved wood.

Scrubbing brush - old toothbrushes are ideal to unblock the vents on small appliances such as vacuum cleaners, cleaning tile grout, grimy combs, typewriter keys, around plug holes etc.

TOOTHBRUSHES

De-mister - to prevent bathroom mirrors misting up, spread a little shaving cream over it and then wipe the mirror clean with a tissue.

Upholstery cleaner - rub a fresh stain on upholstered furniture with a small amount of shaving cream, wipe with a damp cloth, then dry.  (best to test first).

Lubricant - if you door hinge squeaks, spray both side of the hinge joint with some foamy shaving cream, then wipe of the excess.

SHAVING CREAM

Crystal/Porcelain cleaner - carefully clean delicate crystal and porcelain objects with a cloth dampened with surgical spirit.

Bathroom cleaner - surgical spirit will remove hair spray from mirrors and restore the shine on chrome taps.

Windowsill cleaner - To brighten up rain spotted or discoloured wooden windowsills, wipe with a soft cloth and little surgical spirit diluted with water.

Pepper neutraliser - to take the sting out of your hands after handling chilli peppers, rub in surgical spirit.

SURGICAL SPIRIT

Detergent - if you need a gentle soap for hand washables, use shampoo.

Shaving Cream - if you run out of shaving cream apply a small amount of shampoo to your skin and work up into a lather.

SHAMPOO

Ring remover - before trying to remove a tight ring smear petroleum jelly on your finger around the ring.

Smooth runner - smear on window and drawer tracks to prevent sticking.

Eyebrow tamer - to tidy up unruly eyebrows smear on a light film of petroleum jelly.

Thread easer - smear thread of bolts, screws, plumbing etc. with petroleum jelly to make them easier to remove at a future date.

Lid saver - smear the inside of a container lid with petroleum jelly to prevent lids sticking (especially useful for such things as nail varnish.

Rust preventor - protect metal parts of tools, cooking utensils, sporting equipment, skis etc. by coating with petroleum jelly.

Squeak eliminator and lubricator - rub petroleum jelly on axles, skateboard, roller skate, pushchair wheels to get rid of squeaks and improve rotation.

Body insulator - If you don't want to wear bulky clothes while exercising outdoors, cover your exposed skin with petroleum jelly, it will keep you warm.

Softener - massage petroleum jelly into the cuticles of your fingertips every morning and night.

MEDIJEL^TM

The raw material for petroleum jelly was discovered in 1859 in Titusville, Pennsylvania, United States, on some of the country's first oil rigs. Workers disliked the paraffin -like material forming on rigs because it caused them to malfunction, but they used it on cuts and burns because it hastened healing.

• Petroleum jelly, petrolatum or soft paraffin is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons (with carbon numbers mainly higher than 25), originally promoted as a topical ointment for its healing properties. Its folkloric medicinal value as a cure-all has since been limited by better scientific understanding of appropriate and inappropriate uses (see Uses below). However, it is recognized by the U.S.Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an approved over-the-counter (OTC) skin protectant and remains widely used in cosmetic skin care.

Softener - massage petroleum jelly into the cuticles of your fingertips every morning and night.