Being somewhat of a nail art addict, my nail polish collection is quite extensive… And, that also means I find it really hard to throw away old polishes 😉 And, over the years, I have found these “alternative” uses to be super handy for my old nail polishes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rustproof Metal
Apply nail polish to metal objects or surfaces that are exposed to moisture on a regular basis, and therefore vulnerable to rusting. For example, in the bathroom or outdoors.

 

Some Ideas:

• I always hated the way my shaving cream can started to rust along the bottom, and then left rust rings where I left it standing. But, since I started applying a thin layer of nail polish to the bottom rim of my cans, as soon as I buy them, this problem has become a thing of the past.
• Screws or metal hooks in your bathroom or on your patio can be waterproofed with a layer of nail polish.
• Keep any chip marks in your car paint from rusting by coating the damaged areas with nail polish.

 

Tighten Loose Screws
For an extra hold, coat your screws in a bit of nail polish, screw them into place before it dries, and remove any excess polish that spills out with a quick wipe. After the polish dries, it will give you much greater durability. This is also a great tip for keeping those pesky little screws in your reading or sun glasses in place.

 

 
Threading a Needle
Threading a needle can sometimes be a painful experience… And, the ‘licking the tip’ method can only go so far, before the thread starts to fray! A quick fix for this is dipping the end of your thread in a small amount of nail polish for easy thread-ability. Be sure that you do not have too much polish on the thread though. You don’t want it to be too thick to fit through the eye of the needle. Roll the thread end between your thumb and forefinger. It will dry in a second, and your thread end will be stiff enough to thread in a flash.

 

Keep Laces / String / Rope / Ribbon / etc. from Unravelling
Burning the ends of cut rope or ribbon will prevent it from fraying, but this can often leave the ends looking ugly and blackened. Using a bit of nail polish instead works just as well! Simply coat the ends with clear nail polish (or coloured nail polish for some fun) to prevent any fraying.

 

 

Protect Your Costume Jewellery
Coat your costume jewellery with a layer of clear nail polish to keep the rhinestones in place for longer. Or paint a thin coat of clear nail polish on your costume jewellery to prevent tarnishing.

 

 

Prevent Skin Irritation from “Low Quality” Metals
If you wear jewellery’s made from low quality metal – and we all do!!! – coat the area that touches your skin with either clear nail polish, and remember to re-coat it so now and then. This also works really well for jeans buttons and belt buckles or any other metal that touches your skin.

 

 

Mark Levels in a Bucket or Container
This is a helpful tip for your cleaning bucket, for example. You can mark how much soap you need and another level for how much water you need.

 

 

Colour code objects to easily distinguish them. For example, if you have a couple of keys on your key ring that look similar. Or another good idea is to mark the different cables going into your entertainment system, for easy re-assembly.

 

Waterproof Matches
Make sure your matches will work, even when they become damp, by dipping the flammable head in some nail polish.

 

Spice Shaker Hole Sealer
If you have a spice shaker that dispenses a little too generously, close up a few holes by painting over them with nail polish.

Article by: Mariaan Enslin