Many of you know that I’m a former teacher, but did you also know that I used to work with infants? During that time, I discovered that baby wipes were helpful in many ways besides the intended use. And, now as a new mom, I’ve found a few more.

1. Make up remover. I used to buy facial cloths to remove make up before going to bed. One night, I decided to try a baby wipe and it worked like a charm. They are soft and remove face paint easily. The bonus is that they are more cost-effective than the facial towelettes I used to buy.

2. Stain remover. Back when I was an infant teacher, I found out that baby wipes worked fabulously to remove spit up from clothing.  Fast forward several years later and now I also use them to remove stains from clothing (think deodorant streaks and food spills), furniture, and carpet.

3. Picker-upper for every day spills. Food spills on the counter or the baby’s high chair don’t stand a chance against the power of a baby wipe. Because they are already moist, there’s no need to spray down the surface first. Very efficient.

4. Cleaner for frequently used items. They are tough on stains and gentle on things like your keyboard, mouse, and remote control. Germs like to congregate on those areas (including the handles of shopping carts and your refrigerator, door knobs, etc.) and using baby wipes are a great way to keep them at bay. Another great use: cleaning off dusty shoes and flip flops and wiping down toys.

5. Cleaner for just about any surface in your home or car. For your home, think blinds, window sills, shelving, microwave, and top of the refrigerator. In your car, use them on your steering wheel, dashboard, door handles, and cup holder pockets.

6. Cleaner of four-legged friends.  Dirty dog paws are quickly eliminated with the swipe of a baby wipe. So are  messy whiskers and bushy tails.

Those are the top six ways I use baby wipes. If I come up with a few more, I’ll let you know. Until then, leave a comment with the creative ways you use them.