8 Things You Can Clean with Baby Shampoo

Baby shampoo, with its gentle formula, can be used for cleaning more than just hair. Where most shampoos contain surfactants such as sodium lauryl sulfate, which work to remove dirt and oils by reducing the surface tension of liquids, baby shampoo formulas employ smaller quantities of gentler long chain surfactants to aid in cleaning.

When cleaning instructions call for a "mild soap," baby shampoo is a product that falls into that category. Mild soaps are recommended for everything from cleaning delicate needlework to dirty makeup brushes, and baby shampoo is a great option for those tasks. Ahead, we've rounded up eight ways to clean using baby shampoo.

1. Makeup Brushes

Makeup brushes should be cleaned regularly, ideally weekly to monthly, to remove buildup from the cosmetics, as well as dead skin and sebum, and to eliminate any bacteria the brushes may be harboring. Gentle baby shampoo works well as a cleaning agent for makeup brushes and is an inexpensive alternative to makeup brush cleaner.

To use baby shampoo to clean makeup brushes, dilute a few drops of baby shampoo with lukewarm water and submerge the bristles in the solution, allowing enough soaking time for the shampoo and water to penetrate them. Then, gently brush the sudsy bristles back and forth on your palm or on a silicone makeup brush cleaning pad to dislodge buildup. Rinse the bristles well, squeeze out excess water, reshape the brush, and allow it to air dry completely before using.

2. Clothes

There are certain types of clothing and accessories, like delicate lingerie, sweaters, or embellished items, that are best washed by hand, rather than in a machine. When hand-laundering, there are a number of good choices for cleaning agents, including liquid laundry detergent and no-rinse detergents. Baby shampoo also works well for this purpose. When hand-washing, remember that precise dosing is important to ensure that the clothes come out clean and free of residue. For more information, please refer to our guide on how to hand-wash clothes, including bras, tights and hosiery, sweaters, and ballcaps.

3. Helmet Interiors

Baby shampoo is a great choice for cleaning baseball caps and other hats because it's designed to cut through the oils, dead skin, sweat, and personal care products that buildup on hair as well as anything worn on the head. Similarly, baby shampoo is a good choice for cleaning the interior of protective helmets to remove soils and buildup, including odor-causing bacteria that can leave helmets (and your hair!) smelling less than fresh.

To clean a helmet using baby shampoo, dilute a few drops of baby shampoo in lukewarm water to make a mild detergent solution. Dip a white or light-colored rag in the solution, wring it out well, and wipe the interior of the helmet using gentle but firm pressure. Rinse the rag and repeat as needed until the sudsy rag is no longer lifting visible dirt and residue, then wipe the inside of the helmet well using clean water. Allow to air dry before using.

4. Hair Styling Tools

Hair styling tools, from brushes to flat irons, should be cleaned to remove buildup from dead skin, naturally occurring oils, and grooming products. Baby shampoo, which is formulated to gently remove those things from hair, serves as an excellent cleaning agent for use on hair styling tools of all kinds.

5. Paint and Dye Stains

Gentle baby shampoo can also be used to treat stains in laundry, including water-based paint and some hair dyes. Dab baby shampoo on paint- or dye-stained clothing prior to laundering, or use it to remove latex paint from paint brushes and other crafting tools and materials.

6. Needlepoint, Embroidery, and Other Needlecraft

Stained or dingy needlework pieces can be hand-washed with a gentle detergent like baby shampoo. Before exposing delicate needlework to water, however, it is critical that you test it for colorfastness to avoid causing irreversible damage from fugitive dyes. If the piece is colorfast (i.e. the dyes will not run when exposed to water), it can be submerged in a solution of lukewarm water and a few drops of baby shampoo for 10 minutes to remove dirt, stains, and other buildup. After soaking, rinse it well, roll it in a towel to extrude excess water, and lay it flat to air dry, reblocking the piece if needed.

7. Costume Jewelry

While not ideal for use on precious gems, gold, silver, or platinum jewelry, baby shampoo is safe for cleaning chrome, which is often used in costume jewelry. Make a gentle costume jewelry cleaning solution by combining a few drops of baby shampoo with 1/2 tsp. baking soda and enough water to make a loose paste. Rub it onto the jewelry with a soft cloth, polish it to a shine, then buff the piece dry to remove residue.

8. As an "In a Pinch" Cleaning Agent

Because it is a mild soap, baby shampoo can be used for cleaning common household items if other cleaning agents are not available. Some of the "in a pinch" uses for baby shampoo include washing dishes; as a cleaner for floors, countertops, walls, and other hard surfaces; and as laundry detergent, either for machine- or hand-washing.