Time has led many of us to switch our tastes from bar soap to liquid versions, but bar soap still has its virtues. Though the only place you may see it now is in your grandmother’s soap dish (yeah, a soap dish), it won’t hurt to keep a few bars in stock.

What’s the purpose? So glad you asked. You can do more than cleanse your skin with the old standby, and a bar of soap is versatile enough to handle tasks that go beyond washing. You can use it indoors and outdoors, and you don’t even have to lather it up for it to work its magic.

Just in case you’re still turned off by the idea of even keeping one bar in your home, read this first. Bar soap isn’t a germ factory that should be avoided, but a household essential that can come in handy in a pinch.

Check out all the ways you can use a bar of soap without stepping into the shower!

1. Bug Bites

   Dealing with itchy bumps and welts? As Apartment Therapy notes:

   To beat the bite, try a basic bar of soap for quick relief instead of pricey over the counter products …. Simply rub the dry bar on your skin, thoroughly covering the area. That’s all there is to it! The relief from this method is super fast and works faster than you can mix up other household remedies.

2. Remedy for Squeaky Things

   For squeaky doors, drawers, or floors, rub a dry soap bar onto the offending section (like hinges or tracks) and listen for quiet.

3. Fog Prevention

   Hate it when your eyeglasses get foggy? Rub a little dry soap onto the lenses and buff it off with a clean cloth. You can use the same method to prevent your bathroom mirror from fogging up.

4. Unstick Stuck Things

   Zippers and windows can be lubricated to move with ease by rubbing some dry soap along their tracks.

5. Odor Fighter

   Instead of using old fashioned sachets, freshen up your closet, drawers, or luggage by placing a bar of soap where you want a nice scent. Leave it in its package!

6. Pre-treat Laundry Stains

   If you have a ring on your collar or a spot on your clothes, rub soap on it until laundry day. It will do the trick!

7. Gardening

   Repel deer, insects, and mice with some chopped up pieces of soap. If you are feeling really gnarly about battling beasts, cut a bar in half and stake each half on a metal or wooden rod and place it around your yard.

   You can also hang it up. And we should note that Irish Spring is a favorite brand to use in the garden, but any highly fragrant soap should do the trick.

8. Break in Your Shoes

   Tough leather? Rub some soap onto the parts where the shoe causes friction  such as the top inner parts and corners.

9. Hardware Lubrication

   Before hammering your nails in, stick them into some soap to lube them up. You can do the same thing with tools (like a saw), sewing needles, and screws.

10. Leg Cramps

    It may sound like an old wives’ tale, but you can slip a bar of soap in between your bed sheets to prevent nighttime leg cramps. As Good Housekeeping points out, some folks swear by it (my aunt tried it and now does!):

    Snoozing with suds supposedly prevents nocturnal leg cramps, those painful muscle contractions waking you in the middle of the night. According to a Twitter poll conducted by The Doctors, 42% of people say soap does the trick. Co-host Dr. Jim Sears couldn’t find any scientific evidence supporting the practice, but that hasn’t deterred others.

    On a 2010 episode of The Dr. Oz Show, Dr. Mehmet Oz recommended lavender soap as a “crazy home remedy” for Restless Leg Syndrome. “I know this sounds crazy, but people put it under their sheets,” he said. “We think the lavender is relaxing and maybe itself beneficial.”

11. Mark Your Cuts

    If you need to mark a position for cuts – such as with a saw or sewing – use soap instead of chalk or a marker.

Do you still have love for bars of soap? What brand is your favorite? Are there any ways you use it that aren’t related to bathing?