24 Surprisingly Beneficial and Convenient Uses for Clear Nail Polish

I used to bite my nails badly as a child, so even though it’s been nearly 10 years now that I’ve had long nails (well, that’s average-length to you non-biters), I simply must keep them painted and looking lovely so that I can show them off proudly, and make sure that I never regress. But this post isn’t about nail polish in its regular function…

I’ve shown you some fantastic nail art hacks and techniques before, but now it’s time to show you just how versatile a bottle of clear nail polish can be. Sure, it’s the most boring and plain of all the polishes, but you’ll make sure to always have it on you once you see just how much it can help you in your everyday life.

Save Stockings and Screens

I’m sure every woman out there knows how nail polish can save stockings from huge ladders and gaping holes, but did you realize that you can use the same technique on window screens too?

Lifehack Source and Instructions – AccurateBuildingInspectors

Seal Labels

A quick coat of clear nail polish will seal any labels that you make for jars, garden plants or food. It’ll make the label waterproof and smudge-proof, so you won’t run the risk of any labels being ruined and accidentally eating expired food.

Prevent Popping Buttons

If you’re worried that an important button may come loose and pop off in a moment of embarrassment, you can simply paint some nail polish on the thread in the center. Not only will this save you from any possible future awkwardness, but it also saves you from busting out the ol’ needle and thread.

No Rust Rings

When your metal cans of hairspray or shaving cream get wet, they can cause some unsightly rust rings on the sink counter. In order to prevent these ugly red-brown rings, simply coat the bottom of the can with some of the nail polish.

No Car Rust

As with the rust rings in your bathroom, some clear varnish can protect your car paint from rusting. Any small scratch on the surface can lead to rust, so the moment you notice it, do all you can to stop it from getting worse.

No More Green Fingers

Costume jewelry that isn’t made from pure silver or gold can stain your fingers that algae green color, and no one likes that! Paint the inside of the ring with clear nail polish to avoid contact with the skin. And if you ever get rashes from nickel allergy, this should prevent that too (just remember to re-coat every now and then).

Fix Jewelry

Apart from giving you green fingers, cheaper costume jewelry is also more likely to have a stone pop out. If that does happen and you don’t have any super glue at hand, some clear varnish makes a wonderful adhesive. You can also coat entire jewelry pieces to stall the inevitable tarnishing.

Custom Color

If you can’t seem to find the perfect shade of nail polish then you can just make it yourself. All you need to do is mix a bit of eyeshadow with clear polish and you can have any color you dream of.

Lifehack Source and Instructions – DelightedMomma

Reinforced Envelopes

If the contents of an envelope are especially important or sensitive, you can use a bit of clear nail polish as a double seal to keep your papers safe.

Waterproof Matches

Going on a hike or camping trip? Fire is a must, so ensuring that your matches don’t get wet and ruined is very important. The solution? Dip the tips of the matches in your bottle of clear nail polish to create a waterproof seal.

Lifehack Source and Instructions – WikiHow

Prevent Yellow Nails

Yellow nail polish can make a real statement, but yellow stained nails are far from good. This yellowing is caused by darker nail polish shades, so before applying, first paint a protective layer of clear polish.

Limit Salt Intake

Too much salt can really be detrimental to your health, so here’s a clever little hack to limiting your intake somewhat. Dab some of the saltshaker holes with the clear varnish so that less salt comes out. Just make sure that you don’t let any of the varnish actually drip into the shaker.

Tighten Screws

Those tiny little screws on the arms of your glasses or sunglasses can come loose sometimes, and when they do, finding the right tiny-sized tool can prove to be a little tough. You can prevent the loosening in the first place by coating them with some of the polish. Of course, this works with any screw in any item, but you’ll be thanking me especially for the glasses.

Windshield Repair

A chip or crack in your windshield can be extremely annoying, but it’s also dangerous. You can temporarily prevent a small chip from spreading any further with some of that trusty nail varnish.

Lifehack Source and Instructions – Lil’Luna

Easy Needle Threading

The levels of frustration get really high really quickly when I struggle to get a frayed thread through the eye on a needle. Before reaching the point of pulling out your hair, do what I do and paint the end with some polish so that it stiffens and slides right through.

Stop Splintering

Wooden furniture can sometimes splinter, and if the splinter snags on your clothing, you could be reduced to tears at the sight of a huge whole in your favorite top (and it’ll hurt your skin, too!). Simply slice off the splinter and then coat the affected area with nail polish to avoid any possible misfortune.

Shiny Belt Buckles

If you coat a brand new belt buckle with clear varnish, you’ll slow the oxidation process considerably, meaning that your buckles will keep their luster and shine for much longer.

Wart Removal

No one likes a wart, that’s a fact. If you want to get rid of your wart at home by yourself, you can suffocate it with your clear varnish. Without oxygen, the wart won’t be able to spread, and will eventually shed.

Lifehack Source and Instructions – HowToGetRidOfWarts

DIY Glitter Polish

If you want that sparkly effect but don’t have any glitter nail polish around, just apply a coat of the clear stuff and then dip eh nail into a pot of crafting glitter for an easy and frugal DIY version.

Lifehack Source and Instructions – FleurDeForce

No More Itch

If you just can’t stop scratching an itchy bug bite, then coating the area with some clear nail polish can bring you that sweet relief. Just make sure not to apply it to any open scratches. I’m not 100% sure on the science behind this, but apparently blocking the oxygen to the bite makes it less itchy.

Prevent Unravelling Shoelaces

If you notice that the ends of you shoelaces or drawstrings are starting to unravel and fray then you need to nip that in the bud, pronto! Coat the ends with nail polish and twist them while drying. You can then trim off any excess fray and give it another coat to be safe.

Shoe Repair

A little piece of me dies inside every time I notice a scuff mark on any of my beloved shoes, so thankfully, a little bit of clear nail varnish can prevent it from getting worse. This works especially well on patent leather.

Seal Pet Collars

Depending on what kind of name tag you have on your fur child, if you’re concerned about the name and phone number coming off during playtime, simply seal it with a coat of polish.

Rejuvenate Rusty Screws

If rusty screws are making your items look worn and ugly, you can give them a makeover by removing the rust, coloring it with a permanent marker, and then sealing it all with some of that clear varnish. Or if you just think colorful screw heads could make something look cooler then go right ahead!

Lifehack Source and Instructions – Instructables:Curbowman