Look inside your medicine cabinet and you probably have a bottle of witch hazel taking up space. While many of us have bought some and used it occasionally, it’s much more versatile than you’d think. Here are 20 ways to use—and enjoy—it:

1. Heal cold sores – Just dab on.
2. Help dandruff – Massage into dry scalp, let sit for 15 minutes, then wash and condition as usual.
3. Surface Cleaner – Spray onto countertops and wipe up with a microfiber cloth.
4. Pet stain eliminator – Saturate stain, let sit 10-15 minutes. Repeat if needed.
5. Eyeglasses cleaner – Mix with rubbing alcohol and liquid soap (one part each). 
6. Air freshener – Combine with essential oil to neutralizer odors.  
7. Control skin issues – Oily skin and acne really benefit when witch hazel is used daily as a toner.
8. Shrink dark circles – Gently apply under the eyes.
9. Reduce razor burn – Can be used alone or with lotion.
10. Soothe poison ivy – Repeat every two hours until it’s gone.
11. Treat diaper rash – Dilute with equal parts water.
12. Tame frizz – Add a few drops to your shampoo or conditioner. 
13. Treat sunburn – Combine with aloe vera gel.
14. Help heal minor cuts – Works on pets and people.
15. Bugs – Can be used as a repellant or to treat bites. 
16. Jewelry cleaner – Soak a cotton ball and wipe off.
17. Sleep aid – Mix with Lavender oil and apply to skin for a calming effect.
18. Tick extraction – Douse with witch hazel and then remove with tweezers.
19. Foot soak – Add 2 tablespoons to a large basin of cold water.
20. Paint Thinner – A small amount added to paint will thin it out cheaply.

A word of caution about witch hazel: I don’t recommend swallowing it. Yes, there are certain sites that say it can be used for gum pain and digestive issues. That’s very iffy advice and I’d rather be cautious. External use is proven safe, but I wouldn’t eat it. Do what you feel is best.