You could spread Vegemite on toast. We’re just putting it out there as a wacky possibility. It turns out, though, that there’s all sorts of crazy ways to use the popular breakfast spread. Here are some non-food uses for Vegemite that the internet swears by — from a WD-40 substitute to a DIY hair conditioner.
I’m not going to say that I’ve tested many of these. That’s important to get out of the way early, because the results of using a food spread for other purposes could be, well, a little variable. But here’s what the internet thinks that Vegemite is good for, besides eating it, that is. You can trust the internet, right?
Use It As A Surface Disinfectant
One part Vegemite, one part water in a spray bottle. I’m a little iffy about this one, if only because you’d have to do a lot of mixing at that ratio to not just drop globs of vege-grease all over your benches.
Use It To Clean Out Your Dishwasher
Again, I can see the logic, but it’s going to be a lot easier to do the same thing with a small quantity of vinegar.
To Polish Your Shoes
Black shoes, I suspect, would work best at this, but again it seems like an idea that’s best saved for when you’re genuinely desperate. Speaking of shoes, it’s also claimed to work as a shoe deodorant, although you’d presumably have to be happy with feet that smelled like Vegemite in return.
Use It To Clean Just About Anything
Coffee makers, floors, hands, towels, bird poo on pavers, toilets. You name it, Vegemite is said to be the key ingredient in keeping it clean. It may work, but whether it’s actually cost-effective is another argument again.
Cure Your Mouth Ulcers
This one gets repeated everywhere, thanks (so the stories go) to the relatively high salt content of Vegemite.
Avoid It To Minimise Vaginal Thrush
Thrush rather likes yeasts, and Vegemite is a yeast extract so (as per the Internet theory), cutting down on the yeasty spread will aid in thrush reduction.
Use It Instead Of Hair Conditioner
I don’t have any hair to test this with. Any Lifehacker readers willing to take one for the team and test out the veracity of this one?
Kill Hair Lice
Presumably the Lice are all stunned, or at worst, busy chewing through the thick yeasty spread and thus easier to catch with a nit comb.
Use It As A WD-40 Substitute
Again, I’ve not tested this particular idea, but I’m going to suggest it’ll make a terrible WD-40 substitute; I’d worry at the very least about leaving salty residues on metallic parts for any length of time.
Turn It Into A Soft Drink
Lifehacker Australia pioneered this one ourselves a couple of years back. The results were… unique.
Use It To Make Your Own Big Macs
You’ll never truly recreate that aura of teenage indifference and hormones that go into the genuine article, but if you’re keen on a homemade Mac, the secret is, in fact, Vegemite.
Use It As A Hangover Cure
Lots of folk swear by the power of Vitamin B to aid in hangover recovery, and Vegemite sells itself on its high Vitamin B content, so this would seem to make sense. It’s worth noting that not every cure stands up to rigorous scientific testing but you’re unlikely to do yourself too much harm with some post-party Vegemite.
Do any readers have their own weird Vegemite hacks? Share your DIY concoctions in the comments section below.
Comments
10 responses to “How To Hack Your Entire Life With Vegemite”
I must admit, I use it as part of my hangover ‘cure’. Toast with vegemite and a gatorade for breakfast followed by lots of coffee all day to keep me alive.
I’ve also heard of it being used as thermal paste for a temporary hold off until you can get real thermal paste.
Made Bolognese last night and it didn’t taste right till I remembered I’d forgotten to add the most important ingredient, Vegemite! once added, perfection!
i put it through my sausage roll meat mixture instead of salt and that is pretty nice. For all the other uses…. it is quite expensive so I would be hesitant to use it for anything other than food.
My mum used it as a Drawing Ointment. I’ve got a splinter that you can’t dig out. Slop on some Vegemite and pop a band-aid over the top. Wake up the next morning and check if the splinter is able to be removed. If not rinse and repeat.
Vegemite toast, a banana, glass of OJ & a coffee. Best hangover combo
Every time I see ‘best hangover combo/cure/remedy/etc’ I feel like saying ‘Umbrella rods, tomato sauce, bacon handjob & a coffee. Best hangover cure’ … cause no matter what your hangover combo is, it won’t work without coffee.
Hence the coffee 😉
I eat it on toast or sandwiches.
The audacity!!
Dear gods, I never understand the popularity of this condiment. Looks like coal tar and smells worse, it’ll be a cold day before I willingly ingest any of that goop.
Then again, I eat peanut butter and we all know what that looks like…so each to their own.
One of my ex girlfriends used to use Vegemite for her hair and would swear by it. She’d also use vodka as conditioner too. One of those reasons is why she’s an ex.
*gags* Oh god. Even thinking about it makes me ill.
There is one place for Vegemite, and one place only. The bin.
Seems to promote long life.
So many people over 90 are still having it for breakfast every day.
Sorry, but marmite is better!
Article should be titled ‘Things people will do to get rid off Vegemite, rather than eat it’.
Do you ever see lifehacks with alternate uses for Nutella? Didn’t think so.
I should have written ‘get rid of Vegemite’, instead of ‘get rid off Vegemite’. I will consume a teaspoon of the horrible stuff as atonement.
I hate the stuff with a vengeance, and it doesn’t matter with which food it is mixed, it over-rides every other taste so the only taste left is Vegemite.
I can’t understand why Australians are the only people on Earth who rave over it, maybe because it was the only other product on the table alongside bread.