Petroleum jelly is also great for skin irritation. It can be used to treat and prevent diaper rash for babies. It works well to prevent chaffing on long hikes, and can help prevent blisters on your feet. As stated before, it can prevent irritation from wind or cold. It can be used to treat hangnails on fingers and toes. Vaseline can even be combined with Epsom salt to create a scrub for your face or feet.


Insect Control – On hard surfaces, Vaseline can keep crawling insects like ants away. This is ideal to avoid insects in your pet food or food storage. You can also apply petroleum jelly to a piece of paper for makeshift fly paper. As flies land on the paper, they will get stuck and die.


Lubricate Candle Holders – As preppers and survivalists, we use candles on a regular basis. As the wax melts and runs down the sides of the candle, it cakes around the candle holder. This makes it tough to remove the candle without breaking it and making a mess. If you first apply Vaseline to the candle holder, it will easily slide out when it is time to swap out for a new one.


Restore Leather – Preppers tend to have a good amount of leather in their gear, and it is not always treated well. There are plenty of leather protections products and conditioners that can be used, but they really are not needed. Just a dab of petroleum jelly will restore cracking, rough leather to a soft sheen.


Shaving – There are two uses for Vaseline when shaving. The most common use is to apply it to the shaved area afterwards to soothe irritation and to hold in moisture. However, you can also use it in place of shaving cream. If you have no shaving cream available, apply a small amount to the area, shave, and then wipe everything clean afterwards.
[h=2]Substitutes for Petroleum Jelly[/h] Despite being organic, Vaseline is a product derived from the fossil fuel industry. Some people have chosen to find alternatives with a more nature friendly source.


Waxelene – This product is certified organic and uses no petroleum or artificial products. It fills most of the same purposes as Vaseline. Waxelene is made of only organic soy oil, organic rosemary oil, beeswax and Vitamin E.


Alba Botanica Un-Petroleum Jelly – This product is made from botanical waxes and pure plant oils to provide a petroleum free alternative to Vaseline. It is made with entirely vegetarian ingredients, and is advertised to soothe, protect, and moisturize the skin.


Coconut Oil – This natural product has several uses and is a great way to treat skin without using petroleum product. Because it is all natural, it can also be used for cooking and other purposes.


Honey – This sugary substance is a super food for survival, and it is always smart to have some around. While it does not work as a lubricant or accelerant, it will heal and soothe skin. It is also a great source of energy when added to other foods, and it has no shelf life. Honey will never go bad. Ideally you want to purchase local organic honey to get the best health benefits from the product.


Olive oil – Again, olive oil can have dual purposes. It is great for lubrication and can also be used for cooking and other purposes.


Bees wax – This natural wax is often used for lip balm and works well to protect and moisturize the skin. It can be used as an accelerant, and some of us remember making bees wax candles as children. It serves many of the same purposes as Vaseline.
[h=2]In Conclusion[/h] When putting together any pack for survival or prepping purposes, I am always looking for items with multiple uses. This makes petroleum jelly vital for any pack. A small container of this goo could easily save your life in the right circumstances. Just the first aid and accelerant purposes alone make it worth its weight in gold. My suggestion is to get a small tub for each of your packs and get familiar with these uses. I think you will find yourself using it sooner than you might expect.