10 Surprising Uses For A Pumice Stone (Not Just For Feet!)

10 Surprising Uses For A Pumice Stone (Not Just For Feet!)

Most of us use one for to remove hard skin and calluses from our feet, but did you know that there are many more uses for a pumice stone? This little multi-tasking rock can help clean your home, boost your plants and more...

Editor's Note: This post was originally posted in March 2016 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness in January 2018.

1. Effortless oven & hob cleaning using a pumice stone

hob
So shiny!

Pumice stone uses don't get better than this...

Cleaning the oven is our least favourite chore, but we recently found pumice stones make it much easier. In fact, they work better than most scourers. Make sure your pumice stone is wet and supple before getting to work with it. Use it to gently buff off grease and burnt on mess, continually wetting the pumice stone to avoid scratching.

Of course, you can use it with your standard oven cleaner, but some people think it's an efficient alternative to standard oven cleaning products. If you're going chemical-free, it's worth trying solo.

For more suggestions on how to clean your hob, check out the video below!

2. Use a pumice stone to de-pill your bobbly sweaters

After months of use during winter, you may notice that some of your favourite jumpers have started to 'pill' - also known as bobbling. This is when the fibres unravel and the loose ends form a ball on the surface of your jumper.

You can prevent pilling by turning garments inside out before washing, but to get rid of the balls without ruining your favourite jumper grab a pumice stone. The soft, porous surface is ideal for removing pills and lint from clothing.

Lightly run the pumice stone over the fabric and it should catch the balls easily. Some people like to use a razor but we find with an accidental heavy hand you could make holes in delicate fabrics like cashmere. Don't run the risk - grab a pumice stone instead.

3. Clean the dirtiest of toilets

dirty toilet
Make it sparkle.

Use your pumice stone (not the one you use on your body) to clean and remove mineral deposits from your toilet bowl.

Wet the pumice stone before gently scrubbing away at stains. You can use it alongside your usual bathroom cleaner to get rid of particularly bad areas.

4. Boost your soil's plant power 

Most green-fingered gardeners will know the key to healthy plants is good quality soil. Adding pumice helps the soil retain water and hold onto essential nutrients necessary for plant growth. The porous nature of pumice stone means it can help retain vital nutrients and it also works as a conditioner.

You can use small chippings of pumice in soil, using one part pumice for every four parts of soil. Alternatively, you can add smaller pumice stones directly onto the soil- for example, placed on top of the soil in potted plants or in terrariums.

5. Pumice stone hair removal

Ever tried natural hair removal? This sounds like a strange one, but you can painlessly remove fine body hairs with a pumice stone by following these simple steps from LiveStrong:

  1. Exfoliate skin with a scrub and warm water to remove dead skin cells and soften hairs.
  2. Lightly towel-dry your skin so it's still damp.
  3. Rub the pumice stone onto hairs in a circular motion with gentle pressure until hairs rub off.
  4. Moisturise thoroughly.
  5. Repeat every few days until all hair is removed.

Are you meant to exfoliate before or after shaving? Find out in our other blog post.

6. How to clean up pesky pet hair

cat
Hair begone!

Pet hair can be a real nightmare to clean! When you can't vacuum easily or you need to get into small nooks and crannies (like the back of your car), grab a pumice stone. It's perfect for cleaning carpets. Wet it before you use and, in the same way you would use a squeegee, move in one direction to gather up all the hairs. They'll soon start to collect into a ball.

7. Use your pumice stone for DIY manicures

We're a huge fan of using olive oil as a cuticle oil and now we've found another alternative for the DIY mani-pedi.

You can use a damp pumice stone to soften hard skin - and calluses on hands - and gently remove excess cuticle skin around the nails. Work your way around the nail bed, gently applying pressure. Keep your hands and the stone wet as you buff and make sure you moisturise afterwards.

8. Distress your jeans

jeans
Which ones will you customise?

Love the look of distressed jeans but don't want to pay for pre-ripped, pre-worn looking jeans? We hear you, it seems unthinkable to the modern-day penny pincher. Grab a pair of your old jeans - We like to use ones that have faded in colour over the years, or developed the odd hole or rip already.

Take a pumice stone and start by gently rubbing the area you've chosen to distress and loosen the fibres in the fabric. Keep going over the same area and experiment with levels of force until small frays and holes start to form.

9. Essential oil diffuser

Essential oils create a lovely aroma in the home, but if you're a bit lazy when it comes to burning them, you need pumice stones! Filled with lots of air spaces, this volcanic rock is ideal for soaking up essential oils and slowly releasing them back into the air.

Pick up a small mesh bag from your haberdashery or Amazon and soak a pumice stone with around 30 drops of your favourite essential oil(s). Place the stone in the mesh bag and place or hang anywhere in your home. Replenish the oil when you need to and keep your home smelling nice and lovely all year round.

10. Beauty uses for a pumice stone

touching face
Right this way to clear skin...

Pumice is great at exfoliating hard soles, but due to its porous surface, it's also very efficient at more gentle exfoliation.

Revive dull skin by exfoliating your face with a pumice stone - just ensure it's wet and gently rub it against your face in small circular motions. Use it once a week as a weekly exfoliating treatment and it will also help boost circulation.

Do you have any of your own pumice stone uses you'd like to share? Tell us all about them in the comments below!

Anushka F

Editor

A keen money-saver and fan of all things natural, Anushka enjoys making her own beauty products and is partial to a bit of crafting. Never short of a clever tip or two, she's always looking for new ways to make her money go even further.

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  1. Author wendy on March 26, 2016 at 3:06 pm

    where can i buy one, my postcode is tw4 ..

    1. Author Anushka F on April 6, 2016 at 10:49 am

      Hi Wendy you can get them online from places like Amazon and eBay for not too much money.

    Reply
  2. Author Sylvia Briffett on March 26, 2016 at 5:38 pm

    The smell of salmon in your fridge or freezer can be quite overpowering, place a dry pumice on the shelf or in the draw, will remove the smell. Three years ago I had a heart attack and salmon is recommended as a healthy fatty food, but the smell does linger.

    1. Author Anushka F on April 6, 2016 at 10:48 am

      Great tip, thanks Sylvia. Pumice is so good at soaking up lingering smells, I will try it next time I have some salmon or other whiffy foods in the fridge.

    2. Author Wolf Lorber on May 31, 2017 at 5:58 am

      Thanks for the article on pumice , but you make some descriptive mistakes. In suggestion 1 you refer to the pumice surface as "soft" and porous. It's rock-like, and easily crushable relative to most rocks, and gently abrasive. Yet "soft" is the wrong adjective for any stone. Hardboiled eggs are soft objects. In suggestion 2 you say make sure the pumice is wet and "supple." Unlike a wetted loofah, no stone gets supple. Please get training in technical writing.

    Reply
  3. Author Kenneth Howlett on March 26, 2016 at 10:03 pm

    Wow haven't seen a pumice stone since the 50s apart from the obvious use for them on the body those other tips are Brilliant well done I will source a pumice stone & try your tips out

    1. Author Anushka F on April 6, 2016 at 10:47 am

      Fantastic. Neither had I until a few months ago, now I use it for lots of things!

    2. Author Joseph Tomczyk on June 14, 2019 at 10:43 pm

      Like Ken Howlett wrote above, "Wow haven't seen a pumice-stone since the '50s" when my Dad bought one to sharpen his tools, etc. His range of handyman knowledge quite impressed / taught me. Anushka, I like that name of yours - where's it from?

    Reply
  4. Author Claire fox on March 26, 2016 at 10:43 pm

    Anushka wow! Had no idea of the uses for many different household products that we all at home loving your tips ?

    1. Author Anushka F on April 6, 2016 at 10:47 am

      Aww thanks Claire. Really happy to hear you are enjoying them!

    Reply
  5. Author susan on April 12, 2016 at 1:10 pm

    Great tips..thanks .will try them all!

    1. Author Anushka F on May 9, 2016 at 1:36 pm

      Thanks Susan!

    Reply
  6. Author Lakshmi Prasanna on April 8, 2017 at 3:53 pm

    Really awesome

    1. Author Stephanie C on April 10, 2017 at 9:36 am

      Thanks, Lakshmi :)

    Reply
  7. Author Hawwa on May 2, 2017 at 1:26 pm

    Great tips Anushka...I m a first timer to your site n enjoyed reading the tips ..Will definitely try few....

    1. Author Stephanie C on May 3, 2017 at 9:35 am

      Hi Hawwa. Thanks a lot for your kind comments - we're glad you enjoyed the article! :)

    Reply
  8. Author John on September 25, 2017 at 3:14 pm

    Hi I've had a pumice stone for years and I'm not so sure about some of these suggestions, they seem out of keeping to those on your site for other product hints, many of which are very useful. Soft and supple pumice, I don't think so. Pumice will scratch stainless steel, enamel and plastic so beware.

    1. Author Stephanie C on September 26, 2017 at 10:44 am

      Hi John. I'm sorry to hear you didn't enjoy this one. It's actually one of our older articles, so we hope you'll stick around to read more of our new stuff soon! :)

    2. Author Ida on February 18, 2021 at 10:34 pm

      I wonder if I can actually erase off my sun spots on my face using the pumice stone.?Any idea?

    3. Author Joanne A on January 19, 2023 at 4:41 pm

      Using a pumice stone to remove sun spots on the face is not recommended. Instead, they can be removed by using a combination of topical treatments, such as hydroquinone or retinoids, and professional procedures, such as chemical peels or laser therapy. Consult a dermatologist for personalized advice on treating your sun spots best.

    Reply
  9. Author Samantha on May 29, 2019 at 5:49 pm

    Did you know that water is a chemical? Saying "chemical free" is a joke.

    1. Author Joanne A on May 30, 2019 at 9:33 am

      Of course, water is a chemical compound, but it isn't toxic in the same way that cleaning products, etc. are!

    Reply
  10. Author Elsa Joyce on July 27, 2019 at 11:12 pm

    Had a pumice forever.. Replaced over the years. Always used for my feet. I have never had cracked heels or hard skin. People have remarked how good my feet look. My daughters ex was fascinated with them.( Yes very weird). Lol. A few times a year gently do my face. Moisturise well after. Now and again on edger of nails. To me you look after feet. They take your weight and should be looked after. I picked up a few tips o. Here but I won't be using same one for the face if I need to do the toilet haha

    1. Author Joanne A on July 29, 2019 at 10:15 am

      We agree, Elsa! Your feet should be treated with love and care.

    Reply
  11. Author TIRU C NARAYAN on September 18, 2019 at 2:55 pm

    During my boyhood years, when I went for haircut, I noticed that the barber used pumice after completing a shave. I am going to give it a try.

    1. Author Joanne A on September 18, 2019 at 3:09 pm

      How interesting!

    Reply
  12. Author Mercy rapheal on February 27, 2020 at 6:34 pm

    Hi, pls can I use pumice stone on my thigh to exfoliate out dead skin cell

    1. Author Joanne A on February 28, 2020 at 12:00 pm

      Hi Mercy! Yes, that should be fine.

    Reply
  13. Author Diamond C. on July 31, 2020 at 5:40 am

    Despite being an older article, there truly are some wonderful tips here! One I recently discovered was using a pumice stone for a bathtub that had years of built up rust and calcium. It’s proven useful on both porcelain and acrylic. Only using water, it truly served as a real magic eraser of sorts although I did notice the quality of the pumice did make a slight difference. While a cheap one found at the Dollar Tree still got the job done better than anything else I had tried, it required a great deal more elbow grease than when I used a stone of higher quality.

    1. Author Joanne A on July 31, 2020 at 4:42 pm

      Thanks for your kind words!

    Reply
  14. Author Daisy White on September 5, 2020 at 11:11 pm

    when i was a smoker i used a pumice to get rid of the cigarette smell from my fingers. Just rubbed it gently with a bit of soap and water, it works! Just remember to use hand cream after.

    1. Author Joanne A on September 27, 2022 at 10:39 am

      Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  15. Author Jammy on January 22, 2022 at 10:44 am

    I removed cigarette burns off my vanity. I'd clean a mirror with a pumice rock as long as it was wet, of course.

    1. Author Joanne A on January 25, 2023 at 12:15 pm

      Hi Jammy! Interesting idea. Using a wet pumice stone to clean a mirror is not recommended as they are abrasive and can scratch surfaces. Utilising a cleaner specifically designed for mirrors or a microfiber cloth is best.

    Reply

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