Using natural ingredients around your home is a great way to cut back on chemicals and make use of ingredients you already have in your pantry. We all know how beneficial pantry staples like baking soda and vinegar can be when used throughout the home, but did you know olive oil is another ingredient you can use in your house? It’s true! Olive oil is beneficial in so many ways that reach far beyond the kitchen. Check out these 10 cool ways to use olive oil throughout your home.
Cool Ways to use olive oil throughout your home
Stainless Steel
It can be difficult to find a good way to clean your stainless steel appliances. Either the cleaner you use doesn’t do the job or it leaves messy streaks all over the beautiful finish. Next time you need to shine your stainless steel refrigerator, open up your pantry and grab some olive oil. Simply pour a little bit of oil onto a clean lint-free cloth or paper towel and easily wipe away smudges and grease. Then, grab a dry cloth to wipe away any left-over residue.
Dusty Wood
If you’re searching for more natural alternatives for store-bought cleaning supplies, you need to add olive oil to your arsenal, especially if you have wood furniture in your home. To dust and buff your wood furniture, add a little bit of olive oil to your dust cloth instead of wood cleaner next time you clean. The oil will help remove dust and give the wood a beautiful shine when you’re finished.
Sticky Stickers and Gum
Do you have new glass with sticker residue on the bottom? Easily get rid of the stubborn sticker using olive oil and a paper towel. Rub the oil firmly into the residue, then rinse it with warm soapy water. The oil is also great for removing stuck-on gum from hard-surface furniture (or hair), too. To get sticky gum out, soak a cloth or paper towel in olive oil then place it on the sticky spot. Let it sit for around 10 minutes to allow the gum to break down. Then, it should slide right off the furniture.
Wood Shine
For dull furniture that needs a little TLC, olive oil is the answer. To go beyond simply dusting and to add a nice polish to dull wood furniture, mix three parts olive oil with on one part white vinegar to create a natural furniture polish. Just be sure to test a small, inconspicuous area of the furniture before using it all over any piece. Once you’re sure it won’t do any damage, shine the entire piece with the mixture.
Paint Removal
After a day of renovations, it can be difficult to get paint residue off your hands. Rub a little bit of olive oil onto the stuck-on paint and let it soak for five minutes. Then rinse the paint away with a little soap and water.
Stuck-on Wax
Candles are a great way to make your home smell great or add ambiance to a room, but the wax can sometimes make a sticky mess. If you have issues with wax dripping on your favorite candle holder, rub a thin coat of olive oil on the base to keep the wax from sticking as it drips. After you’re done burning your candle, you can easily peel the dripped wax off the base.
Squeaky Hinges
Do you have a squeaky door in your home? Grab the olive oil! Just place a little bit of olive oil on a cloth and wipe the cloth over the hinges, allowing oil to run down the sides. Just don’t use so much that it causes the oil to drip on the floor!
Old Leather
If your leather furniture needs a refresh, rub some olive oil onto the worn spot and allow it to soak for 30 minutes. Finish by shining with a clean cloth to make the leather look like new again.
Pan Protector
Are your pots and pans looking a little old and dingy? For stainless steel or brass pans, use olive oil to shine and protect them from further damage. Dip a cloth in a little olive oil and spread a think layer of oil over your pots and pans. Then, grab another clean, dry cloth and buff the oil away until the pans are shiny. In addition to cleaning the pots and pans, this layer of oil will help protect them from tarnishing and corrosion.
Garden Protection
Your garden tools are very susceptible to rust from digging through wet mud and water each time you use them. To keep them looking like new, be sure to rinse the tools after each use and rub olive oil on the cutting and digging surfaces to protect them. In addition to protecting against rust, the oil will also help the tools repel dirt, making them easier to clean each time you’re finished digging
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