These Brilliant Olive Oil Hacks Will Have You Stocking Up
Olive oil is often hailed as one of the healthier oils, but cooking isn't the only way you can use it. The moisture-rich substance can be just as good for your outsides as it is for your insides, particularly if you have dry skin, paint stuck on your skin, hangnails, or need to remove makeup. Health aside, olive oil can also be used on a variety of things around the house, like furniture, gardening tools, candles, and much more. Once you see all the ways olive oil can save time and money, you may find yourself buying larger bottles.
Make Your Measuring Spoons Easy To Clean
Have you ever noticed that measuring spoons can be harder to clean than regular spoons? That's due to their deep design, which helps prevent spilling and gives a more accurate measure.
Especially when cooking with sticky items like honey, cleaning measuring spoons can become a chore. To make it less of a burden, coat the measuring spoons in olive oil before using them. Doing so will create a barrier so that stubborn substances don't become cemented onto the spoon.
Polish Your Wooden Furniture
Over time, wooden floors and furniture can become dull and full of scratches. Rather than blowing money on chemical-ridden products, try using olive oil and vinegar. The inexpensive household items work well to polish wood and buff out minor scratches.
If you're aiming for a simple polish, mix one cup of olive oil, one cup of vinegar, and four cups of water and apply to the wood. Dry it off with a soft cloth. For scratches, mix three parts olive oil with one part vinegar and buff out the scratches with a cloth.
Get A Moisture-Rich Shave
If you're out of shaving cream or don't want to keep wasting money on it, try shaving with olive oil instead. The natural substance is free of harsh chemicals and full of moisture, which may help relieve irritation.
Olive oil also clings well to your skin, creating a barrier that may help protect your skin. A little goes a long way, so you only need a few drops applied to any given area. Apply extra oil after your shave to reveal super soft skin.
Prevent Garden Tool Rust
Since gardening tools come into contact with moisture all of the time, it can be easy for them to rust over the years. Not only is rust unsightly, but it also can compromise the effectiveness of the tools.
Rather than letting your tools rust, layer them with olive oil to prevent rust from building up in the first place. The oil creates a layer between the tool and the dirt, making them easier to clean and less susceptible to rusting.
Fix A Stuck Zipper
A stuck zipper can ruin a favorite item of clothing. Since zippers are so small, they can be especially difficult to fix once they're stuck. To help alleviate the problem, try applying some olive oil to the zipper.
Apply the oil with a Q-tip to prevent it from getting onto the garment itself. The oil will lubricate the metal and help loosen up the friction. Be sure to wipe off any excess oil afterward to prevent dirt from sticking to the teeth.
Mitigate Snoring
One thing that can get in the way of a good night's rest is snoring. The noise can not only bother others in the house, but can also prevent the sleeper from falling into a deep sleep.
A natural remedy for snoring is olive oil. Taking a tablespoon of olive oil before bed will coat the throat, lubricating the muscles that vibrate when you snore. The anti-inflammatory agent can also help reduce swelling along your respiratory passages.
Remove Eye Makeup
For those who wear eye makeup daily, being sure to remove it each night is paramount to keeping your eye area free of chemicals and bacterial infections. Rather than wasting money on makeup removal pads, use a cotton ball dabbed in olive oil.
The natural substitute will glide your makeup right off while simultaneously moisturizing the delicate skin. Since olive oil is thick and clings to your skin, it won't get into your eyes as easily as thinner substances may.
Get Paint Off Your Skin
When painting, it's difficult to avoid getting making a mess of your skin. By the time you're done, your hands may be layered in stubborn paint, leading to vigorous scrubbing.
Rather than irritating your skin by rubbing it raw, try using a little olive oil. The substance will penetrate the paint, loosening its grip on your skin. For those who paint their own nails, you can also apply some olive oil to a Q-tip to perfect a freshly-done manicure.
Reduce Your Cat's Hairballs
Hartz reports that cats cough up an average of three to four hairballs a month! If your cat keeps yacking up hairballs, olive oil may help. So long as your vet approves, add a teaspoon of olive oil to your cat's food each week.
The olive oil will lubricate your cat's digestive system so that hair can more easily pass through. As a bonus, the oil will also keep your cat's fur silky and shiny.
Easily Peel Off Candle Wax
Candles are a soothing addition to any home, but they can become tricky when using reusable candle holders. Once the candle wick has burnt out, it can become a challenge removing the excess wax in preparation for the next candle.
To simplify the process, simply layer your candle holder in a coat of olive oil. The oil will act as a barrier, preventing the wax from cementing to the holder when it cools so that it can more easily peel.
Prevent Cracked Cuticles
When the area around your nails becomes dry, it can lead to some painful issues with your cuticles. Dry cuticles can crack and lead to hangnails and redness, irritation, and even bleeding.
The key is keeping your cuticles moist. Olive oil is excellent because the thick substance gets deep into the crevices around your nails and doesn't wash off as easily as lotion does. Rub a few drops into your cuticles daily to reveal soft, smooth cuticles.
Soothe A Diaper Rash
For those with babies at home, olive oil may be helpful in soothing diaper rashes. Since babies' skin is so sensitive, parents have to be picky about what they use on a rash. Rather than pouring money into expensive creams, try smoothing a few drops of olive oil onto the affected area.
The olive oil not only acts as a gentle moisturizer, but it also has antimicrobial properties. This means it inhibits bacteria growth and may help prevent infection.
Soothe A Sunburn
For many, the first solution that comes to mind when they get a sunburn is aloe vera. But did you know that olive oil is another natural substance that may help treat a sunburn?
That's because the polyphenol compounds in olive oil help the skin repair itself. Just apply a thin coat of olive oil to the area that's been sunburned. Be sure that the oil has time to soak in before taking a shower or going into a body of water.
Get Sticky Items Out Of Hair
Getting something sticky stuck in your hair can be a nightmare, especially for those with long locks that often come into contact with things. Especially if the item is something like gum, it may be tempting to just cut it out.
Before you go reaching for the scissors, grab the bottle of olive oil instead. Lather the hair that's stuck in the oil and leave it in for a few minutes. Then use your fingers to gently work the sticky substance out of your hair.
Defrizz Your Hair
There are a number of reasons your hair becomes frizzy, including humidity, the wrong shampoo, hot water, overbrushing, and more! To calm done the mane, try using a little bit of olive oil.
For best results, add a couple of drops to your hands and rub them together. Glide your hands over your hair when it's wet, ideally just after washing it. Comb through your hair and let it air dry to reveal shiny, frizz-free hair.
Soothe Cracked Heels
Heels can become so severely dry that they crack and may even hurt. Before you go and spend a fortune on a professional pedicure, it may be worth trying some at-home therapy with olive oil.
Soak your feet in warm water with a few drops of olive oil for at least 30 minutes to loosen up the dead skin cells. Then use a pumice stone to exfoliate the heel. Afterward, coat your feet in olive oil and put on socks to lock in the moisture.
Clean Makeup Brushes
When it comes to makeup brushes, it's vital to clean them regularly to prevent the spread of bacteria. At the same time, some care needs to be taken while cleaning them so that the bristles don't become dry and stiff.
A simple trick is to coat the bristles in both dish soap and olive oil. The soap will remove any lingering makeup from the brushes while the oil will keep them moisturized and healthy for your skin.
Reduce The Appearance Of Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are often associated with pregnancy, but they can exist on those who haven't had a dramatic weight fluctuation, too. Those who are bothered by the markings can try some olive oil.
The antioxidants in the oil can help defend skin from damage, while the oil's linoleic acid helps reduce water evaporation so that the skin stays hydrated. Those who are expecting can use olive oil to help prevent stretch marks before they arrive.
Create A Natural Scrub
Scrubs are a wonderful way to exfoliate the skin. Instead of running out to buy an expensive body or face scrub, you can simply make one using two common household items: sugar and olive oil.
Just mix one part olive oil with two parts sugar and rub it into your skin the way you would any scrub. As the sugar granules remove dead skin cells, the olive oil with work to moisturize the layer of skin underneath.
Make Olive Oil Candles
For those who love candles, it may be worth trying to make olive oil candles. The homemade candles are easy to make, burn clean, last longer, and are generally less expensive than store-bought ones. All you need is a mason jar, a paper clip, a wick, and olive oil.
Unwind the paper clip and wrap one part of it around the wick. Hang the paper clip on the mason jar so that the wick hangs down the middle. Then fill the jar with olive oil! Add in some drops of your favorite essential oil or other good-smelling items.
