20 Uses for Olive Oil Around the Home
Olive oil is not just a staple in the kitchen, it can also be an incredible ingredient to have around the house for other purposes. From cooking to cleaning and even personal care, this natural oil has a multitude of uses. I have lots of olive oil on hand and I know of at least 20 uses for olive oil around the house. I hope you find this common household product just as useful as we do! Olive Oil Lamps by Ron Brown
1. Cooking and Baking
Olive oil is a healthy alternative to traditional cooking oils and can enhance the flavors of your dishes. It can be used for sautéing vegetables, frying, or as a dressing for salads. The Top Survival Kitchen Cooking Essentials
2. Polishing Stainless Steel
If you have stainless steel appliances, you can keep them looking shiny and clean with the help of olive oil. Apply a small amount of oil to a soft cloth and rub it onto the surface of your stainless steel items, such as refrigerator doors or stovetops. This will remove fingerprints and smudges while leaving a protective barrier. Wipe down the surface to make sure you don’t leave any excess that may attract dust or dirt and leave streaks.
3. Removing Sticky Residue
Sticky residue from labels or sticker adhesives can be a hassle to remove. Olive oil can come to the rescue by loosening the sticky substance, making it easier to wipe away. Apply a small amount of oil to the sticky residue with a cotton swab, let it sit for a few minutes, and then scrub with a cloth or sponge.
4. Reviving Leather Items
Leather furniture or accessories can lose their luster over time. Using just a bit of olive oil on a clean cloth, rub it into the leather to restore its shine and flexibility. This method can be used for shoes, bags, and even leather car seats.
5. Moisturizing Wooden Cutting Boards
Wooden cutting boards need regular maintenance to prevent them from drying out and cracking. Apply a generous amount of olive oil to a cloth and rub it onto the surface of the cutting board. Let it soak in for a few hours or overnight, then wipe off any excess oil with a clean rag, and that cutting board will be ready to go.
6. Removing Paint from Skin
If you accidentally get paint on your skin while working on a DIY project, olive oil can help remove it. Simply apply a dab of oil to the affected area and gently rub it in. The paint should start to loosen, making it easier to wash away with soap and water. You might find this works better with some paint variations than others.
7. Shining Brass and Copper
Bring back the shine to your brass and copper items by using olive oil as a polish. Apply a small amount of oil to a cloth and buff the metal surface until it shines. This natural method is a great alternative to chemical-based polishes and it should help the surface from future corrosion if done on a consistent basis.
8. Treating Dry Hair
Olive oil can be a fantastic natural conditioner for the frizz of dry and damaged hair. Warm a small amount of oil and apply it to your hair, focusing on the ends. Leave it in for about 30 minutes before shampooing as usual. This treatment will leave your hair feeling soft, shiny, and nourished.
9. Removing Makeup
Instead of relying solely on makeup removers filled with harsh chemicals, consider using olive oil as a gentle and effective alternative. Apply a few drops of oil to a cotton pad and wipe away your makeup. Basic Oral Hygiene Tips Everyone Needs
10. Lubricating Kitchen Tools
Squeaky household items such as scissors or hinges can benefit from a little olive oil as a lubricant. Apply a drop or two of oil to the squeaky area, and then work the tool back and forth to distribute the oil. This trick can help silence those irritating sounds and make them work more efficiently. 58 Frugal Kitchen and Pantry Items You Need
11. Preventing Rust on Garden Tools
Garden tools are often exposed to moisture, which can lead to rust. Before storing them, wipe down your tools with olive oil to create a protective barrier from corrosion. This will help prevent rust from forming, ensuring that your tools stay in good condition for a longer period. Top Gardening Tools You Need
12. Silencing Door Hinges
Looking for more uses for olive oil around the house? Noisy door hinges can be quite annoying. Applying a thin layer of olive oil to the hinges can help reduce the noise and ensure smooth operation. Simply use a cloth or a toothbrush to apply the oil to the hinges, and then open and close the door a few times to distribute it evenly. Be sure to wipe off any excess so the hinge doesn’t attract dirt from the surroundings.
13. Removing Water Rings from Wood
Accidentally leaving a wet glass on a wooden surface can result in unsightly water rings. To remove these marks, mix equal parts olive oil and white vinegar and rub the mixture onto the affected area. Let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe away with a clean cloth. It will appear as if you’ve performed magic!
14. Polishing Silverware
Bring back the shine to your tarnished silverware using olive oil. Create a paste by mixing olive oil with a small amount of baking soda. Apply the paste to your silverware with a soft cloth and start shining your silverware. Please try a very small amount on one of your pieces to be sure it works and doesn’t damage or tarnish your heirloom silverware.
15. Removing Gum from Hair
If you or your child gets gum stuck in their hair, don’t panic. Apply a small amount of olive oil to the gum and surrounding hair. Work the oil into the gum with your fingers or palms of your hands, and it should begin to dissolve and make it easier to remove.
16. Reviving Dried-out Paintbrushes
If your paintbrushes have become stiff and dried out, olive oil can help restore them. Soak the bristles in a cup of olive oil for a few hours or overnight. Rinse the brushes with warm soapy water and reshape the bristles. Your brushes will be soft and ready to use again.
17. Treating Squeaky Doors
Squeaky hinges on doors can be super annoying. Apply a small amount of olive oil to the hinge pins and move the door back and forth to distribute the oil. This will help eliminate the squeaking sound and probably save your sanity in the long run.
18. Removing Tar or Sap from Surfaces
Tar or tree sap can be hard to remove from surfaces like car exteriors or outdoor furniture. Apply a small amount of olive oil to a cloth and rub it on the area. The oil will break down the tar or sap, making it easier to wipe away.
19. Cleaning and Conditioning Wooden Furniture
Olive oil can be used to clean and condition wood furniture. Mix equal parts olive oil with parts of lemon juice, then dip a soft cloth into the mixture. Take the cloth and place it on the furniture in circular motions to clean and restore its natural shine. Wipe off any excess oil with a clean cloth.
Compare your results with furniture polish and determine which approach works best for you. Consider trying the olive oil on a part of the furniture that doesn’t show first to make sure the results are to your liking.
20. Repelling Dust on Houseplants
Houseplants tend to accumulate dust on their leaves, which can stop their ability to absorb sunlight. To repel dust and give your plants a healthy glow, apply a small amount of olive oil to a soft cloth and wipe down the leaves. This will create a barrier that prevents dust from settling as easily. This is one of my favorite uses for olive oil around the house and why I do it often. How to Grow Succulents
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Final Word
These are just a few of the many uses for olive oil around the home. Its many uses make it a valuable and cost-effective household staple. Whether you’re cooking, cleaning, or caring for various items, olive oil can actually help a lot! Mention in the comment section below how you’ve put olive oil to work so I can share your experiences with my readers. May God Bless this World, Linda
Copyright Images: Olive Oil Bottle AdobeStock_255775295 By Dušan Zidar
Good suggestions. For many of these things on the list, I would suggest getting the cheapest olive oil!! Save the really good stuff for cooking/baking and that sort of thing.
I have read a few articles on how to choose the best olive oil. I think it is always a “crap shoot” when you are at the store. I buy on-line from California Olive Ranch – I know it is sold in the grocery stores, but I like buying directly from the company. They also sell avocado oil.
Hi Leanne, you are so right, always use the cheapest olive oil whenever possible. Buy the good stuff because it will be fresher for meals. We never know how long the olive oil has been on the grocery store shelves under lights. I need to check out that company, thanks for the name of it. Linda
One more thing you can use olive oil for is your oil lamps. It is supposed to burn clean with no smell. I haven’t needed to use it in my oil lamps(yet) as I have a stand by generator but my cousin says its a good way to use up old olive oil. She lives where they get a few outages in the winter and she uses her oil lamps when the power goes out. She lives in a beautiful 1800’s home with wood burning fireplaces and stove. She is my go to when I have questions on canning as she’s been canning like forever LOL.
Hi Kathy, oh yes, I know Ron Brown wrote a book about using Olive Oil in oil lamps. I bet that 1800’s home is beautiful! What a treasure! Olive Oil Lamps by Ron Brown: https://amzn.to/46cO8Qf
I would love a standby generator! Linda
Yes, She and her hubby have done wonders with it . The “formal “dining room is set with our great grandparents china, silverware and wine glasses and she has many things from our greats and his great grandparents in the house. I think this will be the 12th or 13th year for their towns Tour/Parade of “old” homes the town does for charity.I can’t remember if their house was one of the original founders of the town or the towns doctor’s home. I’ll ask next time we talk. We spent a couple of days with them a few summers ago, the room we slept in had an old fashioned double bed with ,yup, a feather mattress. Our greats must have been very skinny, DH and I are not overweight but it was a little cramped in there. LOL
HI Kathy, wow, this sounds so wonderful and charming. How exciting to share the home with the town and the money goes to a charity. Oh, the double bed, my husband and I bought a set of furniture from a couple (their parents both died) and the bedroom set had a double bed, we were thrilled! Looking back it was a small bed but it worked for us! We were newlyweds and Mark was going to college and we got a whole house full of furniture for our tiny apartment for very little money. We felt blessed. Thanks for sharing this wonderful story. I love it! Linda
Hi Kathy, oh, I can picture that darling 1800’s home, what a treasure! I would love a generator, I just added this link to the post, Olive Oil Lamps by Ron Brown: https://amzn.to/46cO8Qf
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, LInda
Thank you for the link. I couldn’t remember who wrote it.I hope you and Mark have a wonderful Thanksgiving as well as everyone on here.And for those traveling (like we are) have safe travels.
Hi Kathy, you are so welcome, I pray for safety for all those traveling over the holidays as well! Linda
I cover my hands with olive oil, before working with bread dough. Keeps it from sticking to my hands. I also used it for a moisturizer for my elderly mother, who had extremely dry skin.
Hi Janet, oh my goodness, this is a great idea! It really does work well for extremely dry skin. Great tips! Linda
These are some seriously good tips. Love the one about coating hands before kneading. I passed that along to Jane.
Hi Ray, it sure keeps the dough from sticking to our hands! Linda
Hey Linda, maybe you two should buy a standby generator as housewarming gift for your selves. I’m sure if you tell your contractor he can arrange for a way to safely get the heat into your home, while placing it safely outdoors in a protected but well ventilated place.
As for olive oil, in light of the sky rocketing prices for olive oil due to drought shortages in Southern Europe, it is well to buy the least expensive olive oil they can find. For some of these non diet uses (like oiling hinges), canola oil could be a cheaper sub for the moment until the market prices ease again. California Ranch OO is available in markets here. It tends to be substantially more expensive than the best known imported brands here. The store brand where I shop has a decent flavor, so their supplier must be a fairly good quality. When I shop I try to stock up with the best quality I can afford, especially when they’re on sale. I buy the largest sizes available on sale, trying to stock ahead. Boston and the greater metro area, has huge numbers of Italian and other Mediterranean peoples. I’ve noticed sales, discounts, and coupons increase in the Fall up to and through the holiday season, then go up after 1 Jan. So I try to stock up then. I have a very chill dark undercounter cabinet in the kitchen where my oils all stay fresh. I keep smaller oil decanters on the counter for immediate use. I go through quite a lot of medium and Extra Virgin OO so it works. For those who cannot use on line for purchasing perhaps Costco or other clubs or food warehouse sources might serve. Some restaurant distributors may also sell small case lots to you as well. They serve smaller restaurants and markets, so if you wish to buy small lots they might be open to private sales.
Good article Linda.
Hi Mary Ann, thank you for your kind words. Yes, olive oil has skyrocketed in price. You have a great place to store your oil, I love it! Linda
sorry to say but olive oil on wood can become rancid. Use mineral oil instead. Its much cheaper and goes a long way. Otherwise great suggestions.
Hi Carol, I oil my wood cutting boards with mineral oil at least six times a year to keep them in great condition. All oils will go rancid that’s for sure, great comment. I would only use olive oil if that’s all I had. Thank you, Linda