14 Things to Do with Olive Oil Besides Cook

Olive oil is most commonly thought of as a kitchen staple, but for thousands of years it's also been used for all sorts of things that have nothing to do with food. Check out these smart alternative household uses for that unassuming bottle of olive oil hanging out in your pantry.

By Jennifer Noonan | Published Dec 04, 2018 10:42 PM

Unstick a Zipper

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olive oil unstick zipper

A sticky zipper can be lubricated with a little bit of olive oil. Just dab some on a cotton swab, and wipe down the teeth.

Related: 21 Home Hacks That Are Just Crazy Enough to Work

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Silence Squeaky Hinges

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fix squeaky door hinges

WD-40 may be your go-to for squeaky doors, but if you haven’t got any of that handy product in the house, try lubricating that hinge with a little bit of olive oil.

Related: 10 DIY Fixes That Do More Harm Than Good

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Clean Garden Tools

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Clean Garden Tools

Coating your garden tools with a thin layer of olive oil will help stave off rust and make dirt slide off of them more easily. You can also use olive oil to condition the wooden handles to keep them from cracking and splitting.

Related: 8 Top Tools for Taming Your Landscape

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Clean Up Paint on Skin

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clean up paint with olive oil

After you've finished up a painting project, rub some olive oil into your skin to remove paint from your hands naturally, without harsh chemicals. Let the oil soak in for about five minutes to loosen the paint, and then rinse with water.

Related: 11 Home Hacks You Can Do with a Bag of Groceries

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Moisturize Wood Furniture

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moisturize wood furniture

Periodically rub a thin coat of olive oil into your wood furniture to help keep the finish moisturized. Wipe the excess off with a clean, soft cloth, and the wood will look sleek and shiny. 

Related: 7 Ways You May Be Ruining All Your Furniture

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Shine Brass

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Shine Brass

Rub a little bit of olive oil onto brass you’ve just polished to help prevent tarnish from coming back so quickly.

Related: 14 Crazy Cleaning Tips That Actually Work

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Polish Leather

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polish leather with olive oil

Whether you're cleaning up an ottoman, a baseball glove, or your shoes, you can polish up leather with olive oil. Just rub it on, let it sit for about 30 minutes, and then wipe off the excess.

Related: 12 Genius Tips for Everyday Speed-Cleaning

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Remove Stickers and Labels

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Remove Stickers With Olive Oil

Empty glass jars can be repurposed in so many ways, if only you can get off those pesky labels! Remove stuck-on price stickers and labels by working a little olive oil into the adhesive. The oil should help to loosen the label and make it slide off.

Related: 9 Brilliant Cleaning Hacks Everyone Should Know

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DIY an Emergency Oil Lamp

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diy olive oil lamp

You can DIY an oil lamp with not much more than a dish or jar, some olive oil, and a length of lamp wick or 100 percent cotton rope. These makeshift lamps are great for gifts or for general ambience, and they're handy to have around for emergencies. A tablespoon of olive oil will burn cleanly and brightly for several hours.

Related: Prep for Disaster: 10 Things You'll Need in a Home Emergency

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Lubricate Cooking Measures

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Lubricate Cooking Measures

Sticky things like honey, molasses, or peanut better are tricky to get out of measuring cups and spoons. Rub or spray a little bit of olive oil into them before filling, and the contents will slide out more easily. Cleaning them will be easier too.

Related: 10 Gadgets for Every Lazy Cook's Kitchen

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Condition Cutting Boards and Knife Handles

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Condition Cutting Boards With Olive Oil

Wooden cutting boards and knife handles can dry out and crack or split over time. Regularly rub them down with olive oil to keep them moisturized and always ready for use.

Related: How To: Clean a Wooden Cutting Board

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Prevent Razors from Rusting

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Prevent Razors from Rusting

Dab a bit of olive oil onto your razors after use to keep them from rusting.

Related: 9 Top Tips for a Bathroom That Cleans Itself

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Make an Ointment

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Make Petroleum Jelly

You can make a natural alternative for petroleum jelly using olive oil and beeswax. Just combine one part beeswax and four parts olive oil in a pot on the stove, and heat the mixture slowly over a low flame until the beeswax melts. Pour the liquid into a jar and let it cool, and it's ready to use. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oils if you’d like a little fragrance.

Related: 14 Unusual Uses for Vaseline

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Prevent Dirty Nails

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Prevent Dirty Nails

It will be easier to clean the dirt off your hands after gardening if you rub some olive oil into and around your fingernails before you start. When you wash up, any dirt that has gotten caught under your nails will slide out more easily. 

Related: 12 Household Cleaning Mistakes That Are Making You Sick

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