Most of us have used olive oil in the kitchen. It's often touted as a healthier alternative to other oils, and with good reason. Olive oil has many benefits, not only for our internal health, but for our skin, hair, and even homes!
Today we're showing you the many olive oil uses that can be incorporated into your daily life to solve a multitude of problems.
Beauty uses for olive oil
Olive oil has been used as a natural beauty product for centuries, loaded with vitamins and antioxidants it makes a great top to toe moisturiser and cleanser.
1. Refresh chopping boards & utensils
If your wooden chopping boards and utensils have seen better days, rub a small amount of olive oil into them with a kitchen towel and leave to dry.
It will revitalise the wood to disguise scratches and marks.
2. Intensive hair treatment
You needn't spend a fortune on hair care products.
Save money on expensive hair masks and instead use olive oil on your hair once a week for a budget hair treatment.
Massage half a cup of olive oil into dry hair, comb through and either pop a shower cap on or wrap your head in cling film. If you can, leave it on overnight to work its magic, or have a hot bath or shower so the steam can help the oil penetrate into the scalp. Shampoo out thoroughly and to reveal super shiny hair.
Did you know you can also use oil to get slime out of hair? It's a great hack to know for those emergency situations.
3. Cuticle oil & dry hand treatment
Has all that cleaning got your fingers feeling dry?
Rub a few drops of olive oil into your nails to inject some moisture into dry skin and cuticles.
You can also give tired hands a soothing, nourishing treat by massaging some oil into them, popping on some gloves and wearing them overnight. The Omega-6 and Omega-3 found in olive oil have fabulous skin-smoothing properties that will replenish lost moisture, and keep your hands looking young and supple.
4. Relaxing bath soak
Don't just have any bath - have the best bath ever!
Pour a cup of olive oil into your hot bath and enjoy a relaxing soak. It’s packed with Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that can help protect your skin from premature ageing.
5. Natural earache relief
Earaches can be super distracting, but there's no need to suffer!
A little olive oil is a fast and effective way of relieving earache. Warm the olive oil by placing the bottle in a bowl of hot water then pour a few drops into the affected ear - yes, it really is that easy!
6. Skin cleanser
Dry or combination skin? Olive oil can help create a smooth, supple complexion. Massage a few drops into your skin using a cotton pad and gently rinse with water.
For a real moisture boost, leave the oil on your face, run a clean flannel under hot water and place onto your face. The heat will open pores to help the oil penetrate the skin for an even deeper treatment.
7. Whiten your teeth naturally
Ever wanted to whiten your teeth, without the cost? We have the answer - olive oil!
'Oil pulling' is an ancient Ayurveda ritual that involves swilling a natural oil around your mouth for better oral hygiene, whiter teeth and numerous other dental hygiene benefits.
Swish some Extra Virgin Olive Oil around your mouth for 5 minutes a day, then spit it out. Work your way up to 20 minutes a day to see the full benefits.
No olive oil? Coconut oil works in a similar way.
8. Lip scrub
What those dry, chapped lips need is some exfoliation and nourishment.
Transform your dry lips with the help of olive oil! Mix 1.5tbsp of olive oil, 2 tbsp sugar and 1 tsp honey in a small container, massage onto lips then wash away with warm water.
You'll have the most kissable lips ever!
9. Make yourself an Olive Oil soap
Did you know that some soaps actually contain ingredients that can aggravate and dry out the skin? Olive oil soap will do no such thing!
Whilst shop-bought versions can be costly, making your own is fairly inexpensive, and relatively easy too!
If you have a slow cooker at home you can make these lovely natural soaps for yourself, your family and friends - they make really good gifts! Check out Wellness Mama's easy-to-follow Basic Slow Cooker Soap Recipe to learn how to make yours.
Olive oil soaps will give you all the benefits of applying it directly to your skin, without the faff (or mess!)
10. Makeup remover
Makeup wipes can actually cause more damage than good. Some of the ingredients can dry skin out or cause spots, and the use of them can pull and damage the delicate skin around eyes leading to wrinkles.
An alternative way to get your face ready for bed is using olive oil. Mix equal parts olive oil and castor oil and apply to skin in small circular motions, then remove using a hot cloth.
11. Diaper rash treatment
Did you know olive oil can also be used on your little ones? When it comes to diaper rash, natural treatments are always best.
To provide relief to sore bottoms, apply a small amount of olive oil onto the area.
12. Hair serum
Similarly to nourishing hair treatments, hair products can also often be replicated with natural products.
Serums are designed to smooth flyaway and add shine to hair. Guess what - olive oil can do this too! Rub a tiny amount into hands then delicately smooth over hair.
TOP TIP: When it comes to hair products, less is more. Start with a little, and add more as you need. Overdoing it can cause your hair to look greasy.
13. Shaving cream
Run out of shaving cream? Smooth olive oil onto your skin and it'll help your razor to glide gently and smoothly over the skin, preventing any cuts, lumps or bumps.
Before you begin, check our guide to find out if you should exfoliate before or after shaving.
14. Cracked heel treatment
Are your feet feeling and looking as dry as the Sahara desert? Get them ready for sandal season with a little olive oil!
You can get silky soft feet by applying a layer of olive oil to them before bed, and massaging in thoroughly. Pop on a pair of old socks, and leave overnight to nourish the skin.
Household uses for olive oil
Olive oil isn't just for the kitchen, it's handy around the rest of the home too! Check out the list below to discover more olive oil uses, including how it can clean, shine and fix bits and bobs around the house.
15. Shine dull wooden furniture
Over time, wooden furniture can dry out.
Restore the lost lustre with kitchen cupboard ingredients!
Make your own homemade furniture polish using olive oil and get your home looking shiny and new again.
16. Remove paint from your hair and skin
In the process of redecorating?
If you got paint in your hair or skin from a painting job, olive oil can help you to remove it. Moisten a cotton wool pad with olive oil, then gently rub it onto the area.
This also works great on little artists in the making, with no uncomfortable scrubbing required!
17. Silence a squeaky door
Is that squeaky door driving you up the wall?
Lubricate a tight or squeaky hinge with a few drops of olive oil to quieten down any noise.
18. Free a stuck zip
Don't panic - we'll help you get those stuck jeans off again!
Use a cotton swab to apply a small amount of olive oil to the teeth of your stuck zip. It will act as a lubricant and gently release the grip.
19. Stop or reduce snoring at night
Is your partner's snoring driving you mad at night or vice-versa?
Although not yet proven, some say that taking a small sip of olive oil before bed can lubricate your throat muscles, and stop you - or your partner - from snoring as much during the night.
Worth a try? We think so!
20. Shine stainless steel and brass
It's not just wood that can benefit from the nourishing properties of olive oil - turns out it can make your steel and brass shine brightly too!
Rub a bit of olive oil on a clean rag and gently buff your pots and pans, stainless steel microwave, and more to prevent streaks, corrosion and tarnish.
21. Prevent wax from sticking to candle holders
Candle wax can be a nightmare to clean up.
Rub a thin coat of olive oil onto your candle and tea-light holders to prevent any dripping wax from sticking. Oil is a liquid repellant, so when dripped wax hits the surface and dries, the wax will peel away very easily.
22. Polish your leather shoes
Here's yet another thing olive oil can polish - your scuffed leather shoes!
If you can't find any shoe polish, use olive oil as an alternative to buff your leather shoes to give them an instant shine. Apply a small amount onto your shoes in a circular motion with a clean cloth.
23. Hairball prevention
Olive oil can benefit your pets too. Help your cat pass fur balls quickly and easily by adding a few drops of olive oil to their meals.
24. Sticker removal
Have you tried everything to get that unsightly sticker off of your new vase? We bet you didn't think to try olive oil, the ultimate sticker remover!
Dab some olive oil onto a tough sticker or label then let it saturate it for a few minutes. The sticker will peel right off without the need for any tough scraping or scrubbing. No residue left behind either - hurrah!
25. Easy chewing gum removal
We sincerely hope you (or the kids) never get chewing gum stuck in your hair, but if you do, don't panic. We have an article on how to get gum out of hair, and oil is one of our top methods.
Put the scissors down and grab some olive oil. Apply it liberally to the area and leave for 5-10 minutes before gently easing the chewing gum out.
26. Scented candles
Got some time to play with this weekend? Why not do something a little creative?
Making your own scented candles is easier than you might imagine, and you can customise the recipe to include all of your favourite scents too!
Discover how to make your very own herb-scented olive oil candles in the video above. Your home will smell amazing!
27. Unstick a ring
Yikes! Does your finger seem to have got fatter since this morning?
Heat can cause our skin to swell, making tight jewellery more likely to get stuck. To ease yours off, rub some olive oil into the area. It will provide lubrication and the ring should slip off.
28. Remove rain marks
Not only is olive oil useful for shining shoes, but it's also pretty good at removing rain marks from rubber wellingtons, leather boots and more.
29. Rust-free garden tools
One for the green thumbs!
Applying a little olive oil to your garden tools every few months will keep them in good condition, preventing rust and helping you to get the job done.
30. Oil lamp
Emergency, emergency!
Along with olive oil, you should also keep some candle wicks and matches in the house. If there's ever a power cut, you'll be able to create your own light source by simply filling bowls with olive oil, sticking a candle wick into the liquid and lighting it.
Phew!
31. Rust-free razors
Razors can be pretty expensive. Prolong the life of yours by dripping a small amount of olive oil onto the blades. It will repel water to keep your razor rust-free.
32. Moisturise dog paws
It's not just your cat that can reap the benefits of olive oil, but your dogs too. If they've got dry paws from an unusually hot summer's day, you can massage some olive oil into them to soothe the skin.
And to think most people just use olive oil for cooking! What's your favourite way to use it? Let us know in the comments below.
Very informatve post! But do you think olive oil is good for cleansing face? I'm afraid it can clog the skin pores
Hi Mei, it depends on your skin type. If you have particularly oil skin then it may be worth using it very sparsely. It's best to try it out and if you find your skin worsening then give it a miss :)
I look forward to trying the snoring or how to stop snoring as my husband is a real real snorer and I will report back. Hope OLIVE is the killer or SNORING.
Hi Gwen, snoring is a nightmare! How did he get on with the olive oil? Would love to know if it worked on him.
I used it to remove water stains from my shower tiles and glass door
Oh really? That's interesting, I'll give it a go!
I rub a smear of olive oil around the seal of my pressure cooker, after having washed it of course, it makes the lid easier to turn both when putting the lid on and taking it off. One word of warning about cooking with olive oil, don't get it too hot, i.e. if you're frying with it just fry very lightly, the chemical compostion of olive oil changes at high temperatures, creating such nasties as trans fats, AGEs and other harmful chemicals.
Thanks for sharing!
Hi Joanne - some good tips there. But #6 to relieve earache - wouldn't it be better to warm just a few drops of olive oil rather than putting the whole bottle in water? If you're using extra virgin olive oil, the more expensive stuff, it might harm it by immersing the entire bottle in hot water.
Hi Sandy! This post was written by Anushka, not myself. You could certainly try that!
Sandy is correct, in fact if you have a small bottle with an eye-dropper type pipette, you could decant some into that, warm it up in hot water (NOT in the microwave!), then use the pipette to deliver a couple of drops into the ear, less messy than trying to drop it in from a teaspoon, the other traditional method.
Not just earache. If you lose hearing in one ear it might be wax build up which can be caused by trying to clean your ears with cotton wool tips and just tamping it in to a solid mass. Olive oil dripped into the ear then a cotton wool plug put in every night will soften wax over at least a week. You then have to get the ear syringed out. The doctor recommended this instead of proprietary eardrops and it worked. No cost at all!!
That's great, Brenda!
One other use for olive oil that I forgot to mention, I use a little of it to lubricate the blades of my shredder, since the shreddings go to provide bedding for a rescue organisation for small animals, any small amount of residue is digestible and therefore not harmful to the animals, unlike mineral oils.
That sounds like a great idea!
I use a teaspoon of olive oil in my labradors food a couple of times a week. It keeps his coat soft and shiny.
Interesting idea!
You’re right, olive oil is very good for adding to the bath to moisturise the skin, but beware when getting out of the bath, it makes the sides of the bathtub very slippy! ?
Good tip!