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11 ways to use olive oil around the house

If I had to pick only a few products to keep in my cupboard based on their multipurpose value I’d have vinegar, bicarb soda, salt, and olive oil.

The value of the first four is pretty well documented, but did you know that you could do the following with olive oil:

Clean paint and sticky substances off your hands.

If you've spent the day renovating or the kids walk through the door with unidentified goo on their hands then reach for the olive oil! Put a splash of olive oil and a spoon of sugar or salt in your palms and rub away. Then wash with a mild soap in warm water. Your hands will be clean as a whistle and soft as a baby's bottom!

You can also remove paint from your hair by apply olive oil and brushing with a finetooth comb.

Remove make up

There's no need to buy expensive make up remover. Simply pour some olive oil onto a reusable make up pad and wipe away gently. This tip is great for tough to remove mascara.

READ MORE: [DIY] Reusable makeup wipes

Intensive hair treatment

If you hair is feeling dry or frail then apply olive oil liberally to your scalp and hair. Wrap your hair in an old towel and leave it for 10-20 minutes (the longer the better). Then wash you hair as you would normally.

Use it to polish furniture

Make your own furniture polish by combining 2 parts olive oil to 1 part white vinegar or lemon juice. Pour the mixture into a clean recycled spray bottle; give it a good shake and spray onto your wooden furniture. Leave it for a minute or two and then wipe off with a clean, soft, reusable cloth.

Use it as shaving cream

You might not have come across this one before, but stay with us! If you run out of your preferred shaving lubricant and soap doesn't make the cut then apply olive oil instead! It's moisturising and won't irritate your skin.

Give your feet some love

Are your heels looking cracked or feeling sore? Give them a good massage with olive oil (or convince someone else to do it for you!) then put on clean cotton socks and let it soak in overnight.

Free up a stuck zipper

Rub a small amount of olive oil to the teeth of the zipper and then gently ease it down.

Control frizzy hair

Rub a small amount of olive oil into your palms (be careful not to overdo it). Then rub your hands through your hair, stick towards the roots as the your scalp produces oil naturally. The oil will give your hair a nice shine and tame any fly aways.

Shine stainless steal and brass

Rub oil onto an old rag or reusable cloth and polish and your pots, ornaments, and cutlery. The oil will prevent streaks, corrosion, and tarnish.

Use it to treat head lice

If an infestation has broken out in your children's hair then apply a thick amount of olive oil to the head and scalp, leave it for about an hour. Comb through with an extra fine tooth lice comb, shampoo, then apply a preventative.

Polish your shoes or leather products

Rub into worn leather, leave for 30 minutes then wipe away excess.

You'll never look at this wonder product in the same way!

READ THIS NEXT: 11 Ways to use vinegar around the house

Do you have any household tips or tricks we should know about? Let us know in the comments section below.

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