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10 Things to Do with Olive Oil

10 Things to Do with Olive Oil

2022-09-19

Olive oil is an incredibly versatile and historically important product

But did you know olive oil has even more handy uses? Reach into your pantry and explore these 10 handy things you can do with olive oil beyond the kitchen!

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1. Soothing your baby’s nappy rash

Known as a “humectant” olive oil is especially good at attracting moisture from the environment and locking it into the skin. This means olive oil makes for an effective and natural alternative to baby wipes or creams. Simply add a few drops of olive oil to a soft wet cotton pad and apply topically!

2. Remove chewing gum from hair

We’ve all been in that nightmare scenario where chewing gum gets stuck in our hair (or our kids’ hair). But don’t fret! Put down those scissors! Olive oil works to break down the synthetic fibres of chewing gum and it also won’t damage your hair.

Apply extra virgin olive oil to the chewing gum and surrounding hair liberally and rub all around the area. Leave the olive oil in for about 10 minutes and use a comb to work the gum out of your hair and pick away at any last stubborn bits of the chewy nightmare!

3. Remove chewing gum doesn’t require an appointment to a hairdresser!

Olive oil has been used for thousands of years for its beauty benefits all round the Mediterranean. Extra virgin olive oil is rich in vitamins and makes for a great moisturiser, rich in vitamin E olive oil has anti-inflammatory properties and is also an antioxidant that can help support a healthy immune system and promote good skin health. Olive oil attracts water from around your skin (including the air) and draws it deep into your skin, this means that olive oil moisturises your skin for longer. Olive oil is also good for your hair care too! Olive oil is a great hair conditioner as it moustruses deep with the fibres of your hair making it silky smooth and soft!

4. Prolong the life of razor blades

Whenever you reach for a new pack of razors at the supermarket the shock of the price never ceases to sting. Olive oil is hydrophobic meaning it ‘repels’ water which makes for rust-free razor blades! Prolong the life of your razors by applying a small drop of olive oil onto the blades after each use.

5. To polish leather

As we have just discovered, olive oil is a deep moisturiser. This is also great news polishing and bringing those leather shoes back to life! Take a soft cloth and dip into some olive oil and work in circles until the leather is hydrated and shiny.

6. To unjam a zipper

One of the greatest frustrations in life is when a zipper catches and jams. Well, using olive oil is a great way of helping to lubricate the zipper mechanism! Apply a small amount of olive oil to a cotton bud and apply to the zipper ‘teeth’ avoiding the cloth.

7. To stop candle wax from sticking

You can use olive oil to stop candle wax from sticking on a candle holder. Simply rub a small amount of olive oil to the base of the candle and when the candle drips its wax, the wax will not stick to the metal or wooden candle base!

8. To revive your wooden chopping board

As we have mentioned, olive is a great moisturiser and this is also beneficial for your wooden chopping boards and wooden cooking utensils! If they are beginning to look ‘ashy’ and dull, revive them by working olive oil into the wood to help them come back to life. Olive oil’s hydrophobic properties will also help to repel water and prolong the life of the wood so water won’t get too deep into the fibres and rot. Olive oil will also help to disguise knife marks and scratches!

9. To unstick a ring from your finger

Trying on a ring only for it to get stuck on your finger is a scenario that has happened to many of us. The dread that overcomes you as you begin to imagine life without ever being able to remove the band is palpable. But fear not! Olive oil is a great lubricate and will help you slide the ring right off.

10. To revive your pots and pans

Olive oil also helps to bring your steel pots and pans back to life and bring them back to their shiny glory. Using olive oil on your stainless steel appliances (like a microwave or cooker) can also help to prevent corrosion and streaking.

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At La Española Olive Oil, we pride ourselves in combining our traditional olive oil producing techniques with modern and sustainable farming practices to produce an olive oil that is authentically Spanish.