Olive Oil: It’s great on your pasta, perfect for your salad — and does wonders cleaning off your makeup? Apparently the do-it-all kitchen staple isn’t just great for cooking and embellishing your dinner. In fact, there are a surprising number of ways that olive oil can be used for all sorts of household tasks.

Paint removal, furniture polish and hair conditioner are just a few of the uses olive oil can double up for use in your home. You’ll  save money and be using a natural product instead of a chemical packed, store-bought product that is harmful to both you and the environment.

Polish

Cleaning products can get expensive. And while store-bought furniture polishes like Pledge come in great lemon scents and make your furniture shine like new, they’re loaded with chemicals. You can get the same effect with a cheaper and greener alternative. Combine one cup olive oil and ½ cup vinegar or lemon juice (if you want that lemon scent) into a spray bottle. Shake and spray directly onto your furniture. After a couple of minutes just wipe away and voila — furniture that shines like new.

Out of shoe polish and have an interview or event to go to? Give them some shine with just a little rub of olive oil. Wipe away and scuff marks are gone.

Paint/Makeup Remover

Sage may look great on your living room walls, but not on your hands or in your hair. Don’t waste time scrubbing at your sink. Just dab a cotton ball into some olive oil and rub it into you hair to remove it. Rub some on your hands to get that pesky paint off of them.

Likewise, you can remove your makeup with just a bit of olive oil. Rub it off using a cotton ball or tissue. It comes off easily and the oil works double-duty as a moisturizer, softening your skin. Then, just wash your face as usual.

Shaving Cream

I must admit that I hate spending $4 on a can of shaving cream that will last me a week and a half. Therefore, I’m guilty of using soap as a substitute, leaving me with uncomfortable razor burn. That’s out the window now that I know that I could use olive oil instead. It kept me from getting nicked and left my skin smooth and soft by the time I was done. It was like a shaving cream and moisturizer rolled into one — and no razor burn!

Hair Conditioner

You know those deep conditioning treatments that leave your hair feeling soft and rejuvenated but your wallet light and empty? Well, just a ½ cup of olive oil and a plastic bag can give you the same effect for much less. Wear some ratty clothes and wrap a towel around your shoulders to avoid oil stains. Then, liberally add the oil to your hair from root to tip. Tie it up and cover it with a plastic bag or shower cap. Wait 30 minutes to 1 hour for the oil to seep in and then shampoo. (You may have to do this two-three times in order to get all the oil out). Style as usual.

If you’re having frizz-control problems you can rub a little oil into your hands and then smooth them away.

Pet Care

Olive oil isn’t beneficial for just you and your dinner  or you household needs. It’s great for your pets too. Add about a teaspoon to your dog or cat food to give your pet a shinier coat. It can also help prevent hairballs.

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