Did you know that olive oil can be used to actually clean things?
Olive oil is a staple in the kitchen, and you probably enjoy it over your salad or on your favorite pasta. It is a healthy oil with a lot of benefits, but this is not all. Did you know that you can use it around the house to clean some of the most common household things?
This might be a surprise for you, and we totally get it because it sure was a surprise for us. When you think about oil, you imagine it being … oily, right? And indeed it is, but it is exactly what makes it the perfect cleaner for some items.
The best thing about olive oil is that it is organic, and this means you can use it as a cleaner when you don’t want to rely on harsh chemicals. You might be a little bit conflicted now about its effectiveness, but please keep reading and discover some of the most fascinating things about this oil and its capabilities.
So, are you ready to revolutionize the way you are cleaning your home? Here are some of the everyday items you can clean using olive oil!
Candle wax
As we already said, olive oil is not just something you can use only in the kitchen. There are a lot of smart ways to take advantage of its special properties, and one of them is to use it as a cleaner.
For example, its oily nature makes it great at removing candle wax from things that are not supposed to be covered in it. Let’s say you spilled a little bit of wax on the countertop or on your table. What are you going to do next?
Take a clean cloth and immerse it in olive oil. Gently rub the problem area, and you will start to notice that the oil is slowly dissolving the wax. Then take another cloth and wipe away the debris. This method works best for surfaces that are more delicate and do not allow you to use harsh cleaners.
Stainless steel sinks
You probably want to make your stainless steel kitchen sink look new, but this is much harder than it sounds. Yes, there are many cleaning products you can use, but most of the time they are quite expensive and also harmful to your skin and the environment.
Those water spots and all the grime take away the shine, and you can’t take it anymore. Well, you actually have the easiest solution right at home. All you need to do is go to the pantry and grab that bottle of olive oil. For this, you will also need a lemon.
The oil will act as a lubricant, and this will loosen up the grime and add that shine you want. The lemon juice has a higher acidity, and this will remove the stains and water spots.
Take a small bowl and combine equal parts of lemon juice and olive oil. Rub the mixture over the surface of the sink with a clean cloth, and after you are done, rinse everything with water. Then use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe down the sink, and voila! Your kitchen sink looks amazing, and you didn’t need to spend a dime to achieve this.
Polish wood furniture
Daily wear and tear will take away the luster of your wooden furniture over time, but as long as you have some olive oil and some vinegar around the house, you don’t need to worry. This is a miraculous combination that will make your furniture shine again and will also nourish the wood, simply making it look better than ever.
Start by combining equal parts of olive oil and white vinegar in a bowl. If you want fragrance, you can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Then dip a cloth into the mixture and start to gently wipe the furniture’s surface. Make sure the cloth is just a little bit damp and not completely soaked in liquid because the excess wetness can destroy the wood.
After all of this, take another cloth and begin to buff the surface. This will remove any excess oil and ensure a smooth, shiny finish. Make sure that before you start this operation, you test the furniture by cleaning a small hidden area. You want to see if the furniture can tolerate the treatment.
Leather goods
Olive oil is a good idea when you want to give your goods lather a second life, but this is still a debated topic in the expert community. Some are advocating for its application, while others believe that this is just a temporary solution that will later damage the leather.
So, if you temporarily want to restore the shine of your leather goods, you can apply and then gently rub some oil on their surface. They will have a refreshed appearance, but please don’t overdo it. Wondering why? Olive oil can easily seep into the leather and at some point resurface, causing discoloration and stains. Also, the oily residue left on the leather surface attracts dust and filth, resulting in a sticky surface and a dull look with time.
Considering all of these, it’s better to use products that are specially designed to clean leather products, but if this is not immediately possible, you can also use olive oil. Just be careful and don’t make a habit out of this.
Countertops
Maybe it is not the best at cleaning leather, but it is for sure amazing at cleaning and polishing various other surfaces such as stainless steel, marble, and granite. These are all common countertop materials, and because of this, you can easily use oil to clean them.
Those who recommend this method say that it is so much better than harsh chemicals because it is an effective way to provide a natural shine without relying on toxic substances. However, you still need to approach this practice with caution because, despite being amazing at polishing, the oil has no antibacterial properties. It will never sanitize or disinfect surfaces.
For stainless steel, you can start by using warm water and mild dish soap. Make sure you wipe in the direction of the grain to avoid scratches. Then you can further proceed and use a little bit of olive oil for polish.
If your countertop is made out of granite or marble, you do the exact same operation, but then you will need to further disinfect the surface. For this, use a solution of equal parts isopropyl alcohol and water, spray it on the countertop, and let it sit for three minutes. Only after this can you start polishing.
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Do you want to always have a trendy home, but there are so many trends out there that you get lost in them? The best thing you can do in this case is to know what to stay away from, and this is why we believe that this article might be quite handy: 7 Outdated Home Trends Everyone Over 50 Should Avoid
