Unusual Uses for Olive Oil — Beyond the Kitchen
Olive oil is a kitchen staple for good reasons (heart-healthy fats, flavor, versatility), but it’s also one of the most useful pantry-based beauty and household products. The fats and antioxidants that make it good food make it surprisingly effective for skin, hair, and household tasks. Below are the time-tested non-kitchen uses worth keeping in mind.
Skin and beauty uses
Face moisturizer for very dry skin
A few drops of extra-virgin olive oil massaged into clean damp skin works as a basic moisturizer. Best for normal to dry skin types; if you’re acne-prone, jojoba or squalane is a lighter alternative.
Eye makeup remover
Olive oil dissolves waxy mascara and eye liner gently. Apply a small amount on a cotton pad, sweep, then rinse with warm water. Works on waterproof formulas where many gentle removers don’t.
Hair conditioning treatment
Massage warm olive oil into hair (focusing on mid-length and ends, not scalp if you tend toward greasy roots), leave in for 30 minutes under a shower cap, then shampoo out. Best for dry or damaged hair; once-monthly use is plenty.
Cuticle and nail conditioner
A drop of olive oil massaged into cuticles and nail beds helps prevent splitting and dryness. Useful especially in winter or for people who do a lot of hand-washing.
Lip balm base
Mixed with a little beeswax, olive oil makes a simple homemade lip balm. Even on its own, a small amount soothes chapped lips.
Body and bath oil
A tablespoon added to bath water leaves skin soft. Or applied directly after a shower to damp skin, then patted dry.
Household and practical uses
Wood furniture polish
Mix olive oil with a splash of vinegar or lemon juice. Apply with a soft cloth to wood furniture, rub in, buff. Restores warmth to dry wood and conditions the surface.
Stainless steel polish
A few drops on a soft cloth shine up stainless steel appliances and remove fingerprints. Wipe in the direction of the grain.
Garden tool care
A light wipe of olive oil on metal garden tools prevents rust and keeps moving parts (pruner pivots, etc.) operating smoothly.
Sticker and adhesive remover
Olive oil dissolves sticky residue from price tags, bumper stickers, and tape. Apply, let sit a few minutes, wipe off.
Squeaky door hinges
A drop on the hinge pin replaces the smell of WD-40 with nothing. Won’t last as long but works in a pinch.
Leather conditioning
A light wipe of olive oil on leather goods (shoes, bags, belts) conditions and restores luster. Buff out excess.
Which olive oil to use
For skin and hair: extra virgin, ideally cold-pressed and from a single source. Avoid blends that mix olive oil with cheaper oils. For household uses: any decent olive oil works fine — you don’t need to splurge for furniture polish.
Related reading
For other pantry-based beauty staples, see our coverage of coconut oil uses.