People have been using olive oil for thousands of years, and in that time, we have come up with a large number of uses for it. It’s an incredibly versatile substance, used for everything from salads to saving furniture. We’ve come to think of olive oil as primarily a culinary staple, but read on and you’ll learn the many ways you can clean with olive oil.
Clean Cast Iron
We talk about using salt in our Cleaning Tip about cast iron, but not about how you can combine salt with oil. This combination scrubs while adding to the cast iron’s stick-resistant layer of polymerized oils and fats. Just make a paste with a teaspoon of salt and olive oil (or another vegetable oil). Scrub the cookware with this paste and a stiff brush. Rinse with hot water. When you clean with olive oil, there is no doubt you’re using natural options.
Condition or Repair Leather Furniture
Does your leather furniture have scratches? Is it looking worn? Fix these issues with olive oil! Pour a very small amount onto a cotton cloth and rub into the leather in a circular motion. Wipe away any excess.
Protect Wicker
Gently rub some warm olive oil into the wicker with a soft cloth. This will prevent your wicker furniture from drying or cracking. Pick a warm day to clean with olive oil, it will make it easier cleaning your wicker on a sunny day.
Polish
You can polish both wood and metals like stainless steel or brass with olive oil. For the metals, just pour the oil onto a cloth and buff. For wood furniture, combine 2 cups of olive oil with a cup of either lemon juice or vinegar. Use a soft cloth to rub this mixture into the furniture. You can use a mixture of equal parts olive oil and lemon juice to smooth out scratches on lighter woods.
Remove Stickers
Do you regret some of your (or your children’s) sticker choices? Here’s a trick that will help you thoroughly remove an unwanted sticker. Pour olive oil onto a cloth and use this cloth to rub the sticker. Cover the entire sticker with olive oil and then let this sit for a few minutes. Remove the sticker. If the sticker doesn’t come off easily, apply more oil.
Clean With Olive Oil!
Olive oil really is a great resource when it comes to cleaning. If you have any other great ways to clean with olive oil, we’d love to hear them! Just let us know in the comments section below.