11 Surprising & Practical Uses For Olive Oil

That bottle of olive oil in your kitchen cupboard is much more useful that might think! In addition to mixing it with lemon juice to make a quick vinaigrette, you can also use olive oil for cleaning, personal care, and more!

In today’s blog post, I’ll be sharing 11 surprising and practical uses for olive oil around the house. I think you’ll be delighted to learn just how versatile this oil can really be! :-)

A Quick Note About Olive Oils

There are several quality grades when it comes to olive oil, with the most popular being extra virgin olive oil. “Extra virgin” means that the oil was mechanically pressed from fresh olives to get the best taste and aroma.

These are important qualities when it comes to cooking, but they aren’t particularly important for the uses listed below. So feel free to save yourself some money by using standard olive oil instead!

11 Surprising Uses For Olive Oil Around The House

1. Sub For Shaving Cream

Olive oil makes a great substitute for shaving cream in a pinch! Just lather your legs with a bit of oil for a smooth shave with less razor burn.

Olive oil is very moisturizing too, so your legs will feel super soft afterward. For even softer legs, use that olive oil to make my exfoliating leg scrub!

2. Repair Cracked Heels

Suffering from rough, dry, or cracked heels? Moisturizing olive oil makes a great overnight repair treatment!

Before bed, exfoliate dead skin with a heel file or pumice stone, then apply olive oil to your heels. Pull a pair of socks on and you’ll wake up with softer, smoother feet!

3. Remove Gum From Hair

The fat content in olive oil can be really useful for removing gum from someone’s hair. (No scissors required!)

Just apply a generous amount of oil to the gum and the hair around it, let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then gently pull the gum free.

4. Unstick A Zipper

Got a zipper that just won’t budge? Moisten a Q-tip with a bit of olive oil, then apply the oil to the zipper’s teeth to get it moving again.

(Just make sure to keep the oil off the fabric!)

5. Prevent Wax Buildup

Before you put a tapered or pillar candle into your candle holder, apply a thin coat of olive oil to the base of the holder.

The oil will make it much easier to remove any wax drips later on!

6. Unstick A Ring

Who hasn’t accidentally gotten a too-tight ring stuck on their finger? Luckily for us, olive oil makes it easy to get those rings unstuck!

Just rub some olive oil onto the finger where the ring is stuck, and you should be able to slide the ring right off.

7. Remove Stickers & Labels

Use olive oil to remove stubborn stickers and labels with ease! Just apply enough oil to saturate the sticker, let it sit for a few minutes, and you’ll be able to remove it without any sticky residue.

8. Erase Eye Makeup

Olive oil can also serve as a gentle way to remove eye makeup. Pour a small amount of oil onto a cotton pad, then gently wipe away eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara.

Once the makeup is gone, rinse your face with warm water and follow up with your favorite facial cleanser.

9. Protect Wooden Kitchen Items

There are a lot of oils you can use in a pinch to nourish and condition wooden cutting boards, bowls, and utensils in your kitchen, including olive oil.

The key is to apply it sparingly and let it soak in for a few minutes. Afterwards, use a dry, soft cloth to buff away any excess oil.

10. Prevent Rusty Razors

Replacement cartridges for razor blades can be expensive! But you protect your investment by treating them with olive oil to help prevent rusting.

Pour a bit of oil onto a cotton ball, then apply the oil to the blades. Allow the blades to dry for a while before using the razor.

11. Soften Cuticles & Dry Skin

Olive oil is both moisturizing and packed with antioxidants, so it’s great for treating rough cuticles and repairing dry skin. Dab it onto rough and ragged cuticles daily for healthier, more beautiful nails.