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Olive oil has many surprising uses you would not expect. While it’s a staple in the kitchen used for cooking and salad dressings, its uses extend far beyond the culinary realm. From skincare to sticky residue removal, olive oil offers a range of benefits for your home.

Here are 14 practical uses for olive oil that might change how you see this kitchen essential.

a bottle of olive oil and olives on a wooden table — Image Credit: Deposit Photos

Renew Furniture

Bring back the shine of your wooden furniture with a simple and natural solution: olive oil. This kitchen staple is a moisturizer for lackluster wood surfaces, penetrating and nourishing them.

For a homemade furniture polish, mix equal parts of olive oil and white vinegar in a jar, shake well, and apply the mixture to the wood along the grain.

Gently buff away the excess, allowing the oil to moisturize and restore the wood’s luster while the vinegar prevents it from turning rancid.

How to Clean Wood Furniture

Make Your Silverware Shine Again

Revive the shine of your silverware with olive oil to polish away tarnish. Make a paste of olive oil and baking soda, then gently rub it onto the silverware.

Rinse with warm water and pat it dry. This method will restore your silverware’s shine.

Remove Paint From Your Skin

After completing a painting project and discovering paint splatters on your skin, use olive oil to remove them without harsh scrubbing.

Rub a small amount of oil into your hands to loosen the paint or dissolve the grease, then wash with soap and warm water. This olive oil hack effectively dissolves the grease, leaving your hands or skin clean and soft.

Get Gum Out of Hair

For parents dealing with the inevitable scenario of gum stuck in their child’s hair, olive oil comes to the rescue. Apply a small amount to the affected area, let it sit for a minute, and then gently rub the hair to loosen the gum.

Restore Leather

Revitalize your leather goods, such as a sofa, boot, or handbag, by moisturizing them with olive oil. Apply a modest quantity to a clean cloth and gently rub it into the leather.

Clear Sticky Tags and Residue

Sticky residue from labels, tape, or adhesives can be a pain to remove. Olive oil can help break down the stickiness, making it easier to remove without damaging the surface.

How to Remove Sticky Residue

Silence Squeaky Doors

Quiet those squeaky door hinges using olive oil; it works just as well as WD-40.

Revive Cutting Boards

Revitalize your wooden cutting boards by generously applying olive oil. Allow the oil to soak in overnight to restore the wood’s moisture.

Heal Sunburn

Ease the discomfort of sunburn by applying extra-virgin olive oil to the affected areas.

Shine Stainless Steel

Polish stainless steel appliances and fixtures with a small amount of olive oil. The oil will leave a streak-free shine, removing fingerprints and smudges.

Remove 24 Hour Eye Makeup

If you run out of eye makeup remover, grab some olive oil. Apply it to a cotton pad, and effortlessly wipe away your makeup.

Remove Water Marks

Olive oil is highly effective at removing watermarks from your wood furniture. Whether a wooden coffee table or a dining room table, olive oil can help to remove water stains.

Simply rub a generous amount of warm olive oil into the stained area. Allow it to sit for a little while, and then wipe it away. You will be surprised to see how well this stuff works.