Benefits of Olive Oil

While many of us associate olive oil with cooking, there are numerous uses tied to this one simple ingredient. The benefits of olive oil vary from health preventatives and heart-wise alternatives to cosmetic applications and cleaning.

It makes an excellent moisturizer for your hands, face, and hair and contributes to their healthy growth and development. Olive oil is also a fabulous remedy for treating eczema, helps with weight loss, and reduces the risk of type 2 Diabetes.

At home, it can be used to clean stainless steel and silverware as well as repel unwanted pests. This list discusses more than 50 different benefits of olive oil, whether when combined with other ingredients or used by itself.

Uncovering the Many Benefits of Olive Oil

All are essential components of our daily lives and can be made even easier with a little bit of olive oil. Perhaps you can think of a few uses for olive oil off hand.

Olive oil was originally a traditional crop from the Mediterranean which used the fruit of olive trees to make everything from salad dressings to hair care products. Nowadays, the largest producer of olive oil is Spain, followed by Greece and Italy, who tie for second place.

In the Americas, California is the leading producer of olive oil.Beyond its botanical composition, this oil also contains various nutrients and vitamins that are essential for your health. One of these critical components is monounsaturated fat.

What is in Olive Oil?

While the answer may seem obvious, the activating ingredients are the olives themselves.These fatty acids are considered the “good” kind of fats and are responsible for lowering bad cholesterol levels.

In addition to monounsaturated fatty acids, olive oil is rich in omega-3s and antioxidants. These are especially great for boosting the immune system and prevent common health concerns like cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure.

Is Olive Oil Healthy?

There are numerous health benefits to using olive oil, whether in cooking or otherwise. Olive oil is a significant factor contributing to the success of the Mediterranean diet. It aids in weight loss, which can reduce your propensity for any number of health risks. It is also cited as having heart health benefits, contributing to cognitive functions, and is often used as an anti-inflammatory.

When purchasing this ingredient for health care, ensure you buy extra virgin olive oil over pure olive oil. Pure olive oil has still been processed and refined and contains less of the powerful antioxidants and nutrients found in virgin oils.As with every good thing, you can have too much of it.

While olive oil contains good fats, it is still made of fats that are best when taken in moderation. The typical consumption of olive oil includes two to three tablespoons a day, enough to keep most health issues at bay. However, some people take up to one half of a cup a day without any ill-effects.

What are the Primary Uses of Olive Oil?

Olive oil is best known as a cooking agent; however, its many benefits do not stop there. Olive oil is capable of improving certain health functions, mainly when used in cooking in place of less health-conscious ingredients. Beauty regimens also benefit from using olive oil, which can assist everything from facial routines to reducing crow’s feet.

The last principle use for olive oil includes various household uses. In the aspect of cleaning, olive oil tends to be used more like a polish to make metals shine. It also acts as a helpful tool for removing sticky substances.

Can You use Olive Oil instead of Vegetable Oil?

In many cases, olive oil can be used in place of vegetable oil while cooking. Olive oil provides a healthy alternative to using oils high in fat and works for most cooking projects. The question of can you use olive oil instead of vegetable oil relies on several factors, and isn’t a simple “yes” or “no” answer.

The elements to look for when deciding whether or not to use olive oil include taste and smoke point. If you are planning on cooking at high temperatures, you want an oil with a higher smoke point, like vegetable oil, to prevent a buildup of smoke in your oven.

The taste of olive oil is also a little bitter, which can affect the taste of your meal, too. In some cases, this enhances the taste for the better. However, if you want a cleaner, more subtle addition to your meal, vegetable oil is your best bet.

Exquisite Beauty Benefits of Olive Oil

Unlike harmful oils that clog pores, olive oil soaks into the skin and soothes the effects of damaging cell agents, such as those that cause wrinkles.

Olive Oil as a Moisturizer

With such an oily substance, it isn’t surprising that this ingredient is a spectacular moisturizer. Because of this, it can also be used after sun exposure to prevent premature aging. To use olive oil as a moisturizer, apply, massage into the skin, then blot away any excess oil.

Put Olive into Your Face Packs

Since olive oil is such a fantastic moisturizer, it is the perfect additive for face masks. It is even more enjoyable for those of us with dry skin who want to curb the effects of aging.

The following recipe is for a natural face pack that can be used for up to three different occasions. Store the rest in your fridge when finished.

To create your face mask, mix the above ingredients in a small, resealable container. Smooth the mixture evenly over your face and let it sit for up to 15 minutes.

The mixture should harden by the end of the 15 minutes and can easily be washed off with warm water. Dry thoroughly, then follow up with a moisturizer as necessary.

Strengthen Nails Using Olive Oil

If you want stronger, healthier nails, then olive oil is your new best friend. Olive oil is high in nutrients like vitamin E, which is perfect for strengthening nails and helping them grow.

Soaking your nails in olive oil at least once a week improves their condition immensely. Ensure that you let them soak for at least 20 minutes each time, and clean them with a little bit of vinegar ahead of time to prevent a buildup of germs beneath the cuticles.

Use Olive Oil to Clean Stained Nails

To improve the color of your nails, add some lemon juice to your weekly soaking routine. If you have leftover nail polish, yellowing nails, or gunk left behind after removing fake nails, using this combination whitens nails as you moisturize them.

The olive oil works with the lemon juice by loosening up dirt from the cuticles, while the lemon juice acts as a mild lightening agent.

Olive Oil for Hair Packs

Keeping your hair healthy and moisturized is just as important as treating your face to a facial. Olive oil and honey can also help in that regard, providing one of the perfect ingredients for a hair mask. You want to use a higher quality olive oil when creating your hair mask and use raw over processed honey.

Start by wetting your hair and leaving it damp for applying the mixture. Mix the ingredients thoroughly before applying to your hair with a paintbrush or basting brush.

Place the treated hair in a shower cap, and let it soak for 90 minutes. The olive oil restores vitamin E, while the honey locks in moisture.

Treat Split Ends with a Few Drops of Olive Oil

Split ends result from overexposure to dry and damaging conditions, leaving your hair frayed and moistureless. This situation is where olive oil can help to restore the healthy state of your hair by repairing split ends. Dip your fingertips in olive oil and run them along the split ends.

Leave it in your hair throughout the day, and repeat daily. This routine not only revives broken hair, but it will also prevent new damage from occurring in the future.

Cure Dandruff with Some Olive Oil and a Spritz of Lemon

Dandruff is the result of dry, flaky skin. Olive oil moisturizes that dry skin and restores much-needed moisture to the scalp. The best way to use olive oil to reduce dandruff is to mix a teaspoon with a little bit of lemon juice.

This formula doesn’t require a ton of lemon juice, a gentle squeeze from a freshly sliced lemon will do the trick. Blend evenly, then massage into the scalp. Let the hair solution soak for a few minutes before shampooing clean.

Add Olive Oil to Your Lips for Chapstick

Not only does olive oil moisturize your face and hair, but it works great for treating chapped lips. Its moisturizing properties improve their dried-out state and even protects them from damaging elements.

Apply the same way you would a gel chapstick or petroleum jelly. As a bonus, you can even mix olive oil with a little bit of sugar for a great lip scrub.

Help Hair Grow Longer with Olive Oil

Sebum is a natural way your body moisturizes skin and hair follicles to keep your hair smooth and healthy. Too much of this agent also slows down the growth of hair, leaving you with slow-growing locks. Olive oil will moisturize your hair and remove unnecessary sebum, which allows for new, faster hair growth.

Mix a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil with one blended avocado for an excellent serum to improve the speed at which your hair grows. Spread the creation over your hair, and leave it to settle in for approximately 20 minutes. When done, rinse and shampoo.

Add Olive Oil to Your Bath

Olive oil is an excellent addition to your bath and can be used with other products to make it feel like you’re getting the spa treatment you deserve. Adding just a few drops of olive oil to your bath conditions your skin, leaving it softer and healthier. After your skin has softened, add some sugar to your oil to create a gentle body scrub.

Use Olive Oil to Cure Crow’s Feet

We’ve already touched on the olive oil benefits for skin, especially in regard to its proficiency as a moisturizer and skin protectant. However, there are also considerable benefits to using olive oil even after you’ve already noticed a few wrinkles forming.

Premature wrinkles are caused by damaging free radicals in the skin, which appear after repeated exposure to the sun or as a result of an unhealthy diet. The vitamin E found in olive oil can reverse the effects of these free radicals over time, giving you healthier, firmer skin.

Olive Oil can be an Exfoliator

Another advantage of adding olive oil to your skin care routine is that it’s an excellent exfoliator when paired with sea salt. The oil moisturizes the skin, while the sea salt gently scrubs away dry, dead skin cells.

When using, be careful not to use coarse salt varieties on your face. These are perfect for larger areas like your legs and body. However, for more sensitive areas like your face, use smaller grains.

Olive Oil Benefits as a Conditioner

Olive oil is also a fantastic conditioner that can be used in two different ways. The first is by adding a few tablespoons of olive oil to your conditioner and mixing them thoroughly before applying. You can also use olive oil by itself, but it also works as a dry conditioner.

By leaving the conditioner in longer, the olive oil effectively conditions and moisturizes your hair. Follow your regular hair washing regimen, but wait for your hair to dry before you add the conditioner. Rinse the olive oil out afterward, but wait about 20 minutes before doing so.

Clear Acne with Olive Oil

The same oil that made it difficult for your hair to grow is the contributing factor to what causes acne. Sebum occurs naturally on our faces and often collects dirt and toxins that clog up pores. Because our skin needs oils to remain healthy, removing all the oil from our skin will only cause it to go into hyperdrive in oil production.

Instead, clean out the dirty oils and simultaneously replace it with healthier, clean oils like olive oil. Using a small dab of olive oil on your face, spread across your entire face, and leave it there for approximately one minute. Rinse thoroughly afterward and pat dry.

Make a Hand and Foot Cream

Combining olive oil with ingredients like shea butter and cocoa butter also creates an amazing hand and foot cream that can be left on during the day or overnight.

The first thing you will need is a saucepan filled with a couple of inches of water. Place a small measuring cup in the pot and allow it to warm up before adding the following ingredients.

Add the ingredients to the measuring cup in the saucepan, and stir them occasionally to ensure they melt entirely. Remove the ingredients from heat and allow them to cool for several minutes.

This should only last about ten minutes, but leave it until it is cool enough to touch. Afterward, you will have a fantastic hand and foot cream you can use any time of the day!

Create Homemade Shaving Cream

If you run out of shaving cream, an excellent alternative is olive oil. This ingredient is a natural lubricant, meaning that it will moisturize your skin and make it easier for you to slide your razor over unwanted hair.

Not only does it act as a shaving gel and moisturizer, but it will also prevent razor burn and soothe the skin after shaving. Just a few drops should do the trick.

Use as a Makeup Remover

Most makeup is oil-based and absorbs into the skin so well that it’s difficult to remove at the end of the day. The last thing you want is to add even more oil to your face, but using olive oil actually helps.

This oily substance is the perfect ingredient to detach other oily materials from your skin and remove them for good. To use, apply a few drops of olive oil to a cotton ball and wipe the area clean of makeup.

Use Olive Oil as a Hair Lightener

While we discussed the many reasons to use olive oil for your hair, there is one more benefit of using olive oil as part of your hair-care routine. If you regularly bleach your hair, you know that this can wreak havoc on the state of your hair.

Instead, lighten your hair with olive oil and honey as a natural, less damaging alternative to bleach. Completely saturate your hair with olive oil and honey, cover it with a hair net or shower cap, and let it sink in for at least 30 minutes.

If your hair is darker, leave it in longer. Adding a few drops of olive oil to your hair for a short time or blending it with other ingredients, whether as a massage treatment or to heal split ends, does not lighten your hair.

Make Frizzy Hair More Manageable

If you have thick, frizzy hair, you know the struggles that come with merely trying to get a brush through it. Olive oil is especially suitable for curly or unmanageable hair since it smooths and moisturizes the frizz caused by dryness and damage.

Using a hair mask with olive oil also works as a detangler for thick, unmanageable hair, making it easier for you to work your brush through and prevent further hair damage.

Live-Changing Healthy Uses and Benefits of Olive Oil

While olive oil brings many advantages to the beauty department, the health benefits of olive oil are even more phenomenal. Nothing should replace methods prescribed by your healthcare professional but olive oil has been proven to reduce the risk for certain health conditions and can lessen the effects of others. The following examples are just some of the many ways that olive oil can help.

Weight Loss and the Mediterranean Diet

If you have experimented with different dieting trends, you are aware of the Mediterranean diet, which uses olive oil as its primary influence for weight loss. There is a reason olive oil has such an effect on weight loss, mainly for its composition of healthy fats and vitamins.

Olive oil uses monounsaturated fatty acids, which are healthier than saturated fats found in cooking ingredients like butter and vegetable oil. Olive oil also uses nutrients in the body to curb your appetite, making your stomach feel full faster.

Using Olive Oil Improves the Digestive System

Olive oil slows down the digestive movement in the stomach, leaving food to settle longer in your stomach and adequately digest. It achieves this by decreasing the production of gastric acid, which speeds up the digestion process and moves food faster through your body.

If food moves too quickly, however, this can lead to issues like acid reflux and heartburn. It can also be the cause of that “empty” feeling in your stomach, making you hungry even after eating. Olive oil also helps food pass more easily through your intestines by lubricating the walls and allowing digested food to pass through without upset.

Make a Home Remedy to Kill Lice

If your child has lice, you probably hate the idea of dousing their scalp with powerful chemicals. Luckily, olive oil is one of the best home remedies for lice and is simple to use. Start by soaking the hair with olive oil and leaving it on overnight. If an overnight soak isn’t an option, then let it sit for several hours while you clean every inch of your house.

Trust me. We’ve all been there. Make sure the child wears a cap after application, as this keeps any oils from getting onto your furniture and enhances the effectiveness of the olive oil by reducing airflow. Shampoo, then comb the hair out using a nit comb afterward. Repeat until they are all gone.

Use as an Anti-inflammatory to Relieve Joint Pain

Inflammation accounts for some of the most common and more severe health issues. Among these issues are cancer, type 2 diabetes, and other common ailments like rheumatoid arthritis. Olive oil contains essential antioxidants and fatty acids that reduce swelling in the body.

Oleocanthal is one antioxidant in olive oil that reduces inflammation like ibuprofen does. Oleic acid is another component commonly associated with the reduction of rheumatoid arthritis joint pain. Olive oil is often combined with fish oil to improve grip strength and aid morning stiffness caused by arthritis.

Olive Oil Lowers Blood Pressure with Antioxidants

Part of olive oil’s heart-healthy properties come from its ability to reduce your risk for other associated concerns for heart disease, like diabetes or obesity. It also uses antioxidants called polyphenols that alleviate pressure on the heart by protecting the arteries and making it easier for blood to move through them.

The suggested amount of olive oil each day is either two or three tablespoons, which can be added to your food or taken raw. The best variety of olive oil to promote cardiovascular health is extra virgin oil.

Olive Oil Lowers Bad Cholesterol

The cardiovascular health uses of olive oil don’t stop with blood pressure. Many of the same properties that contribute to lower blood pressure, also decrease the amount of LDL cholesterol in your bloodstream.

LDL cholesterol, or bad cholesterol, collects on the artery walls, making it more difficult for blood to pass through them. Olive oil prevents this process from happening, while also increasing the enzyme levels that fight harmful free radicals.

Using Olive Oil Can Treat Ulcers

One of the driving causes behind peptic ulcers is bacteria that eats away at the lining in your stomach. Olive oil uses its antimicrobial properties to eliminate this bacteria and protect your stomach.

Another way olive oil may help ease your ulcers is by increasing the number of helpful enzymes in your stomach. These enzymes regulate healthy cell growth and other functions in your digestive tract, which allow you to digest food more effectively.

Use to Treat and Reduce the Risk of Diabetes

Oleuropein is another beneficial compound found in olive oil that can both treat and reduce the risk of diabetes. This chemical compound makes more insulin in your body and breaks down the resistance levels in your muscles.

In turn, this increases insulin sensitivity and regulates blood sugar levels. Maintaining this healthy balance decreases a person’s propensity for getting diabetes in the first place.

Olive Oil Reduces the Risk of Stroke

The most significant benefits of olive oil are, without a doubt, their ability to improve heart health. Because olive oil reduces risk factors for heart disease, like hypertension and high cholesterol, this also reduces the potential for heart attacks and strokes.

Nutrients and chemical compounds in the olive oil thin the flow of blood by decreasing the inflammation of blood vessels. This process gives blood cells far more room to pass through the arteries and vastly improves circulation.

Uses of Olive Oil to Prevent Alzheimer’s

Because olive oil is high in monounsaturated fats, it is helpful for improving brain health and preventing certain degenerative diseases. Notably, this advantage helps to avoid the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Monounsaturated fatty acids improve cognitive functions in the brain, which relate to memory retention, focus, and judgment.

All of these are subsequently affected when an individual is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Taking a couple of tablespoons of olive oil a day provides your brain with the much-needed nutrients to stay sharp and healthy.

Treating Eczema with Olive Oil

Olive oil treats eczema in multiple ways and works on its own or in conjunction with other ingredients. Beyond its usefulness as an anti-inflammatory, which can reduce flare-ups, it also acts as an antimicrobial to eliminate bacteria and other toxic organisms on the skin.

Equally beneficial, the moisturizing properties of olive oil nourishes dry, cracked skin before and after flare-ups. While olive oil can be used by itself, it can also accompany various home recipes, including a sugar scrub or as a carrier oil for tea tree treatments.

Soothe a Sore Throat with a Spoonful of Sugar and Olive Oil

If you have a sore throat, olive oil helps in many of the same ways we’ve already discussed. As you can imagine, olive oil provides moisture to a painful, aching throat while also working to eliminate harmful bacteria in the process.

As an anti-inflammatory, this ingredient also reduces swelling caused by excessive coughing. Since taking raw olive oil may be too bitter, you can also add a little bit of sugar to sweeten this natural remedy.

Treat Ear Infections with Warm Olive Oil

The polyphenols that protect the lining of your arteries are the same active agents in olive oil that treat an ear infection. The antibacterial qualities of olive oil also eliminate bacteria causing the issue, while the oil simultaneously lessens the inflammation and soothes any pain.

To use, warm the olive oil to a moderate temperature, not too hot but still warm enough to relieve the aches. Apply a little olive oil using a dropper then seal with a cotton ball.

Leave the olive oil in for five minutes while you massage the outside of your ears. When time is up, remove the cotton balls, and drain the ear.

Using Olive Oil Reduces the Risk of Cancer

Olive oil is believed to reduce your risk of certain cancers, especially when it comes to bowel and breast cancer. Part of this is attributed to olive oil’s ability to eliminate free radicals in the body, both by increasing the cell distribution and functions in the stomach.

Research for olive oil’s role in decreasing cancer risk is still an ongoing study, though some experiments have shown that breast cancer develops less often in women who regularly take olive oil than those who do not.

The Very Best Cleaning Uses of Olive Oil

Olive oil is not only well-loved for its health benefits and beauty treatments. It is a versatile ingredient that works for almost any need around the house. In addition to the uses already mentioned, olive oil is used in cleaning solutions, soaps, and polishes.

Make Castile Soap with Olive Oil

Castile soap is an excellent natural cleaner that uses various oils, including olive oil, to create either a liquid or bar cleanser. Because this soap is toxin-free and just as effective as a cleaner and antibacterial agent, it has quickly become a household favorite. To make your homemade version, use the ingredients below.

While Castile soap can be made using purely olive oil and was in the past, many of these ingredients are added to allow for a better lather or sweeter fragrances. In addition to this recipe, you want to give your soap plenty of time to age before it is ready to be used. Some use their soaps after only a few weeks, while others may wait several months before putting them to use.

Create a Carpet Cleaning Solution

Now that you have your Castile soap, complete with olive oil composites, there are plenty of cleaning products you can create with it. One of the best ideas is to create a carpet cleaner either for spot cleaning or a full-floor treatment.

To make one of the best DIY carpet cleaner recipes, add Castile soap to the two cups of boiling water. Blend them evenly, ensuring the soap has completely melted, before adding the remaining ingredients. Add this mixture to a carpet cleaner and enjoy fresh, clean floors.

Clean Jewelry with Olive Oil

One of the best uses of olive oil is as a metal polisher. A mild polish is essential when it comes to fine metals that damage easily with the use of harsh chemicals and abrasives.

After cleaning jewelry made from materials like bronze or silver, use a dab or two of olive oil to shine it. Doing this will also add a thin layer of coating that keeps out other oily elements like sweat or cosmetics.

Great for Polishing Stainless Steel

Using olive oil is an excellent way to protect and shine stainless steel. After cleaning, add about ten drops to a small cloth, less for small items, and follow along the grain with the olive oil.

This process reduces the appearance of scratches on the stainless steel and leaves it with a dazzling sparkle. This treatment is recommended at least once a month to restore the luster in your stainless steel items and protect them from future damage.

Cleaning Makeup Brushes with a Couple Drops of Olive Oil

There are two ways to clean a makeup brush with olive oil. The first is to add a few drops to the soapy water you are already using to clean your makeup brush. This option loosens particles left by oil-based makeups and make cleaning your brushes even easier.

A second method involves adding a drop of olive oil to your fingertips and gently rubbing it through the bristles of your makeup brush before cleaning. This allows the olive oil to seep deep in between the hairs and lock in on any oily residue for removal.

Use for Degreasing Kitchen Cabinets

When it comes to cleaning kitchen cabinets, there is nothing that cuts through greases like vinegar and olive oil. Vinegar is an excellent all-natural kitchen degreaser, while olive oil loosens and absorbs the excess oils.

Since vinegar is a natural degreaser, combine the ingredients in a spray bottle or small bowl. Spray the solution onto the cabinets, or apply it using a dampened cloth. Wipe down the cabinets, frequently mixing the contents of the mixture to prevent the water and olive oil from separating.

Clean Greasy or Paint-Stained Hands

Despite the seemingly counterproductive use of oil to remove grease, this is an excellent way to wash your hands after working on your car or doing any painting. Start by adding one teaspoon of salt to your teaspoon of olive oil for a remarkable scrub.

The olive oil absorbs the particles in grease and paint, while the salt scrubs away tougher, stuck-on residue. If you would like to know how to get oil stains out of clothes, this link will help.

Use olive oil to remove Gorilla Glue from skin without acetone or other potentially irritating products.

Use Olive Oil to Remove Sticky Substances from Hair

We’ve all heard that old remedy of using peanut butter to remove gum. This is because peanut butter is oil-based and breaks down the stickiness in substances like gum for easier removal. Olive oil works similarly, especially when you need to remove slime or paint from your hair.

To do this, rub some olive oil into the area with the sticky gunk. Massage it well, running the oil down the length of your hair in a similar fashion to shampooing.

Gently run a comb through the hair and work the slime down the strands and out of your hair. Wash thoroughly with shampoo and conditioner to remove any remaining pieces of slime.

Oily Products Aid in Sticker Removal

For the same reason that olive oil is an effective solution to remove slime from hair, it is equally useful at removing stickers and sticker residue from walls or windows. Rub a few drops of olive oil over the sticker or leftover residue.

Ensure you completely saturate the area with the oil, then let it sit for a couple of minutes. Gently remove the sticker with your fingertips, then clean the area with a damp cloth.

Clean a Stove Top and Remove Grease

Using olive oil to clean grease spots on your stove is highly effective and can even eliminate caked-on food particles by loosening them up before washing. To use this method, pour a few drops of olive oil onto your stove and scrub the area with a soft cleaning cloth.

Clean the area afterward with a little bit of soap and water, then dry. This situation is also one of those times where you can use vegetable oil as an alternative.

Clean and Polish Silverware with a Few Drops of Olive Oil

When cleaning silverware, whether through the dishwasher or by hand, there are times when water spots result from improper drying. The best way to reduce water damage is by using a dab of olive oil and a soft cloth. Rubbing a little bit of olive oil into your silverware gets rid of water stains and also buffs your utensils to a beautiful, shiny polish.

Household Uses for Olive Oil that are Often Overlooked

Cleaning isn’t the only useful benefit olive oil serves us in the household. There are several different ways that olive oil may help homeowners, whether in the garden or inside the house. Here are just a few brilliant, and often overlooked, examples of how to use olive oil in the household.

Use Olive Oil as a Bird and Squirrel Repellent

If you want to keep pests out of your garden, using a garden oil recipe will do just the trick. Garlic is particularly off-putting for animals like birds and squirrels and is easier to apply to garden spaces by adding olive oil to it. The recipe is 100% natural and won’t harm your flowers.

To make this natural bird repellent or a natural repellent for squirrels and other rodents, peel and crush the garlic cloves before placing them in the glass jar. Add the olive oil, then shake until perfectly blended.

Refrigerate the mixture for five days to ensure the olive oil has completely absorbed the garlic scent and flavors. Once the wait is over, add it around the base of your flowerbeds.

Lubricate Hinges Using Olive Oil

Olive oil is just a natural cleaning product that works for almost everything, including simple tasks like fixing a squeaky hinge. While many homeowners use WD-40 for the job, olive oil works just as effectively with only a few drops of oil.

Add olive oil to a clean cloth and rub it along the hinges. Some sites suggest using a cotton ball, but these can easily get torn and trapped in between the small crevices of the metal, leaving tiny pieces of fluff in their wake.

Reduce Hairballs in Cats

In addition to working wonders for the digestive systems in humans, olive oil is also a great way to help your feline friends. Not only does it improve the gastrointestinal tract, but olive oil can also reduce the build of hairballs.

By adding a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil to your pet’s food for three days, this will drastically decrease the occurrence of hairballs. If you want to continue preventing further instances and improve your cat’s digestion, then cut the dosage down to ¼ of a teaspoon daily.

Create an Effective Fly Repellent

In some cases, olive oil is used as a carrier oil for essential oil mixtures, making them suitable for applying directly to the skin. Otherwise, the essential oil would cause an allergic reaction, rashes, and burning of the skin. This vinegar fly repellent uses olive oil in the same way, making it safe to use on skin and keep flies away.

Mix all the ingredients in a big spray bottle, then spray the area you want to protect. This solution is particularly beneficial for horse owners. If flies are constantly plaguing your horse, this is a safe way to keep them away.

Gnat Traps using Olive Oil

Gnats are a frustrating annoyance in kitchens and bathrooms. When gnats make their home in your sinks, using olive oil offers a powerful solution to eliminate them. Set your gnat trap by pouring half a cup of olive oil down the drain.

This process creates a substance too sticky for the gnats to escape. Without the ability to find more food and procreate, the problem gradually disappears. Repeat this as many times as necessary to eliminate the problem.

You can also make the best gnat repellent for humans to spritz yourself when outside to keep the annoying bugs away.

An Olive Oil Leaf Miner Eliminator

While olive oil is excellent at keeping pests like flies and birds away, it is also a natural leaf miner killer. Leaf miners are the larvae form of certain insects, usually moths or wasps.

These larvae burrow tunnels in the leaf tissue of plants, causing damage to the plant as a whole. For a powerful leaf miner eliminator that won’t harm your plants, use the following recipe.

Mix these ingredients directly into a spray bottle and shake well before using. To use olive oil or neem oil to kill leaf miners, spray the affected areas with the spray. Leaves that leaf miners have eaten away will show visible signs, such as white lines noticeable from the surface of the leaf. Spray as often as needed.

With over 50 different benefits for using olive oil, you are sure to walk away with at least a handful of new ideas to try at home. We have covered everything from a reduction in health risks to easy-to-use cleaning agents to questions like “Can you use olive oil instead of vegetable oil?” With so many different uses explored, why wouldn’t you want to add a bottle of olive oil to your shopping list?

Hopefully, this article gave you more than just a few ideas about the many uses of olive oil. If so, don’t forget to share this monumental list detailing the many benefits of olive oil on Facebook and Pinterest.