15 Unusual Uses for Coconut Oil Around Your Home
Coconut oil has
1. Works as an all-natural bug repellant
That’s right. While the oil itself isn’t going to chase mosquitoes away, there are in fact compounds in coconut oil that can act as a bug repellant. This concoction from CoconutOil.com pairs it with peppermint, lavender, and other essential oils to create a non-toxic formula.
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2. Works as leather polish
A little coconut oil can help clean and moisturize anything from leather shoes to leather purses to leather furniture, A Clean Bee says.
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3. Can be a dust repellent
Tired of dusting every other day? Coating wood furniture with a thin layer of coconut oil can help keep dust from collecting so quickly.
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4. Helps to unstick zippers
“Rub coconut oil on the zipper or chain near the problem area and voila – unstuck,” A Clean Bee tells us. This alone would get us to keep a jar of coconut oil in the closet next to all of our jackets.
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5. Removes labels from glass jars
Is there anything more annoying than trying helplessly to get that pesky price sticker off the bottom of your glassware? Thankfully, mixing coconut oil with a little baking soda creates a substance that can remove said stickers if you let it sit for a few minutes.
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6. Greases hinges
Like with stuck zippers, some of this “magical” oil can also fix a stuck or squeaky door hinge. While any natural oil will work, The Pistachio Project points out coconut oil works best because it’s derived from a solid and therefore less messy.
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7. Extends the life of a cast iron skillet
A Clean Bee suggests lathering your skillet up with coconut oil after giving it a good scrub and then letting it sit in a 250-degree oven for about 20 minutes to keep it looking new no matter how much you cook with it.
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8. Extends the shelf life of eggs
Skeptics
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9. Adds a boost to the bath
You’ve probably heard before that coconut oil is supposed to be good for your skin. A Clean Bee suggests adding some to an Epsom salt bath. Just don’t add too much — you may get stuck in the bathtub like this lady.
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10. Battles undereye bags
Cold-pressed virgin coconut oil — which hasn’t been bleached or modified — has been found to help cell turnover, so massaging a little onto puffy or dark under eye areas may help. Just be careful not to get any in your eye.
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11. Doubles as a foot lotion
No need to shell out money for overpriced foot creams. Simply slather coconut oil on cracked heels and slip on some socks to get sandal-ready tootsies, A Clean Bee
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12. Removes gum from hair
Throw that whack peanut butter trick out the window. Use a little bit of coconut oil the next time this unfortunate mishap happens. (Although hopefully for your sake it doesn’t happen at all.)
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13. Softens dry cuticles
Again — no need to empty out your wallet in between manicures to get some fancy cuticle elixir. Simply use a little bit of coconut oil to freshen up dry fingers. Just remember that less is more — or you could end up with greasy hands.
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14. Works as a makeup remover
Store-bought makeup removers have oily compounds to them, so why not use this natural remedy instead? Maybe try coconut oil and a cotton swab on a small part of your face first to make sure it doesn’t irritate your skin — and, over course, be careful taking off eye makeup.
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15. Adds to toothpaste
Whether having a coconut oil-based toothpaste actually tastes good is still up for debate. But according to LifeHacker, there are studies proving it’s a superior way to clean your teeth. We guess anything’s worth a try …
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