10 More Uses For Coconut Oil…

I’ve written about the health benefits of coconut oil before, not to mention the many various ways you can use it, such as a lip balm, moisturizer, or hair conditioner. What can I say, I love coconut oil! Anyway, here’s 10 more ways you can use it around the house, in your beauty routine and of course, in the kitchen…

 

1. Waterproof Your Wood Cutting Board –

Over time, a wood cutting board can become dry and get cracks and splits. The best way to prevent this is to use coconut oil on the cutting board after it has been cleaned and dried properly. The oil works by occupying the space in the wood fibers and preventing water from entering your board and causing cracks and splits. (And unlike most oils, the coconut oil will not turn rancid.) *Do not put wood cutting boards in the dishwasher – try pure white distilled vinegar to disinfect and make sure you dry your board thoroughly before applying the coconut oil.

2. Remove Eye Makeup –

This is one of my favorite ways to remove my eye makeup, including mascara. Using either a cotton pad or your finger, gently sweep the coconut oil over your lids and then rinse. Not only will it remove the makeup, it’s gentle and won’t irritate your eyes, and it adds moisture to the delicate skin around the eye…and it just smells good.

3. Remove Stuck-On Labels/Stickers –

When my son was younger he loved decals and stickers and would “decorate” anything and everything he could with them. And boy can they be difficult to remove, not to mention ruin your nails if you try to scrape them off. An easy way to remove them is by coating each sticker with a bit of coconut oil and then let sit for about 10 minutes. Fatty acids from the oil will dissolve the adhesive, which makes it easy to peel off the paper and remaining glue residue. This works great for dishes with price stickers you can’t get off too, like drinking  glasses or plates.

4. Soothe Dog Hot Spots (Or Dry Skin On Cats) –

Hot spots, also know as acute moist dermatitis, are red, moist, hot and irritated lesions typically found on a dog’s head, hip or chest area. They can be caused by anything that causes a dog to scratch or lick himself incessantly like an allergic reaction, insect or flea bite, poor grooming or an underlying skin infection. To help heal the sores naturally, gently rub a bit of coconut oil on the irritated patches daily. This will help soothe the irritated skin while the coconut’s lauric acid will kill the bacteria. *Coconut oil also works well on dry, flaking pet hair. During the dry winter months our cats get flaky dandruff so I just rub a bit of coconut oil on them, which they love.

5. Keep Dirt From Clinging To Garden Tools –

Rubbing a  dollop of coconut oil on garden tools like trowels and shovels, before using, can help keep dirt from sticking to them, making your gardening easier.

6. Alleviate  Mosquito Bite Itch –

Soothe mosquito bites quickly and naturally with a dab of coconut oil applied to the spot. Due to the oil’s natural anti-inflammatory and immunity-boosting properties, this will help ease itch, reduce redness and swelling and help speed up the healing process.

7. Quiet Squeaky Door Hinges –

I’ve always used WD-40 on squeaky door hinges but I’ve actually stained the carpet due to it dripping down before I can get it all wiped away. (Plus it’s kind of stinky!) Instead, put some coconut oil on a rag and apply it to the door’s hinges, which will lubricate the metal and quiet the squeak without any dripping messes.

8. Clean Leather Shoes & Purses –

Specialty leather cleaners can be expensive, not to mention take up valuable cabinet space. But hey, who wants dull leather bags and shoes? But with just a small dollop of coconut oil, you can easily restore those leather pieces back to their original rich, lustrous finish. Simply rub the oil into the leather and then buff with a soft cloth. They will look brand new due to the oil’s lauric acid which will break down the dirt while the fatty acids will condition and moisture the leather. I’ve also used coconut oil on leather furniture. *Always test on an inconspicuous spot first!

9. Start A Campfire Easily –

So this isn’t something I’ve personally tried because the only camping I do these days requires an actual hotel room. But if you do camp, this nifty trick will help you start a roaring bonfire easily and effortlessly. Before heading off to your camping destination, soak cotton balls in melted coconut oil and pack them in a plastic bag or jar. Once you’re ready to start that campfire, toss a few cotton balls in with the kindling and light. Not only will the soaked cotton ignite immediately, but they’ll also burn for around 5 minutes, which is long enough to get a really good fire going.

10. Make Baked Goods Healthier –

If you’re trying to cut down on cholesterol or carbs, but still want moist baked goods, simply substitute coconut oil for your butter. (Use the same amount of coconut oil as you would butter.) You’ll get the health benefits of the coconut oil plus moist, rich results in any baked goodies. I personally like to add a bit of coconut oil to my morning coffee too. But remember, there are still calories and saturated fat in coconut oil so you want to use it wisely. You want to keep the amount of saturated fat to less than 10% of your daily calories.