10 Household uses for coconut oil
1st Jan 2015 Home & Garden
Coconut oil is a big trend for 2016. You’ll hear a lot about it this year, from recipes and health to beauty and household tips. So why are we so wild about coconut oil?
Coconut oil is so popular because it’s an all-natural product with no hidden nasties, which gives it the edge over other processed products.
When cooking, you can use it in place of olive oil as it has a higher smoking point, so you can cook at high temperatures without a rancid burning smell or flavour. It’s also lower in calories, which is a bonus.
Coconut oil also makes a great body scrub, just add sugar and it’s ready to use or add bicarbonate of soda to it for a whiter smile. It’s also a good make-up remover and a really moisturising shaving lotion.
10 Household tips using coconut oil:
Leaf shine
Coconut oil makes a great leaf shine.
For healthy looking plants, rub on a little oil and buff up with a clean, dry cloth.
Leather cream
Rub coconut oil into leather to keep it supple and to give it a subtle sheen.
Once again buff up with a soft cloth.
Shoe polish
Coconut oil makes a fabulously neutral shoe polish.
Rub in the coconut oil, leave it for a few minutes, then shine up with a cloth or brush.
Wood polish
Coconut oil can be used as a wood treatment too. It will nourish wood and help remove any scuffs or marks, leaving it looking and smelling great.
Rub in with a clean duster, keeping a second duster for polishing.
Dashboard treatment
Use coconut oil to clean the dashboard and other black surfaces inside your car.
Use the same two cloth treatment again for the perfect home detail.
WD40 replacer
Use coconut oil on the hinges of stiff or squeaky doors. There’s no need to get out the WD40.
It will also help unstick zips and bike chains.
Cake release oil
Coat baking tins generously with coconut oil before pouring in cake batter.
Cakes will slide out of the tin easily at the end of baking with no fuss.
Label remover
Sticky labels can be a nightmare to remove. Peel off what you can, then apply a solution of coconut oil and bicarbonate of soda (equal parts).
Leave it for a few minutes then scrub off and wash the glass or plastic in hot soapy water to remove any remaining oil and glue.
Rust prevention
Rub coconut oil on any metals prone to rusting, inside or outside of the house or even the car and leave for a couple of hours before wiping off.
Make-up brush cleaner
Rub coconut oil into make-up brushes, then wipe on kitchen paper until clean.
The oil will condition the brushes and it’s also anti-bacterial.
Do you have any coconut oil tips? Let us know in the comments below.
Jacqueline Meldrum is a freelance food writer and recipe developer. Jacqueline blogs at Tinned Tomatoes.