Practical Household Uses for Coconut Oil

By now, we have all heard the internet rave about its love of coconut oil as a healthy oil to cook with and an amazing natural beauty product that can deeply hydrate the hair, skin, and nails. However, coconut oil also has a wide array of practical household uses. Here's how to incorporate coconut oil into your household routine.

Keep Your Stainless-Steel Appliances Shiny

Stainless steel fridges, dishwashers, ovens, and small appliances might give your kitchen a chic and modern look, but they are all magnets for fingerprints and smudges. Instead of resorting to harsh chemicals, wipe these surfaces down with a small amount of coconut oil. To remove, simply wipe away the excess oil with a dry microfiber cloth. If you'll think back to science class, you'll remember the rule that like attracts like. What the coconut oil does is essentially cling onto the oil and grime on the surface of these appliances, allowing you to easily wipe both clean.

Bring Wooden Pieces Back to Life

Wooden furniture can lose its polish and shine over time. Because it's a natural material, it needs to be conditioned with some sort of moisturizing element to prevent it from drying out, becoming brittle, and warping. After cleaning a wooden furniture item, rub a small amount of coconut oil into the wood, working in circular motions and using a damp cloth. Think of it like conditioning your hair after shampooing; after stripping away oil and moisture during the cleaning process, you must put hydration back into your hair to ensure it stays hydrated, moisturized, and vibrant.

Keep Cast Iron Clean

Cast iron cookware is amazing for cooking, but both professional and amateur chefs alike know that it's a total pain to clean. Because you can't use traditional detergents on cast iron, you need to get crafty will all-natural solutions. Try mixing sea salt into a few tablespoons of coconut oil and use it as a gentle scrub to do away with any leftover grease or grime in your cast iron pots and pans. Once you've loosened away any dirt, rinse with a mixture of water and lemon juice to remove the coconut oil and leave the pot feeling clean to the touch.

Use For First Aid

Coconut oil is a popular beauty product because it contains antimicrobial agents that can stave off acne-causing bacteria. It also can promote the production of collagen in the skin and tame inflammation. The next time you get a nick or cut, clean the wound as normal and use whatever antibacterial wound treatments you typically do. However, before you put your bandage on, apply a bit of coconut oil to the area. It will help to ward off bacteria, calm the skin and help the wound to heal with minimal scarring.

As you can see, coconut oil has an almost limitless list of uses. As a final tip, always keep a separate jar of coconut oil in your pantry that's solely for cooking, especially if you tend to scoop from your "all-purpose" jar with your fingertips. This prevents any bacteria from your hands or cleaning rag from getting into the delicious meals you prepare with coconut oil.

By Everton Ridge Homes | 5-5-2021