Brilliant uses for olive oil

This kitchen staple is far more useful than you might realise! Here are our top ways to use olive oil in your home

1 Restore radiance to wood

Use olive oil to help care for your wooden kitchen essentials, including chopping boards and wooden utensils. Simply apply a light coat, let it soak for a few minutes and then buff any leftover oil into the wood for a healthy shine. It also makes a great furniture polish, too, as it helps to repel water from spillages.

2 Love your leather

Olive oil works as a conditioner, so applying it sparingly to your leather shoes and handbags will leave them soft, supple and with a lovely sheen.

3 Remove paint

If you’re currently giving your home a refresh, use olive oil to remove splashed paint from your skin and hair. Apply to a cloth, massage in and wipe away!

4 Beauty boost

Olive oil nourishes skin and hair. Use it as an allover moisturiser, to treat cracked heels and even to remove make-up. Choose good quality organic, extra-virgin olive oil and be cautious if your skin is very sensitive or eczema prone. Also apply to the ends and scalp of parched hair, pop on a

shower cap for 15 minutes then rinse and shampoo as normal.

5 Cure a creaky gate

Use olive oil to silence squeaky or stiff hinges on gates and doors. It’s also handy for keeping garden tools in tip-top condition, from easing stiff secateurs to keeping blades clean and shiny.

6 Make stainless steel gleam

Brilliant for making stainless steel and brass extra-shiny, olive oil is just the thing for bringing old pots and pans back to life. It’s good for cleaning stainless steel sinks and taps, too, as it helps to prevent discoloured water marks forming.

Plus, being chemical-free means it won’t corrode or dull the steel.