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Household Uses for Coconut Oil

The culinary and beauty industries have long heralded coconut oil as a versatile ingredient. But did you know that coconut oil can also be incredibly useful around the house? It is true, and Handler Homes wants to highlight a few ways you can put it to use.

Condition Wood

With daily use, wood surfaces can become dull and sometimes warped. To help wood retain its luster and prevent damage, you can condition it with coconut oil. Before applying, you want to dust and clean the surface with a damp cloth. Then, apply a small amount of oil to the wood. Work the oil into the wood in small, circular motions. Especially when conditioning a wooden cutting board, be sure to only use pure, virgin coconut oil to take advantage of its antimicrobial properties.

Polish Appliances

Is there anything more annoying than persistent fingerprints and smudges on your stainless- steel appliances? Make this problem a thing of the past by working a teaspoon’s worth of coconut oil over your fridge and dishwasher in circular motions with a dry cloth. Then follow up by going back over the surface with another clean, dry cloth to really make it shine.

Take Care of Cast-Iron

If you love using cast-iron skillets in your kitchen, then you know that these cooking utensils require specific care to keep them in shape. If it is time to season your pan again, coconut oil is the perfect medium to do so. Just apply a thin layer over the entire surface of the pan. Place your skillet into a cold oven and set the temperature to 300 degrees. Once the desired temperature has been reached, set a cook timer for 30 minutes to complete the process.

First Aid

As was touched on, unrefined coconut oil has antimicrobial properties. In addition, it is also known to reduce inflammation and increase collagen production, which is essential in the healing process. Due to these abilities, coconut oil can be an especially useful aid when mending minor cuts and wounds. To put it to use, first clean the wounded area. If you have an antibiotic ointment on hand, apply that to the cut first. To top it off, add just a touch of coconut oil before applying a bandage.

Coconut oil has a million and one more uses from dusting to keeping gardening tools in tip top shape. A little goes a long way, so one jar of this stuff is sure to last you a long time. It just may become your favorite household item to keep on hand! For even more useful household information, do not miss out on our other blogs.

By Handler Homes 7-23-2020