Granny's Notebook
Olive Oil
Olive oil is one of those magical substances that is good for almost everything--your diet, your skin, your hands and nails, and your hair. Prized for its cosmetic uses since ancient times, olive oil is relatively inexpensive and can be purchased in most grocery stores.
Use extra virgin, as brands labeled "pure" and "light" have been chemically processed. Because the oil's fat composition is very similar to that of human skin, it rarely causes allergic reactions. In addition, it's absorbed quickly and helps lock in moisture in the skin. The high percentage of unsaturated fat and vitamins A and E, helpful in preventing sun damage, also work on the outside to soothe and replenish, particularly sensitive skin. It is also pure, and unmixed with anything but water, unlike other oils.
1. Use olive oil on your feet with clean white cotton socks. Helps to soften up you feet and it absorbs better than baby oil.
2. For a facial, wet face thoroughly, then massage olive oil into your skin. Use about a half teaspoon of sugar and scrub your face with that, then wipe off gently with a warm, wet cloth until the sugar is all gone..
3. Olive oil can be used as cleansing cream if your skin is dry.
4. Use 2 parts olive oil, 1 part lemon juice (or white vinegar) for furniture polish, or just olive oil on a rag.
5. Use it to remove paint from your skin. Rub it on and let it soak a while then wash well with soap. The paint usually comes off without any skin damaging materials. And your skin will be soft again.
6. A sip of olive oil will stop a tickle that is making you cough.
7. Use it as bath oil. Two to three tablespoons will be all you need.
8. For a hand scrub, rub in olive oil then scrub with sugar and wash.
9. Use it for your hair. Not only does it condition, but it also gets rid of the frizzies. Put a small drop into your palm & then rub both hands together & then apply it to dry hair. (not wet hair).
10. Use olive oil to treat lice on children - better than the expensive treatments from the store and conditions the scale. Apply on hair, being sure to get into scales. I leave this on for at least 30 minutes, but it could be all day if you don't have any plans - then shampoo out. It might take two shampoos to get the oil out of hair. Use once a week as a conditioner and preventative. Olive oil smothers the lice.
11. To keep brass looking shinier longer, buff with olive oil after cleaning. Olive oil keeps it from tarnishing so fast.
12. Mix olive oil half and half with lemon juice to make a wood cleaner/polish. Nourishes your furniture while it cleans
13. A couple teaspoons mixed with a can of cat food will help hairballs.
14. When I pour it out there is always a drip-so I wipe it up with my hand and rub it in, my elbows are so much better now for it.
15. Keep a squeeze bottle of EV olive oil in the medicine cabinet and use it daily instead of moisturizer.
16. Olive oil works as a lubricant on the feet (for reflexology) and does not disappear the way lotions do.
17. Use for ear wax and ear aches (the main ingredient in commercial products is olive oil).
18. Mix it with butter and garlic for your garlic bread, very nice change..
19. Mix with wine vinegar, crushed garlic, and fresh grated Parmesan cheese for salad dressing.
20. Use olive oil (extra virgin) in baking where vegetable oil is called for, it makes cakes, etc. much more moist and flavorful.
21. Mix it with butter and garlic for your garlic bread, very nice change.
22. Rub the turkey with olive oil instead of butter.
23. You can buy a pump bottle for oil at most discount or kitchen supply stores. Fill with plain or flavored olive oil to use as a spray. This can replace the spray cans of oil that many people buy. Spray your pans before cooking. It also is a great way to get a small amount of fat/oil on foods for those of us who are watching our weight—spray on salad or bread or whatever.
