Solutions: Olive oil: tastes great, cleans furniture too!

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/10/2006 (7243 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OLIVE oil is a symbol of knowledge, abundance, peace, health, power and beauty. Olive oil has been adored for thousands of years and with good reason.

1. Olive oil is one of the most beneficial dietary fats on the market: It is a monounsaturated “heart healthy” fat and can actually reduce cholesterol levels in your body.

2. The use of different types of olive oil varies according to personal taste. Light olive oil should be chosen when a very subtle flavour is sought, the light refers to colour and taste — not fat. Extra virgin oil enriches the taste of meat, fish and vegetables. Pure olive oil is best for salad dressings, sautéed vegetables or tossed pasta.

3. Olive oil is not a good choice for deep-frying because the oil breaks down and becomes unsafe, while losing its health properties. Also, olive oil is too expensive to be used in baking and will not produce flaky pastry.

4. Polish diamonds by wiping the stone with olive oil on a soft cloth.

5. Polish furniture by combining: 1-cup olive oil with 1-tsp. lemon-scented essential oil.

Tip: Clean scuff marks on laminate floors by wiping with olive oil. Life just got easier!

6. Shine shoes and soften leather with olive oil at the forefront. Before commercial products hit the market, olive oil was consistently used on leather. Apply with a soft cloth and wipe off excess everyday. Use over the course of a week to gradually soften leather.

7. Soften bath water by adding 3-tbsp. olive oil to running water.

8. Remove make-up by applying olive oil to skin and wiping with a soft cloth.

9. Make your own night cream: Combine half-cup olive oil, one-eighth-cup vinegar and one-quarter cup water. The oil softens and moisturizes skin, while vinegar lightens discolorations, kills bacteria and loosens dead skin. Dampen face before use.

10. Before hopping into bed, apply a small amount of olive oil to feet to soften heels and toes.

11. Reduce static in hair by combing through with a small amount of olive oil.

Tip: Olive oil also makes a wonderful hair conditioner.

12. Clean stainless steel appliances; onto a soft cloth pour a few drops of olive oil. Wipe stainless steel and remove all excess, olive oil is not a greasy formula and is effective at removing fingerprints.

13. Un-stick a zipper by using a cotton swab and rubbing a small amount of olive oil over the teeth.

14. Silence squeaky doors by lubricating the hinges with olive oil.

15. Recipe for Greek Salad Dressing: Combine half-cup extra virgin olive oil with two tbsp. red wine vinegar, add salt and pepper to taste. Pour onto a mixture of tomatoes, unpeeled cucumbers, green peppers, red onion, dried oregano and black olives. Top with feta cheese. Enjoy!

Solutions, is compiled from various sources, including:realsimple.com, frugalliving.about.com, napoleon-co.com, pioneerthinking.com, akiskitchen.ca, oliveoilsyria.com, oliveoilgift.com. Similar information may be found elsewhere.

Reena Nerbas is the author of “Household Solutions & Substitutions”. She can be heard biweekly on the CBC radio show-“Up To Speed”.

householdsolutions@mts.net