:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/best-kitchen-candles-of-2022-tout-AFF-XL1022-05837d46e5024bb9861afb6e8f14f6dd.jpg "15 creative uses for coconut oil to preserve your home and garden")
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Coconut oil consumption in the United States has increased by 40% over the past 20 years. Although many of the most popular uses for coconut oil are in cooking (despite controversy over its high saturated fat content and harmful effects on cholesterol levels), Americans are learning that it can also be very beneficial. It does not spoil and its high fat content makes it an excellent softener and lubricant for the home.
When buying coconut oil, avoid cheap, refined versions of the product. Instead, look for unrefined, virgin coconut oil, which retains the essential fatty acids that contribute to its overall effectiveness at home. (The purest thing, like all saturated fats, is solid at room temperature.) Read below how one bottle of coconut oil can help speed up several tasks.
1. Remove unwanted adhesions and marks
Coconut oil is great for removing residue from almost any surface, including stubborn adhesive residue, gum on carpets, skid marks on linoleum, and chalk on walls. Simply apply a small amount of oil to a sticky or waxy mess, let it sit for a few minutes, then blot it up with a rag or paper towel.
Related: Buyer's Guide: The Best Adhesive Removers
2. Conditioning and restoring wood
Coconut oil is a high-quality wood softener, which maintains freshness, prevents warping, and reduces the effects of daily use. Here's how to keep your wood furniture in pristine condition: Wipe the wood surface with a damp towel or cloth, then rub a small amount of oil into the surface in circular motions with a clean cloth. Leave the oil for 15 minutes before washing it off. If the wood isn't as shiny as you'd like, try this natural cleaner: Mix the juice of half a lemon with 1/4 cup of coconut oil. Mix well, rub on wood and wash off after 2 minutes. Note: To condition cutting boards, use only virgin coconut oil for its antimicrobial properties.
3. Polishing stainless steel equipment
Tired of fingerprints and scratches on your stainless steel equipment? Simply rub a teaspoon of coconut oil over the surface with a soft, dry cloth in circular motions, working up and down. Once the entire surface is coated, wipe with a clean cloth in the same direction as the grain for a streak-free, glossy shine. The same application technique will prevent unsightly water marks on stainless steel sinks and faucets.
Related: What's wrong with fingerprint-resistant stainless steel?
4. Stop squeaking and rusting
A teaspoon of coconut oil will silence your door hinge in seconds. Rub the oil on the appliance with a clean cloth and then open and close the door a few times for smooth and quiet operation. Get the same result on the outside on the exterior hexagonal hinges and the smaller hinges on the interior of kitchen cabinets and pantries. The natural lubricant for door hinges also prevents rust and dust buildup, so you can put a small amount on the hinges before they start to squeak.
5. Take care of your garden tools
Consider keeping another container of coconut oil in your garden shed or potting bench, so it's within easy reach of your outdoor equipment. In the summer, rub a thin layer on a clean metal cutting blade before use to prevent the grass from sticking, clumping, and deteriorating over time. Do the same with gardening tools like shovels and pruners to keep them in tip-top shape.
Related: How to Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades
6. A scented cast iron skillet
Cast iron pans need to be seasoned to prevent rust and retain their ability to cook. Coconut oil is the perfect remedy. To season a skillet with coconut oil, grease the skillet with a thick layer, inside and out, and place it in a cold oven. Set the oven to 300 degrees and when it reaches that temperature, bake the mold for 30 minutes. Turn off the oven and allow the skillet to cool completely before wiping off the oil, but don't wash it.
7. Clean up your forum
When film forms on your car's dashboard, it's hard to see the speedometer, maps, and other important trip information. To clean your chalkboard and keep it dust free, put a little coconut oil on a clean microfiber cloth and rub it gently. While natural oils are unlikely to damage dashboard glass, you can test a small, inconspicuous area first before cleaning the rest of the surface.
Related: 15 amazing hacks to keep your car clean
8. Reducing dust on ceiling fans
Ceiling fans are dust magnets and cleaning the blades is a chore. Next time you go up the stairs to clean your ceiling fan blades, take a bottle of coconut oil with you. First, clean the fan blades to remove accumulated dirt, then dampen a clean microfiber cloth and apply it directly to each fan blade to prevent static electricity from attracting dust.
9. Unzip it
You're in a hurry, you put on your coat, boom, the zipper is caught. Instead of pulling frantically and making things worse, apply a little coconut oil to the painful area of your zipper pull. Apply the oil to your teeth, but try not to stain the garment. Gently move the zipper back and forth until it moves freely.
Related: How to Sew a Zipper
10. Treat minor wounds
A 2010 study on Skin Pharmacology and Physiology found that coconut oil reduces inflammation and increases collagen production, two important steps in skin healing. While you should always seek emergency care or medical attention for serious accidents at home, minor scrapes and bruises can be treated with a dab of coconut oil.
After cleaning the affected area with soap and water, apply an antibiotic cream to the wound, then apply a light layer of coconut oil to help prevent scarring. Ointments and oils are sticky, so you may want to cover the treated wound with a bandage to hold the ointment in place.
11. Kill weeds
If you don't like pulling weeds by hand, coconut oil can help safely kill weeds in your garden without harming the soil. Coconut oil contains fatty acids that prevent weeds from photosynthesizing and removing waste products, which leads to their death.
Heat equal parts coconut oil and cheap vegetable oil in a saucepan over low heat. Shake to mix the oils and prevent the coconut oil from curdling. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and let it cool. Spray the mixture daily for about two weeks, making sure to shake well before use.
Related: 12 natural ways to kill weeds
12. Take out the juice
You know how annoying succulents can become if you park your car under a pine tree or leave your yard too close to a maple tree in the backyard. Occasional washing your hands with soap and water can remove the sticky substance, but the sap can be very stubborn. Clean the sap before it hardens with plenty of coconut oil. Leave it on for at least 5 minutes before wiping it off with a cloth dampened with warm water.
If you don't succeed the first time, repeat the process as needed to release the juice. Once it's gone, wash the area with soap and water to make sure the surface is clean.
13. Moisturizing the dog's feet and skin
If your dog's dry skin is itching or if your dog's paws become dry and cracked, moisturizing coconut oil can help relieve the discomfort. To relieve Fido dry patches, pour a small amount of coconut oil into your palms and gently rub your hands over the affected area. Apply the oil up to 3 times a week. When finished, leave the oil on your dog's fur or rinse it out with water.
Although we recommended avoiding refined oils in favor of pure or refined coconut oil, it is especially important here, if at any time your dog decides to lick the oil. Although the ASPCA says there is a possibility that pequeñas cantidades de aceite de coco (or cualquier cosa nueva) can seriously harm your mascot, if you are a buena idea, consult your vet before darle aceite de coco (or cualquier cosa nueva) to you. . dog.
Related: 15 things every pet owner needs for a clean home
14. Repel insects
Do you love the insect repellent properties of DEET but hate the chemicals? According to the USDA, the chemical compounds in coconut oil repel mosquitoes, bugs, ticks, and other insects better than DEET. The ingredients in coconut oil that repel mosquitoes are lauric acid, capric acid, and caprylic acid, along with the corresponding methyl esters.
Unless you can extract these acids and add them to a starch-based formula for long-term use, you will have to settle for making moisturizing insect repellents that will need to be reapplied frequently. Use coconut oil as a carrier oil and mix it with a basic insect repellent like peppermint, lemongrass, or tea tree oil.
15. It prevents snow from sticking to the shovel
Shoveling your driveway in the winter is a great exercise, but the job gets worse when snow sticks to your shovel and you have to expend more energy trying to clear it. Fortunately, a little bit of coconut oil can make things easier and possibly reduce stress and fatigue.
The process is simple: use a washcloth to rub the coconut oil coating on the snow shovel before use. The oil lubricates the bucket and helps the snow slide as you clear your driveway.
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