22 Amazing Uses for Olive Oil—Other Than Cooking

Does stashing a bottle of olive oil in your bathroom or hallway closet sound absurd? It may seem odd to store olive oil anywhere but the kitchen. However, this healthy dietary fat offers many amazing uses other than cooking.

Read on and you'll see why it's a must-have beauty and household product. (Always speak with your health care provider before trying any medical remedies.)

1. Remove eye makeup: Dip a cotton pad into olive oil. Wipe it beneath your eyes and on your eyelids to remove eyeliner and mascara. Rinse with warm water and a washcloth and follow-up with your face wash.

2. Loosen earwax: Put some drops of olive oil in your ears for a few consecutive nights. It will help reduce earwax buildup.

3. Avoid wax on a candle holder: Before you put the candle into the holder, rub a thin coat of oil onto the holder's base. Dripped wax should easily peel off.

4. Get a shiny mane: Rub a few drops on ends. You'll be left with a glossy and shiny head of hair—and not have to buy a shine serum. (It also tames flyaways.)

5. Moisturize skin: Apply a small amount of oil to nail beds to soften cuticles. A good time to do so? When you're cooking with olive oil. Also, put a thin layer all over skin after a waxing or a shower. It will act as an intense moisturizer to soothe extra-dry skin.

6. Use it as a shaving cream substitute: If you're out of shaving cream, lather legs with some olive oil. This natural lubricant will offer a close shave, preventing razor bumps and burn. Plus, it will moisturize your skin.

7. Shine stainless steel: Rub some olive on stainless steel pots, pans, flatware and sinks as an effective and safe way to make them shine. Unlike a harsh product like ammonia, this gentle one won't corrode or dull your stainless-steel items.

8. Unstick a zipper: Apply a drop of olive oil to a cotton swab. Rub it on the teeth, avoiding the fabric. The zipper should now go up and down easily.

9. Dust wooden furniture: Apply some oil to a cloth. Wipe. Now take in your clean and shiny furniture.

10. Remove paint from hair: You aren't stuck with the color of your son's bedroom in your hair forever! Dab some oil onto a cotton ball. Rub it gently into your mane to get rid of the paint.

11. Alleviate cradle cap: Apply some oil to baby's cradle cap twice a day. Let it sit for a few minutes. Then brush off the flakes.

12. Take care of your cat: Put 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon olive oil in your cat's food. It will help prevent hair balls.

13. Soothe chapped lips: Make your own lip balm with olive oil. Mix some coarse sugar with a teaspoon of olive oil. For some flavor and aroma, add a splash of lemon juice.

14. Quiet a squeaky door: To lubricate and silence sticky door hinges, dab some oil onto a cloth. Wipe the top of the hinges so the oil goes down the sides. You can also rub the cloth on a creaky doorknob.

15. Revive rain boots: Rub vinyl or rubber boots with olive oil and you'll eliminate any white marks. Just don't get oil on the soles; otherwise, you may slip the next time you wear the boots.

16. Repair cracked heels: Give rough heels some attention. Exfoliate with a pumice stone. Then apply olive oil to feet. Lock in the moisturizing treatment by wearing cotton socks while you sleep.

17. Give your hair some TLC: Nourish, condition and detangle your hair with a DIY olive oil hair mask. You can try the recipe found here.

18. Remove stickers: Apply a bit of oil onto a label or sticker. Let sit a few minutes. The sticker should easily peel off, without leaving behind any residue.

19. Get rid of chewing gum in hair: Put down the scissors! Apply some oil to the gum and hair around it. Leave on for five to 10 minutes. Then remove the gum.

20. Unstick a ring: Rub some olive oil on a ring that's stuck. The oil will make it more slippery and it should slide off.

21. Rejuvenate your face: Make an olive oil face mask. Try this recipe; you can even eat the leftover avocados.

22. Soothe stretch marks: When you have stretch marks, you'll likely try anything to help get rid of them. Apply a generous amount of oil to affected areas every morning.