Alternative Uses for Olive Oil

Many of you many know that I am Co Director of South Texas Persian Rescue. For this article, that correlates into adoptions take place out of my home. Not a problem... normally. This Sunday we had three adoptions planned. The typical routine is to clean the house from top to bottom starting an hour before adopters are due to knock on our front door. (We can dedicate an hour of cleaning time because we clean every night... we clean every morning... we clean when we come home for lunch... we clean if we cannot sleep... we clean if we are awakened excessively early... we clean.)

I do not know about you but I always clean the same way in the same order. It works for me.

This Sunday I went to grab my orange oil in order to start dusting the tops of my antique wood furniture. I may be a crazy cat lady, but my home is not one big cat playpen with cat furniture everywhere. (Though, believe me, the furniture is there. Just disguised as part of my home décor). I looked underneath the sink in my cleaners area... not there. I looked in the garage... lovely now that I have finished spring-cleaning in there... not there. I looked in the bedrooms and in the living room. I looked in the office. Gracious, I looked everywhere. No orange oil to be found. I then looked in the recycling bin. There it was. An empty bottle. No extras as I had only just put it on the list that is kept on the refrigerator.

Oh well... adopters are coming over in less than hour now... can I skip the dusting and move on to sweeping and mopping. After all... we had just cleaned last night and early this morning. The house was clean. No... I grabbed a bottle of olive oil and added some drops of lemon juice... dusting can resume. Lickety- split the house was presentable and the kitties went to their forever homes.

That night I was on the phone with one of our foster moms and was telling her about the olive oil last minute replacement. She went on to tell me additional ways she uses olive oil. Phone tree time. I was on the phone with several foster parents, friends, and family members. These are the best tips I am choosing to share with you as well as keep for myself.

Alternative uses for Olive Oil- a must for animal lovers

One foster parent told me she adds a tablespoon of olive oil in the cat's food once a week to alleviate the shedding. Okay...one she fosters Persians for us... you know the fluffy cat? Two... really? We showed her and provided her with the combs we use that work really well on cat fur. Three... short hair cats actually shed more than longhaired. Really olive oil? She stated to me that she combs still but she really believes the olive oil helps in minimizing not alleviating shedding as well as promotes a lustrous coat. She had been doing this with her dogs for years. Okay... all the cats in her care do great and look great. I will try this.

Alternative uses for Olive Oil- rooftop burn

A friend of mine stated that she discovered olive oil is a wonder at relieving pain associated with eating too hot foods. She is a wonderful cook and is always tasting her foods as she goes... to the point where she forgets to blow on it first. She takes a tablespoon of olive oil after burning the roof of her mouth and she says she is provided with relief from pain and soreness. I will try this... but I seldom burn the roof of my mouth, as I am conscientious about remembering to blow! Unless it is pizza.

Alternative uses for Olive Oil- this little plant of mine

A co-worker told me he uses olive oil to help his indoor plants. He pours some oil onto a damp paper towel and then rubs the leaves of the plants. He states that this not only removes dust and debris, but also, adds a shine to the plants. I only have a few indoor plants; however, I am willing to try this.

Alternative uses for Olive Oil- pearly whites

My neighbor showed to me the pearl necklace that has been in her family for generations. She says she keeps it clean by buffing the pearls with a cloth damp from a drop or two of olive oil. She says this revives the luster to the pearls as the oil acts a buffer to add shine and remove debris. Moreover, the oil restores moisture to the pearls.

What are some of your uses?