Coconut oil is a multifaceted ingredient in both food preparation and beauty products.
Its unique properties and versatility make it suitable for a wide range of applications.
But there’s more to it! Coconut oil is as a natural alternative to several toxic products.
In the article about my toxin-free journey I discuss some of my favorite topical coconut oil uses.
I also explain how you can easily make your own beauty products.
In today’s article I am sharing 25 ways how to use coconut oil in and around the house.
Whether it is to clean your house, condition your tools, remove stains or prevent all sorts of household accidents, coconut oil gets the job done.
Coconut oil is a green, 100% safe alternative to many conventional products which often contain harmful substances.
It’s good for you and for the environment. And it can save you a lot of money too.
1. Anti-stick & anti-rust for garden tools
Prevent rusting and dirt sticking to your garden tools by using coconut oil.
It’s a great way to clean and condition them and make them last longer.
→ Rub a thin layer of coconut oil on your clean tools.
Then let it sit for an hour and wipe off any remaining oil.
2. Baking tin and mold greaser
Your baked goods will come out easier if you grease the mold with some coconut oil prior to pouring the batter.
Coconut oil is the most heat-stable of all fats, so it’s perfect for high temperatures.
It’s a much healthier alternative to vegetable oils which oxidize easily and can put your health at risk.
3. Barbecue cleaner
All you need to clean dirty barbecue grills is an old rag and some coconut oil.
→ Apply the coconut oil and let it sit for an hour. Clean up with a rag.
4. Bathroom cleaner
Wet areas such as the shower and bathtub are ideal circumstances for mold and bacterias.
Luckily it’s easy to keep these places naturally sparkly and clean. All you need is coconut oil which has strong antimicrobial properties and baking soda.
This is one of my favorite ways how to use coconut oil in and around the house and let nature do its work.
→ Make a paste by mixing coconut oil with baking soda. Apply it on the surface that needs cleaning and let it sit for 10 minutes. Give it a good scrub with a scotch sponge or brush and rinse with warm water.
5. Cast iron skillet seasoner
Cast irons pans are very solid, non-toxic pans. They do need to be washed and seasoned in a specific way by coating them with oil. This is a must if you want to keep them in good shape. Coconut oil is an excellent product for this purpose.
Katie, ‘’The Wellness Mama’’ explains how to do this step by step.
6. Chewing gum remover
When I was little I had a chewing gum bubble accident which resulted in having some of my hair cut off!
While back then it seemed impossible to get the gum out, nowadays I know I can use coconut oil for it. It’s a real hair saver in these situations.
Oh and it also works for clothes and other fabric surfaces.
→ Put coconut oil on the gum, using enough to cover it all. Let it sit for 20 minutes; the gum should easily slide out now.
7. Craft stain remover
Remove crayon and ink stains from plastic and vinyl with a bit of coconut oil.
→ Rub some coconut oil on the surface and let it sit for 10 minutes.
Blot the marks off with a cloth – don’t rub it, otherwise it might smear.
Coconut oil also removes artificial snow and other types of holiday decoration from your window glass.
→ Cover the glass with a thin layer of coconut oil and let it work for 10 minutes. Then wipe off the coconut oil and rinse with warm water and apple cider vinegar.
8. Cutting board and wooden utensils conditioner
In order to keep your wooden cutting board in good shape and make it last longer, it needs to be conditioned regularly. Since you expose your food to it, you want to avoid using oils that go rancid or anything that contains chemicals.
Coconut oil is great to sanitize and seal your cutting board with because of its powerful anti-microbial properties.
→ Rub some coconut oil into your clean, dry cutting board. A high quality organic refined coconut oil works good, no need to use virgin coconut oil.
Let it sit for a few hours, then wipe off any remaining oil. Repeat as often as necessary.
9. Fertilizer surfactant
Add coconut oil to your organic liquid fertilizer.
This helps reduce surface tension and increases spreading and wetting properties.
See the instructions.
10. Food stain preventer
Plastic containers used to store left-over food can easily get stained.
You can prevent this by applying a thin layer of coconut oil on the inside before you add the food.
11. Freezer burn preventer
When frozen food isn’t stored in air-tight packaging, the air that enters, can dehydrate it.
While it’s totally safe to eat, it can affect the taste and the color of your food.
Add a small layer of coconut oil on food stored in the freezer. It leaves a seal and helps prevent getting that layer of ice on your food.
12. Hinge lubricant
Squeaky door hinges can be easily fixed with coconut oil.
→ Apply some coconut oil on the hinges. Then open and close the door a few times and leave the oil on to do its work.
13. Kitchen tools anti-stick
If you’ve ever tried cutting sticky food such as jackfruit, you know that it can get a bit messy.
Jackfruit leaves a very sticky latex type of juice that is hard to clean, but coconut oil helps.
→ Coat the knife (when using jackfruit, also the handle) with coconut oil to seal it.
Give it a good wash afterwards to get the oil off.
In case you missed the first step and already cut your jackfruit, no worries. If you can’t get the stickiness off, just coat the whole knife with coconut oil. Let it sit for a few minutes, then rub it off with a washcloth. Repeat until it’s clean.
14. Leather conditioner
Coconut oil is a great conditioner for leather shoes, jackets, belts, leather furniture etc.
It moisturizes it, cleans it and adds shine to it.
While I don’t buy leather anymore, I still have some leather items from the past, which love a coconut oil treatment.
→ A little goes a long way: apply a bit of coconut oil on a soft cloth and rub it in.
Buff afterwards to make it extra shiny.
15. Makeup brush cleaner
Makeup brushes collect bacteria, oil from your face, dead skin and dirt. This is why it’s essential to clean them regularly.
Coconut oil’s antimicrobial properties are strong sanitizers.
→ Mix 1 tsp of coconut oil with 0.5 tsp of fresh lemon juice in a small bowl.
Swirl the brush around in the mixture, then wipe it off with kitchen paper.
Repeat this until the brush is clean, then rinse with room temperature water and leave it to dry.
16. Metal polish
Another great way to use coconut oil in and around the house instead of a toxic product.
This versatile oil is excellent for cleaning metal materials. It also deepens the color of bronze.
→ Use a soft cotton cloth with some coconut oil on it to clean and buff the metal.
Do you buy your coconut oil online? This one ships worldwide.
See the rest of my green cleaning product list at the bottom of this post.
17. Mouth guard or retainer cleaner
The antimicrobial properties help sanitize your mouthguard or retainer.
→ Rinse the object, then rub coconut oil onto it and let it sit for 8+ hours to do its work.
Use warm water to rinse it off afterwards and wipe with a clean towel.
18. Oil lamp fuel
Coconut oil is a non-toxic fuel which can be used in your oil lamp. It burns slowly and generates a small flame.
Here is how to make your own oil lamp with coconut oil.
19. Paint brush cleaner
Cleaning brushes with coconut oil is a breeze and it works on dried paint as well.
→ Rub the oil through the bristles of the brush. Let it sit for a moment, then rinse with warm water.
Wash the brush with some castile soap to get the remains of the oil out and let it dry.
20. Plant leaves shiner
Avoid chemical leaf shine products and put some coconut oil on your plants instead.
It will give them shiny leaves, repel dust and keep insects away.
21. Rust remover
Rust on scissors and other metallic tools can easily be removed with coconut oil.
→ Apply a thin layer of coconut oil and let is sit for an hour.
Rinse with warm water afterwards.
22. Sticker and label residue remover
When you peel off a sticker or label, it usually doesn’t come off entirely.
Coconut oil helps remove the adhesive residue.
→ Put some coconut oil on the sticky area and let it sit for 5-10 minutes.
Wipe the remains off with a cloth.
23. Stringed instrument lubricant
Lubricate the strings of your guitar or other instrument by rubbing some coconut oil on every string. Make sure it doesn’t drip!
Let is sit for 5 minutes, then wipe each string individually with a cotton cloth.
24. Stuck ring remover
Swollen fingers can make it hard to take your rings off, but coconut oil helps.
→ Put some coconut oil on and around the ring, then gently turn it around.
Move the ring slowly back and forth until it slides off painlessly.
25. Wood conditioner
Replace toxic furniture polish with coconut oil to condition your wooden furniture.
It replenishes dry wood, adds shine and helps prolong its life.
→ Mix 1/2 cup of coconut oil and 2 tbsp of fresh lemon juice.
Make sure your furniture is free from dust and always test on a small patch first.
Use a polishing cloth, apply the mixture to it and polish your furniture with it.
Using coconut oil in your house is easy, safe and a much better alternative for your health as well as for the environment.
It can save you a lot of money, since coconut oil is very affordable. Plus you can use the same product for several things.
Important: this goes for all of the above – whenever you use coconut oil on materials such as fabric, wood, bronze, leather etc. always do a patch test to make sure you are happy with the results!
More green cleaning & household essentials:
Baking soda
Soap nuts
Dr. Bronner’s castile soap
Coconut oil
Apple cider vinegar
Tea tree oil
Liquid dish soap
Compostable trash bags
Dishwasher tablets
Floor cleaner
Fabric softener
Stain remover
Toilet bowl cleaner
This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you purchase something. This is at no extra cost to you, but it helps me to keep this blog running.
I only link to products that I love, would use myself and have researched. Thank you for your support!
More articles about using coconut oil:
How to use coconut oil for your hair
Using coconut oil for your skin
How to use coconut oil for your baby
Versatile coconut oil kitchen uses
30+ coconut oil uses for your hair, skin, nails and mouth
Do you have any suggestions on how to use coconut oil in and around the house?
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