It turns out that this miracle oil is the solution to many of life’s little (or big!) problems. Whether it’s dry skin, lackluster hair, digestive problems, or athlete’s foot, this smooth, slick, tropical-smelling elixir will help get you and your body back on track. Coconut oil’s main fat is lauric acid, a medium chain fatty acid that positively impacts cholesterol levels. It also contains vitamins E and K, and iron, and has both antimicrobial and antifungal properties.
And it’s super affordable—a 14-ounce jar can cost as little as $7, making it the most wallet-friendly all-in-one product yet. Seriously, it’s a beauty product, household cleaner, and more.
Check out these 76 ways to use coconut oil in your day-to-day life.
1. Care for our cuticles.
Treat dry, flaky cuticles by rubbing coconut oil into your nail beds. Use your fingers to massage some oil into the area—it’ll moisturize your hands in the process!
2. Treat your tresses to some TLC.
Beauty experts say the fatty acids in coconut oil will soften your strands. One way to use it: Whip up an at-home hair mask, like this coconut oil and honey concoction, coat your hair, throw it up into a bun, let it sit for up to 40 minutes, and then rinse it out in the shower.
Bonus: You can also use coconut oil on its own to prevent the ends of your hair from drying out. Just rub some onto the tips of your hair, and then shampoo as you regularly would to keep your strands shiny, healthy, and hydrated.
3. Use it as a frizz-fighter and flyaway-tamer.
Spread a tiny bit (apply sparingly) of coconut oil into trouble areas. The natural oils actually repel moisture, which is the culprit behind misbehaving hair.
4. Go for the glow.
To brighten up lackluster skin, combine coconut oil with baking soda, which is a superstar exfoliant. Just mix a little bit of the two together, gently rub into your skin in circular motions, and then rinse.
5. Whip up an at-home face mask.
Mix coconut oil and honey for a hydrating, antibacterial face mask. Leave it on for about 15 minutes, and then rinse.
6. Nourish your lips.
Slough off any dry, flaky skin with a DIY coconut-oil-and-brown-sugar lip scrub. Just smooth some coconut oil on your lips for instant hydration. It’ll look a little glossy, so let it sink in for a few minutes if you want a more matte look.
7. Buff your skin.
Coconut oil is a fantastic ingredient for DIY body scrub. Mix it up with brown sugar or salt, and add a drop or two of the essential oil of your choice for a gentle but effective exfoliating scrub.
8. Make bath time better.
Add a generous scoop of coconut oil to a bath to soak in its moisturizing benefits.
9. Tint your lips.
Instead of tossing the lipstick tube, scoop out the remaining product and melt it together with coconut oil for a homemade tinted lip balm.
10. Remove your makeup.
Use coconut oil to remove heavy makeup. Just rub a scoop of the stuff into your skin, leave it on for a few minutes, and wipe it all off with a warm cloth.
11. Moisturize your skin.
To keep your skin soft and supple, swap out your regular moisturizer for coconut oil. Don’t worry—it sinks in pretty quickly and will leave your skin feeling baby-soft.
12. Swap out your shaving cream.
Coconut oil is actually a great way to get a close shave and hydrate your skin in the process.
13. Clean your makeup brushes.
Mix antibacterial dish soap with coconut oil (which also has antibacterial properties and will help condition the bristles) and give your brushes a good cleaning.
14. Improve your acne.
To help minimize acne-related inflammation, experts recommend using coconut oil, which will also combat redness and irritation. Cleanse your face as you regularly would, and then apply a thin layer of oil to your skin.
15. Smooth your skin.
Coconut oil can minimize the appearance of wrinkles. This totally works for the delicate skin around your eyes, too. Feel free to gently pat some coconut oil onto the area with your ring finger.
16. Improve scalp health.
Massage coconut oil into your scalp to fight dandruff. Get ready to bid adieu to those pesky flakes!
17. Soothe sunburns.
Use coconut oil for burn relief. It’ll calm your skin and moisturize it to help minimize peeling.
18. Quiet down eczema flare-ups.
Because it’s both a moisturizer and an anti-inflammatory, coconut oil can help calm itchy and irritated skin related to eczema.
19. Make your own massage oil.
Just warm up some coconut oil (and maybe add a drop or two of your favorite essential oil) and get massaging.
20. Banish B.O.
Smooth some coconut oil on your armpits. The lauric acid can help kill the bacteria that causes stinky sweat.
21. Polish your pearly whites.
If you’re looking for a natural alternative to regular toothpaste, try going the DIY route. Your plan: Mix coconut oil with baking soda until it’s pasty enough to spread on a toothbrush.
22. Soften and deodorize your feet.
Before bed, soften cracked, rough skin and calluses by exfoliating your feet and then applying a generous layer of coconut oil. Since it has natural antibacterial properties, it’ll deodorize as it softens. Then slip on some socks to wake up with much smoother, better smelling soles.
23. Enhance your eyelashes.
Coconut oil can also help strengthen lashes. Just apply some oil to a cotton swab and spread it onto your lashes before going to bed.
24. Wax on, wax off!
If your hair removal routine involves at-home waxing, use coconut oil to remove excess wax from your skin—or from any surfaces in your waxing workspace. Just smooth some of the oil onto any area that’s still sticky, and then wipe it off with a warm washcloth.
25. Make patent leather shine.
The next time your patent leather is lacking in the gloss department, wipe some coconut oil onto its surface to return it to its high-shine finish.
26. Get rid of gum residue.
Use coconut oil to remove any tacky gum residue from the surface in question. It even works on hair and carpet!
27. Keep your shower squeaky clean.
To avoid using harsh chemicals to clean your tub, douse a rag with coconut oil and watch the shower scum wipe away.
28. Condition wooden flatware and furniture.
Keep your wooden spoons, cutting boards, and any other wooden utensils in top shape by conditioning them with coconut oil.
29. Clean metal items.
Coconut oil will clean bronze and help deepen its color, and remove rust from steel.
30. Fix squeaky hinges.
To silence the squeak, use coconut oil to lubricate the hinge in question.
31. Care for your guitar.
Use coconut oil to condition and lubricate guitar strings.
32. Unstick a stuck zipper.
Restore stubborn zippers to working order by coating them in coconut oil.
33. Treat leather.
Give leather apparel new life by rubbing them down with coconut oil to clean and condition and restore lost sheen.
34. Start a campfire safely.
Soak cotton balls in coconut oil and use them to start your campfire. To get a good fire going, add them to the kindling you’ve assembled and give the mixture a light.
35. Keep motors in working order.
Use coconut oil as a lubricant to keep the motors running and humming at peak performance.
36. Season cast iron cookware.
Though you can season them with vegetable oil and shortening, you can also coat them in coconut oil.
37. Cut down on hairballs.
To help keep your cat from hacking up hairballs, coat your kitty’s paws with a bit of the oil.
38. Condition your pet’s fur.
Just like you would condition your own human hair with coconut oil, rubbing some through your cat’s or dog’s coat will keep it healthy and shiny.
39. Supplement your pet’s diet and health.
Introducing a little bit of coconut oil to your dog or cat’s diet may boost their overall health—just be sure to check with your vet before you make any changes.
40. Relieve your pet’s itchiness.
If you notice your pooch scratching a specific spot more than usual, rub some coconut oil into the area to help relieve any itchiness or irritation.
41. Add it to coffee or tea.
Ditch the sugar and honey. Flavor your beverage with a drizzle of coconut oil instead.
42. Make your own nut butter.
Who needs store-bought nut butters when you’ve got fresh nuts, coconut oil, a food processor, and some key flavoring ingredients? That’s seriously all you need to whip up the nut butter of your choice.
43. Cook up a storm.
If a recipe calls for cooking at high heat—like a stir fry, for example—consider using coconut oil. It’s got a high smoke point, meaning it won’t emit harmful free radicals as readily as other oils.
Coconut oil is also an awesome option when you’re roasting vegetables—especially winter veggies like sweet potatoes (it can pump up the flavor). Throw in some herbs and a splash of lemon juice, and you’ve got a scrumptious side dish.
And whether you enjoy them sunny side up, scrambled, or over easy, eggs are yet another food that are perfect candidates to be cooked in coconut oil.
44. Dress your salads.
To give your salads a different kind of flavor, try using coconut oil as the base of the dressing.
45. Make your own granola.
Use coconut oil to whip up an oaty, nutty mixture.
46. Top your toast.
Swap out butter for coconut oil the next time you make toast.
47. Eat it up.
Scoop up a spoonful and eat it. Ingesting coconut oil is linked to a slew of health benefits, so feel free to swallow it.
48. Upgrade your smoothie.
A tablespoon of the stuff can give you an energy boost.
49. Change up your baking game.
If you’re whipping up a pie or biscuits, consider using coconut oil.
50. Pop it like it’s hot.
The next time you reach for the kernels, opt for cooking them in coconut oil instead of vegetable oil.
51. Switch up your topping.
Coconut oil is a great substitute for a buttery topping, especially when topped off with a sprinkle of salt.
52. Grease cookware and bakeware.
Use coconut oil to grease pans and trays while you’re baking. Just scoop some out and smooth it onto the sides and bottoms of your pan to keep food from sticking to it.
53. Level up your oral hygiene.
Swish about two tablespoons of coconut oil around your mouth for three to 10 minutes a day.
54. Fight colds and the flu.
Eating coconut oil can help boost your immune system (by improving your white blood cell count).
55. Prevent chafing.
Not only can coconut oil stop chafing from actually happening, it can also treat an area that’s already been rubbed raw (just mix with calendula for a soothing ointment). If your baby is suffering from diaper rash, try mixing up a diaper cream to soothe irritated skin.
56. Say goodbye to scratchy throats.
Soothe a sore throat by swallowing a bit of coconut oil on its own or adding it to your tea.
57. Lube up.
Coconut oil can weaken latex condoms, so if you do want to use coconut oil between the sheets, opt for a polyurethane condom instead.
58. Relax.
Use coconut oil as aromatherapy. Try massaging some into your scalp and temples to relieve stress.
59. Get rid of lice.
Use coconut oil as part of a two-step process. To start, rinse your hair in apple cider vinegar, let it dry, and then smooth coconut oil through your strands. You’ll have to let it sink in for up to 24 hours (sleep with a shower cap on to avoid ruining your bedding). Comb it out in the morning and then rinse your hair.
60. Treat cold sores.
Rub some coconut oil on the spot. The oil’s antiviral properties may help treat unsightly fever blisters.
61. Protect scrapes and scratches.
To help keep superficial cuts and scrapes clean, apply a thin layer of coconut oil. It works as a barrier, keeping out dust and harmful bacteria.
62. Heal bug bites.
Apply a drop or two of coconut oil to the area to relieve itching.
63. Calm bruises.
Apply coconut oil to your black-and-blues can help calm the area.
64. Treat yeast infections.
Coconut oil may help treat yeast infections when ingested and applied topically.
65. Improve your cholesterol.
Coconut oil’s star component, lauric acid, can boost your levels of HDL cholesterol to help keep your heart healthy.
66. Keep your stomach happy.
Ingesting coconut oil may help soothe your stomach and is even thought to ease symptoms from serious disorders like Crohn’s Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Adding coconut oil to your diet—even just one tablespoon per day—can help treat ulcers.
67. Clear up congestion.
To help clear things out, try mixing up a homemade vapor rub. All it takes is coconut oil, tea tree oil, and rosemary oil. Rub this trio of ingredients on your chest and underneath your nose to breathe easier.
68. Repel insects.
Coconut oil can also be used in a DIY insect repellent. The ingredients you’ll need: coconut oil and essential oils like peppermint, catnip, rosemary, or tea tree.
69. Treat the aches and pains of an ear infection.
After checking with your doctor to make sure this remedy’s for you, mix up a solution that can be applied behind your ear.
70. Prevent nosebleeds.
To keep your nostrils from drying out, dip your finger in coconut oil and gently apply it to the inside of your nose to coat as much of each interior as you can.
71. Breastfeed more comfortably.
Keep coconut oil handy to prevent your nipples from becoming cracked or painful due to breastfeeding.
72. Boost your metabolism.
The fats in coconut oil are easy to digest, can be used directly by the liver for energy, and encourage fat burning.
73. Clean your dental accessories.
If you use a mouth guard or retainer, use coconut oil to sanitize them during the day.
74. Clean your ears.
Dip a cotton swab into coconut oil (but just for a second—you don’t want it to be soaked), and gently clean earwax out of your ears.
75. Boost your bone health.
Coconut oil helps calcium and magnesium absorption in your body, which can make for healthy bones and teeth.
76. Tip the scale in your favor.
Eating coconut oil may also keep your weight in check. Also, coconut oil has fewer calories than other dietary fats—a serious bonus when it comes to weight management.
Source: http://www.greatist.com/health/genius-ways-to-use-coconut-oil.