Extracted from the meat of coconuts, coconut oil is one of the most useful natural substances around. Not only is it great for baking and cooking, but it’s also super healthy for the skin and hair, a great treat for pets, a stain remover, a bug repellent, and so much more.
Everyone knows a few uses for coconut oil, but you’d be surprised to learn just how versatile it can be! We’ve gathered together 75 incredible uses for coconut oil, giving you dozens more reasons to invest in this awesome substance and make it a part of your daily routine.
1) A Miraculous Moisturizer
One of the most common uses for coconut oil is as a skin moisturizer. It’s filled with moisturizing properties and ingredients that nourish and hydrate skin cells, and it’s easy to use too. Simply warm a little oil between your hands and rub it gently into the skin, ideally right after showering.
2) Calm Your Constipation
If you’re struggling with constipation and would prefer to use a natural remedy rather than simply popping pills, coconut oil can help. It’s a natural laxative, so you can swallow a tablespoon or tea each day before eating to ease your suffering.
3) A Dessert Everyone Can Enjoy
If you have any vegans coming around for dinner or lactose-intolerant members of the family, make use of coconut oil instead of butter in your dessert recipes! Here’s a great one to start off with.
4) Clean Up The Walls
If you have a cheeky child that likes to draw all over the walls now and again, there’s no need to worry. Coconut oil can be simply rubbed onto the wall to remove those crayon marks with ease.
5) DIY Lip Balm
As well as being super for skin and hair, coconut oil is kind to your lips as well. Melt just a couple of spoonfuls of coconut oil in the microwave for about half a minute and then add in some vanilla essence to make it taste delicious. Leave it in the fridge to settle and boom: you’ve just made your very own, all-natural lip balm.
6) Smooth Those Split Ends
If you’ve got split ends and want a quick fix, coconut oil can make your hair look a lot healthier and happier. Rub just a tiny amount between your hands and then apply it to the ends of your hair with your fingers. Be sure that your hair is dry when you do this for the best results.
7) A Magical Makeup Remover
Looking for an all-natural makeup remover that really gets the job done? Coconut oil is your friend. It doesn’t contain any nasty chemicals, like many other makeup removers, and it’s so easy to use. Simply melt some oil in your hands and rub it over the face, then rinse with warm water or use a gentle washcloth to rub the makeup away.
8) A Healthy Coat And Soft Skin
Coconut oil is amazing for hair and skin in humans, and the same benefits can apply to our furry friends as well! Dogs that eat a little bit of coconut oil or have it applied to their bodies will have softer, smoother skin and more luxurious coats as well. Just don’t use too much!
9) Make A Facial Scrub
Mix up a tablespoon of coconut oil with a tablespoon of baking soda to create an awesome facial scrub. It works wonders for the skin, moisturizing and nourishing the cells while also removing dirt and dead layers too. You can even add in an essential oil to make it smell nice.
10) Soothe Bug Bites
We saw earlier that coconut oil can be used as an efficient bug repellent, but if you weren’t able to act fast enough and got bit by a bug, coconut oil can still help out. It works to reduce inflammation, redness, and itchiness in the skin causes by bites or rashes.
11) For Softer, Smoother Skin
If you have sensitive, dry, or irritated skin, coconut oil can help in a big way. It contains lots of nutrients that are super for the skin, and you can make your own little elixir by following this recipe.
12) Cut Down On Hairballs
If your cat tends to have a lot of hairballs, coconut oil can make a big difference. Apply a little oil to the cat’s paws to start off. As your cat licks their paws, they’ll ingest the coconut oil, which will flow through the digestive system and reduce the risk of hairballs. Just remember that coconut oil can be a laxative in large doses, so don’t give your furry friend too much.
13) Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is an alternative medical technique in which oil is swished around the mouth. It helps to detoxify the body and can improve oral health too. Some people say it really works for them, and all you need to do is swish the oil around for up to 20 minutes per day. It’ll give you great breath and reduce your risk of tooth decay too!
14) Ease Hemorrhoid Pain
Hemorrhoids are never nice to live with, but you can ease your suffering a little with a bit of coconut oil! You can either apply it to the area directly or create suppositories by freezing some oil at home. Either way, it gets results, helping to reduce the inflammation in the area and make it less painful and itchy.
15) Rid Your Pet Of Ear Infections
Since coconut oil is a powerful antimicrobial agent, it can help out with an array of health issues for both people and animals. If your pet has an ear infection, you can clean out their ears and apply a little bit of cool coconut oil, via a Q-tip, to the inside of their ears. It helps them stay clean and prevents the infections from spreading.
16) Make Steel Shimmer And Shine
Got any tired old stainless steel items around the house? Any surfaces that are looking a little worn out? Coconut oil can make steel look as good as new! Simply apply a little oil to an old rag or cleaning cloth and then buff away at steel objects to make them shine.
17) Stay Safe In The Sun
It’s vital to protect your skin on sunny days, and if you want to have a little extra natural protection, apply some coconut oil to your body! It can block about 20% of the sun’s UV rays. Sunscreen is able to block 90%, so it’s still always vital to use sunscreen, but coconut oil is a useful additional barrier.
18) A Useful Label Remover
Some coconut oil and a little baking soda is all you need to make a super effective label remover! It works so well and is really easy to rinse away when you’re done too. Follow this recipe to give it a try.
19) Boost Your Metabolism
The MCTs found in coconut oil help to speed up your metabolism, allowing your body to burn off more calories more quickly throughout the day. This can help prevent weight gain and make it easier to lose weight if you’re dieting.
20) Make Your Own Shaving Cream
Follow this recipe, which includes coconut oil, olive oil, shea butter, and eucalyptus oil, to make your own shaving cream. It’s natural, free of chemicals, and it smells great too!
21) Get Rid Of Gum
One of the worst situations you can ever find yourself in is having a bit of gum stuck in your hair! There are many alleged home remedies for this issue, but many of them don’t actually work. Fortunately, coconut oil does! Apply it generously to the area around the gum and then gently pull it away.
22) High Heat Cooking
Coconut oil can be great for cooking too, but you need to know how to use it. Due to the nature of coconut oil, it works best at very high temperatures. If you try to cook with the heat too low, it won’t have the best effect. For high heat cooking, however, it can be a super healthy alternative to sunflower or corn oil.
23) Give Your Brain A Boost
Everyone can benefit from better brain health. The MCTs found in coconut oil have been scientifically proven to help the brain and can even reduce your risk of developing brain disorders like Alzheimer’s later in life.
24) Ice Cream Magic Shell
Mix up a couple of cups of chocolate with a single cup of coconut oil, following this recipe, to create your own homemade, all-natural, magic shell. It’s a super way to make dessert time even more fun for the whole family.
25) Bugs Be Gone
Tired of pesky bugs getting in your way? Coconut oil is an awesome natural bug repellent! You can mix it up with essential oils like citronella, peppermint, or rose to give it a nice smell and then rub it into your hands and skin to keep bugs at bay.
26) Healthier Mayo
Everyone loves mayo, but it’s not the healthiest condiment around. Fortunately, if you mix up some coconut oil, olive oil, and other ingredients, you can make a tasty and nutritious mayo to use in your recipes. Visit Wellness Mama for the recipe.
27) DIY Lube
For those moments when you’re looking to get intimate with someone special, coconut oil can even be used as a lubricant. However, you should never use it with a latex condom as the oil can actually weaken the condom and potentially lead to breaks or splits.
28) Raise Your Good Cholesterol
It’s important to know that there’s good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. And if you want to get more of the good stuff, make coconut oil a part of your life! It can boost your high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, which basically translates to more good cholesterol.
29) Eliminate Tummy Fat
Coconut oil has also been proven to reduce tummy fat. Just taking a couple of tablespoons of this oil each day result in a loss of an entire inch around your belly, with studies showing that both men and women can enjoy this benefit.
30) A Tasty Treat For Good Boys And Girls
If you want to give your pet pup an extra special treat that’s sure to make them smile, consider creating a ‘pupsicle’ from coconut oil! Mix equal amounts of the oil and peanut butter and then freeze the mixture in an ice cream tray.
31) Lower Your Appetite
Yes, coconut oil can even reduce your appetite too, making it a great friend for those who wish to lose weight. Studies have shown that MCTs in coconut oil reduce hunger levels and result in lower calorie consumption.
32) Stop Nosebleeds In Their Tracks
If you suffer from nosebleeds on a regular basis, coconut oil could be the answer! Just a small amount of this magical oil, applied around the nostrils, helps to prevent nosebleeds by effectively moisturizing the area.
33) Speed Up The Healing Process
Coconut oil isn’t going to give you superhuman healing abilities, but it can make little cuts and scrapes heal quicker. Studies have shown that when coconut oil is applied to wounds (after cleaning them and prior to applying a bandage or band-aid), they heal faster as the oil supports the growth of new skin cells.
34) Boost Bone Health
Some resarch says coconut oil can work miracles on your bones. It’s filled up with antioxidants, which work to prevent damage to the bones and surrounding cells. This helps the skeleton stay strong, helping you remain flexible and agile, even in old age.
35) A Tiny Bit For Hungry Dogs
If your pet pooch doesn’t seem to be eating as much lately, it might be time to take them to the vet and get them checked out. However, you can also make use of a coconut oil home remedy to boost their appetite and make their food more appealing.
Ofcourse talk to you vet first as Dr. Colleen Smith, DVM, CVA, CVCP of the Chattanooga Holistic Animal Institute “warns against giving coconut oil to dogs prone to pancreatitis, as it can be a risk due to its high fat content. She also warns that some pups may be allergic.
If you get the okay from your vet, just apply a half a teaspoon of coconut oil to your own hands and then grab a handful of doggy dry food. This will coat the food in a nice smell and make it tastier for your pup.
36) An All Natural Deodorant
You can even use coconut oil to make your own deodorant too. Since coconut oil has powerful antibacterial properties, it works to keep your skin safe from microbes that lead to the development of body odor. Head over to Vitacost to learn more.
37) Deal With Dandruff
Many people know that coconut oil is great for the hair, which is why it’s often used as an active ingredient in various shampoos and conditioners. But it’s also super nourishing for the scalp, which means it can be a major aid to those who have to deal with dandruff on a regular basis. Apply some oil to your scalp on a regular basis to keep the skin there from drying out and getting flaky.
38) Combat Candida
Candida is a type of fungus that causes yeast infections in the mouth and genital regions. It often grows in moist areas and can cause all kinds of nasty symptoms, but you can fight back and actively treat candida by applying some raw, organic coconut oil to the affected areas.
39) A Super Stain Remover
Got some tough stains that need cleaning up? Coconut oil is your friend! Many people have been amazed at coconut oil’s effectiveness for treating stains on wooden furniture or carpet floors. Simply mix up coconut oil and baking soda in equal measures to make a paste and then rub it over the stain. Let it sit for five minutes before rinsing or wiping off.
40) Vegan Friendly Butter Coffee
Being a vegan isn’t always easy, as you have to find vegan-friendly alternatives to a lot of common ingredients used in many foods and drinks. Butter is one of the trickiest ingredients to replace, but you can actually make your own tasty butter coffee using nothing but a simple spoonful of coconut oil.
41) Fix Squeaky Hinges
Squeaky door and furniture hinges are always frustrating to deal with. Usually, you might reach for a can of WD-40 to stop them being so noisy, but a little dab of coconut oil is all you need.
42) Strengthen Your Immune System
The humble coconut might look simple on the outside, but its oil can be so powerful and has proven to be very effective at helping the immune system too. The MCTs within this oil, like lauric acid and capric acid, are great at fighting off viruses and bacteria.
43) Season Your Skillets
If you have any old skillets lying around that need to be brought back to life, coconut oil can do the job! Scrub your skillet well in soapy water, let it dry, and then spread a thin layer of coconut oil all over it. You’ll then want to bake the skillet upside down in the oven for about an hour at 350-375 degrees and leave it to cool.
44) Keep Gardening Tools Clean
Gardening can be a wonderful way to spend some time on a warm summer’s day, but it can be a pain to see your nice, shiny tools all covered in dirt and mud at the end of it. Coat them in coconut oil before you began to prevent dirt from sticking.
45) Improve Cuticles
Rubbing a little coconut oil into your cuticles and massaging it there gently for a moment a few times per week can really help improve the overall look, feel, and health of your nails.
46) An Arthritis Aid
A study has shown that the high amount of polyphenols found in coconut oil can help to relieve some of the symptoms of arthritis. This useful natural oil can reduce swelling and treat inflammation throughout the body. It’s not a miracle cure, but it can help.
47) Improve Liver Health
If you tend to drink a little too much or just want to protect your liver from the effects of alcohol or other toxins, coconut oil has been proven to help. In one study with mice, coconut oil was able to massively reduce inflammation in livers that had been exposed to toxic compounds.
48) Make Surfaces Shine With Coconut Oil Polish
You can mix some coconut oil with a little lemon juice and then rub it into furniture to make surfaces shimmer and shine, as well as staying dust-free and smelling great! Test on a small area first before applying widely as more delicate surfaces might react badly to the mixture.
49) Get Lost, Lice!
There are plenty of chemical solutions out there to rid kids’ hair of lice, but if you want to try something safer and more natural, consider coconut oil. First, rinse the hair with apple cider vinegar. Once it’s all dried, apply coconut oil to the head and let it sit for around 12 hours before brushing through with a comb and then doing a regular wash with shampoo.
50) Clean Makeup Brushes
It can be tiring and frustrating to try and clean old makeup brushes, but it’s something that needs to be done! Coconut oil makes the process a lot easier. Simply mix one part of oil with two parts of antibacterial soap and apply to your brushes.
51) Undereye Cream
Undereye creams and products can be quite expensive, so if you’d prefer to save money and use a natural alternative, coconut oil is there for you. Simply dab just a tiny bit of the oil around the undereye area. It can make bags fade away and help you look less tired at any time of day.
52) Make Your Own Massage Oil
Want to give your special someone a soothing massage after a long day? Warm a little coconut oil up in the microwave and add in a little essential oil to create a soothing massage mixture that feels and smells simply amazing.
53) For Whiter Teeth
If you happen to have run out of toothpaste, you can make your own with nothing but coconut oil and baking soda in equal parts. The baking soda brightens your teeth while the coconut oil enhances this effect and also prevents tooth decay, kills bacteria, and freshens breath.
54) Say Goodbye To Frizz And Flyaways
If you tend to struggle with frizzy hair and flyaway strands that ruin your look, simply grab a jar of coconut oil. Just a small bit of this oil, rubbed in the hands and applied to the affected areas can help to smooth out your strands and give you a frizz-free look, as well as nourishing your hair with vitamins and minerals.
55) Sayonara Stretch Marks
Pregnant ladies and anyone else worrying about stretch marks on their skin should definitely consider applying a little coconut oil. It won’t make the marks vanish, but it can help the skin to heal, reduce redness, and cause scars and marks to slowly begin to fade.
56) Lush, Long Lashes
The fatty acid content in coconut oil makes it a great option for your eyelashes. It can help them to grow bigger, longer, and stronger. To make your own, all-natural eyelash serum, simply mix a tablespoon of coconut oil with a drop of lemon oil and another drop of lavender oil. Apply this mix to your lash line on a daily basis with a Q-tip.
57) Sleep Better
It’s so important to sleep well each night, for both your body and your mind. Studies have shown that people who regularly consume coconut oil actually tend to enjoy better sleep quality than those who don’t.
58) For Expecting Moms
When you’re pregnant, you have to start eating for two, and coconut oil can be a great source of healthy fats for your growing baby. They help with various stages of baby development and can be even more effective when combined with Omega-3s.
59) Soothing Body Balm
Take a look here to find out how to make a brilliant body balm with coconut oil. Combined with chamomile and some olive oil too, it can work wonders on your skin, helping it feel softer and smoother than ever before.
60) For Flaky Elbows
Many people suffer from dry and flaky skin around their elbows. It’s very common and can be quite irritating to live with, but a simple, regular application of coconut oil helps this skin to stay soft, smooth, supple, and moisturized.
61) DIY Soap
Want to try making some natural soap to use at home? Coconut oil is a key ingredient! Check out this great recipe to give it a try. You only need three ingredients to make an antibacterial, great smelling soap that creates a whole lot of lather.
62) For Clean, Shiny Leather
If you have any real leather furniture or accessories around the home, applying a little coconut oil can help to bring out the shine and make the leather feel softer and smoother to the touch. Just be sure to test it out on a small area first and see how it works before applying more.
63) For Sensitive Skin After Washing Up
If you do a lot of dishes in the house and find that your hands feel dry and irritated afterwards, a little coconut oil can go a long way. It helps to moisturize your skin after dipping your hands in soapy water for so long and prevents dryness.
64) Soothe Sunburn
Sunburn hurts. A lot! And if you want to ease your suffering or soothe the pain of a loved one after spending too long in the sun without proper protection, try applying some coconut oil to the affected areas. It speeds up the healing process and reduces redness.
65) Alleviate Allergies
If you struggle with allergies and constantly find yourself sniffing and blowing your nose on summer days, try rubbing a little coconut oil around the nostrils. It can help to calm your symptoms.
66) Clean Up Your Bathroom
Take some coconut oil and baking soda and mix them up in equal parts to create a paste. This miraculous paste can become your new favorite bath and shower cleaner! It works brilliantly on tough stains and mildew spots. Simply apply it to the dirty areas and let it sit for 10 mintues before rinsing away.
67) A Possible Acne Solution
The causes of acne can vary from person to person and some treatments will work perfectly for some people and not so well as others. So this won’t necessarily work for you, but many people have seen big positive changes from applying coconut oil to acne affected areas of their face on a weekly basis.
68) Chest Rub
Feeing congested or suffering from a cold? You might feel tempted to grab some store-bought chest rub to alleviate your symptoms, but you can make your own right at home with coconut oil, eucalyptus oil, and a few other essential oils.
69) Silky Smooth Feet
It’s quite common to have dry skin on the feet, especially around the base. Cracked heels are another common complaint associated with feet, but you can heal them up and soften the skin all around your toes by applying some coconut oil.
70) Diaper Cream
It’s so important to be kind to your baby’s skin when changing their diaper. Many diaper creams are fine and safe, but if you want a totally natural option, simply rub a little coconut oil on the baby’s bottom.
71) Fun Play-Dough For The Kids
Does your kid love to play with play-dough, but you don’t have any around? You can make your own with coconut oil! It can even be a fun family project to do together, and the resulting mixture is totally safe and fun to use.
To make it, melt a tablespoon of coconut oil. Then add in 1/2 cup of salt, a cup of flour, a cup of water, two teaspoons of cream of tartar, and some food coloring of your choice. Stir it up over low heat until it maks a ball and then let it cool before playtime.
72) Treat Poison Ivy Quickly
Coconut oil is truly miraculous when applied to the skin. It has a million uses, including treating poison ivy! It can soothe the redness, inflammation, and itchiness caused by poison ivy and has a similar effect on those suffering from chicken pox too.
73) For Litter Trays
Cleaning out a cat’s litter tray is never the most pleasant experience, but a little coconut oil can make it a lot nicer. Simply rub a little layer of coconut oil onto the bottom of the box before applying the litter. The oil will prevent it from sticking to the bottom and making more of a mess for you to clean up.
74) Clean Floors
Got some scuff marks on your lovely wooden or laminated floors? Grab a jar of coconut oil and start rubbing a little amount into the scuffs. They should fade away in a matter of minutes. Remember to wipe all the oil away so you don’t slip over on it later.
75) Remove Rings From Swollen Fingers
We all like to wear wedding and engagement rings, as well as other meaningful rings, as often as possible. However, if your fingers start to swell a little and the ring gets painfully stuck, coconut oil can help. Simply rub some oil into the area around the ring and then slowly slide it off.
Wow! It’s incredible to see just how versatile coconut oil really is. From giving your hair a shimmering shine to soothing burns and rashes, there are no limits to what this oil can be capable of. Even if you don’t make use of it in the many different ways listed here, it’s always helpful to have a jar around the home. You never know when you might need it! Did we miss out any awesome coconut oil uses you know about?