What do you usually do with used cooking oil? Some people leave it in a container and dispose of it later for recycling or maybe throw it in the garden, in the trash or just pour it down the kitchen sink? Why not reuse old oil? We show some clever household tricks with cooking oil in this article.
Why throw away old oil when there are so many ways to reuse it. In addition, old oil has harmful effects on the environment. We will address that as well.
What negative effects does used cooking oil have on the environment?
Nowadays, environmental pollution is a very important problem. Very often we seem to forget that our daily actions have an impact on the environment. Used cooking oil poured into the canal can have the following harmful effects that should be considered:
- As we all know, the oil does not mix with the water, but rather it remains on the surface and forms something like a barrier that prevents the water from oxidizing properly. This leads to the death of the animals that live in it. Some of the oil sticks to the gills and scales of the fish and animals can suffocate and die.
- Used cooking oil clogs pipes when you pour it down the sink. When mixed with chemicals from cleaning products, it forms a hard layer that traps residue and bacteria. This leads to foul smells in the drains and increases the risk of pests such as cockroaches and rodents in the kitchen. You should also keep in mind that repairing a clogged drain is expensive.
- If you leave used cooking oil in the garden for a long period of time, this dirt will make the soil infertile.
Below we offer some clever ways you can reuse old oil around the home. It's easy and it doesn't cost anything, and we can also gain benefits for our family, household and nature if we learn to act sustainably in everyday life.
Use old cooking oil as a polish and furniture care product
Many of us already have cooking oilused as a cleaning agent. If you have wooden furniture in your home that looks dull or scratched, you can use used cooking oil to polish the wood and restore its appearance. Make a mixture that is equal parts used cooking oil and distilled white vinegar and use it to polish your wooden furniture. You can also use cooking oil and vinegar on wooden floors to remove scratches and create a neat look.
Household tricks with cooking oil: Clean windows
It may sound strange at first to use oil to clean windows, but we tried it and it works. A very good way to clean your windows is to use linseed oil. You can use it to achieve shiny windows. How do you proceed? Simply rub the oil into your window panes with a sponge or soft cloth and let it sit for a few minutes. Then use clean water and detergent and enjoy your shiny windows.
Homemade detergent made from used cooking oil
Yes, you read that right. You can make an excellent detergent yourself from old oil.
You will need the following ingredients:
- 1 liter used cooking oil
- 200 g washing soda
10 liters of water
100g lavender oil
Here's how you can make homemade washing powder:
- First, pour 5 liters of cold water into a bucket.
- Then add the washing soda little by little, being careful not to splash. Stir the mixture with a wooden stick, avoiding inhaling the fumes.
- Now pour the used cooking oil into the bucket while stirring. Once a homogeneous mixture is obtained, add the lavender oil.
- Stir the mixture constantly and, above all, be patient. The process can take more than half an hour, during which you should not stop stirring with the wooden stick. This way the mixture takes on a thicker consistency.
- Let the homemade concoction sit for a full day and then add the remaining 5 liters of water and stir well.
- You need to repeat this process for 5 days. Stir the mixture every morning for five days. Over time, the detergent will thicken until it begins to look like the store-bought concoction. After 5 days, store the mixture in a container and use it.
Oil is an excellent conditioner for leather
Another use for used cooking oil is to soften and condition your leather furniture. Simply rub it into the leather and let it dry. But be careful not to use too much, otherwise the leather will become oily. Old oil is also an excellent care product for leather shoes. All you need is a few drops of oil to make your leather shoes shine again.
Moisturizer for hair and skin
Let's not forget about the cosmetic use of oil. Used vegetable oil can be used toto care for your hairand to provide moisture. How do you use it? Simply heat half a cup of oil to about room temperature and massage it into your hair. Leave it on your hair for about 15 minutes. Shampoo your hair and rinse to remove the oil.
Oil also has a great effect on the skin, as it is ideal for moisturizing dry and cracked skin. Rub some oil on dry skin areas and let it absorb to make the skin softer and smoother. It's that easy to reuse old oil.
Also interesting:Which healthy cooking oils should you know and which should you avoid? Here you will find the answer!
