Katie Waldeck, writing for care2.com, offers some “brilliant uses” for vegetable oil. Coconut oil users may not need more reasons to believe in their oil of choice, but Waldeck might give them new ideas on how they can use it.
The freelance writer says vegetable oil is useful not just in the kitchen, but also as a beauty/health/fashion aid. It can even help solve garden and other problems.
In the kitchen, a vegetable oil-coated paper towel, when run along the threads of a jar, can prevent sticky lids. A light coat of vegetable oil on a spoon or cup will make it easier to measure sticky ingredients like honey and peanut butter.
To prevent clumping of soft cheese when grating, Waldeck suggests a light coating of vegetable oil on the grater. Aside from “seasoning” cast iron cookware, Waldeck says vegetable oil can be used to repair nonstick pots and pans. “Pour a little oil in the pan, rub it into the nonstick surface with your fingers, and wipe away any extra oil,” she says.
First aid
Vegetable oil can also make removing splinters easier and less painful, Waldeck says. She suggests letting the area soak in vegetable oil for about five minutes. “The oil will soften the skin, easing the pain and making it easier to remove (the splinter),” she says.
A cup of warm vegetable oil (10-15 seconds in the microwave) can help hydrate dry hair. Massage the oil into the hair, cover with a shower cap or wet towel and let it soak for about 20 minutes, Waldeck says, then shampoo it off a couple times.
Waldeck adds that vegetable oil is an excellent way to clean pearls. “Pour a few drops… on a soft cloth, wipe the pearls gently and let dry overnight. The next day, take a dry soft cloth to the pearls to buff,” she says.
Vegetable oil will also help unstick zippers. Dab the teeth with a cotton swab dipped in oil.
Wiping a key with some vegetable oil will make opening sticky locks easier.
For those who want to reuse old jars, it will be easier to get rid of labels and stickers by rubbing some vegetable oil before peeling them off, Waldeck says.
Vegetable oil can be a safer alternative to thinner for removing paint on the hands. And a little vegetable oil on shovels and trowels will prevent dirt from clumping.
Waldeck says a couple spoonfuls of vegetable oil in a birdbath will keep it free of mosquitoes without harming birds. Vegetable oil will also prevent grass from clumping up the lawn mower. Waldeck suggests coating the blade and housing.
Still at it
If scam artists would use their perseverance and creativity for positive things, they will probably make a significant contribution in whatever field they choose to get involved in.
Their latest gimmick is to tell mobile phone users that they have been chosen to receive a discount from their service provider. Globe warns against what is basically a new version of an old scam.
The message went: “GLOBE: You’re the one selected postpaid plan given 35-percent discount on your bill. To get your 35-percent discount just forward the 7-digit code to 29163997327.”
The next message said: “300 1212 This is the 7 digit code just forward this to 29163997327 after you send this you will receive your 35-percent discount from GLOBE thank you.”
What actually happens is you transfer P300 worth of airtime to somebody’s prepaid number.
If you get messages like this, report it through Talk2Globe Chat (chat.globe.com.ph), send a message through Globe Contact Form (globe.com.ph/talk2Globenow) or tweet @Talk2GLOBE on Twitter. Include the number, exact message and time and date of the messages.
Send letters to The Consumer, Lifestyle Section, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 1098 Chino Roces Ave. cor. Mascardo and Yague Sts., 1204 Makati City; fax 8974793/94; or e-mail lbolido@inquirer.com.ph.