Just add veggie oil

I have fond memories of shopping at wholesale clubs with my mom when I was little. I remember spending what felt like entire days, going up and down every aisle, dreaming up the possibilities for various foods, or skimming the pages through the books.

Now, even though it is just my husband and me living at home, I cannot help pay regular visits to these stores and buying in bulk whenever possible. Needless to say, we end up with what some would consider “too much” of certain things. This has forced me to get creative. I love items that pull double-duty, and have found that many staples can do just that. Consider these uses for vegetable oil, aside from cooking:

Loosen a lock. Rub some oil on your key, and turn it inside the lock. For locks without keys, like sliding doors, rub the oil on the locking mechanism that goes inside the lock (on the other door).

Maintain furniture.

Keep your rattan or wicker furniture from drying out. Warm a small amount of oil on the stove, and then apply a thin coat with a damp cloth. For wooden furniture, use the oil as a polish. Mix 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice with 1 cup of vegetable oil, and then apply with a soft cloth.

Clean your hands.

Rub your hands with vegetable oil to get rid of paint. If it is still stuck, add some salt to the rub.

Un-stick sticky situations. If a glue-trap flips upside-down, pour some oil on it and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. The oil will loosen the adhesive and allow you to pick the trap right up. The same logic applies to other sticky substances. Use oil to remove sticky residue from price tags or stickers.

Treat your mower. Coat the blade and housing of your lawn mower with a small amount of vegetable oil. This will help to keep grass from clumping on the blade.

Care for your cast iron. If you have scrubbed your skillet to aggressively, you may need to re-season to get it back in shape. Star t with a clean, dry pan. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees fahrenheit. Then, apply a thin coat of vegetable oil to the inside and outside of the skillet using a paper towel. Place the skillet in the oven on the center rack, upside-down. You may want to lay down a baking sheet or aluminum foil underneath to catch any drips. Bake for an hour and allow to cool completely before removing.

Have a question or comment for Joanne? Email her at thefixisinhawaii@gmail.com.