Contributed by Info Guru Paul Seaburn

Olive oil has been called the world’s most perfect food.

It’s certainly one of the world’s oldest and the Mediterranean diet, which relies heavily on its use, has long been recognized as a way to decrease the risk of heart disease. Olive oil is great for cooking and eating but this versatile oil has healing powers and many other surprising uses around the house. Here are ten versatile and unusual uses for olive oil.

10. Butter substitute

Instead of butter, pour a small amount of extra virgin olive oil in a salad plate or saucer and use it for dipping bread and rolls. Add a little extra flavor with ground pepper, grated cheese, herbs or balsamic vinegar.

9. Skin care

Olive oil lotions are soothing skin treatments. You can make your own as well by rubbing a small amount of olive oil on your skin will to moisturize without making it oily. Olive oil eliminates skin dryness, helps remove wrinkles and doesn’t clog pores.

8. Unstick Zippers

Few things are more annoying than a stuck zipper, especially when you’re in a hurry. You can often unstuck a stuck zipper by dipping a cotton swab in olive oil, rubbing it over the teeth of the zipper and slowly working the tab up and down until it’s moving again.

7. Vinaigrette dressing

Dump the bottled stuff and make your own healthy vinaigrette salad dressing instead. Simply mix three parts extra virgin olive oil with one part vinegar (3/4 cup oil, 1/2 cup vinegar yields one cup vinaigrette) using white wine vinegar, balsamic or a flavored vinegar like apple cider.

6. Ear ache treatment

Olive oil has many healing properties. Ear ache pain can often be relieved by warming a bottle of olive oil in a bowl of warm water, then dripping a few drops into the ear. Ear infections can be treated by crushing a clove of garlic in the oil, then straining it out and putting drops of the garlic oil in the ear.

5. Hand cleaner

Olive oil soap is a luxurious hand cleaner but you can also clean grease, oil or paint off of your hands by rubbing them with a bar of olive oil soap or a gritty mixture of one tablespoon of olive oil and one teaspoon of salt. After a minute or two of brisk rubbing, rinse your hands with soap and water and your skin will be clean and soft.

4. Hair conditioner

After washing your hair, warm up a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in the microwave and massage them into your damp hair and scalp, making sure you cover any split ends. Leave the oil on for at least 30 minutes, then wash it out. Your hair will be clean and soft.

3. Lubricate Kitchen Utensils

Besides cooking, olive oil gets used in my kitchen to lubricate measuring cups and spoons before filling them with sticky things like honey, molasses or corn syrup. Simply rub or spray a little on the cups and spoons and cleanup will be a breeze.

2. A Close Shave

If your skin is irritated by commercial shaving creams, try rubbing olive oil on your face or legs before shaving. It moisturizes your skin and helps the razor glide smoothly.

1. Furniture polish

Wood furniture loves olive oil almost as much as we do. Mix tow ports oil with one part vinegar or lemon juice, pour into a clean spray bottle and spray it on wood furniture. Leave it on for a minute, then wipe and polish with a clean soft cloth or paper towel.