We all know olive oil is good for you but it isn't just good for cooking: It's an eco-friendly ingredient that can be used to do all sorts of things around your home. Here are my favorite ways to do your part with a bottle of olive oil:

1. Olive oil as furniture polish

Mix two parts olive oil with one part vinegar for a powerful cleaner for finished wood pieces. Mix only what you need in a small bowl and use a soft rag to get wood glowing again. You can also substitute lemon juice instead of the vinegar to work as a furniture polish. In that case, apply the olive oil and lemon mixture and rub the area briskly with a soft rag or towel.

2. Olive oil on stainless steel

There's no need for commercial chemical cleaners on stainless-steel pieces in the kitchen when straight olive oil can get the shine you want without polluting the air inside your home. Use a rag to polish the appliances all over with olive oil and then wipe away any extra. Your stainless steel will look just as shiny as if you had used a commercial cleaner.

3. Olive oil for kitty

This is one technique I use on my own cat to help prevent hair balls. Simply add a teaspoon of olive oil to your cat's food once a week. It is not only effective when it comes to preventing those hair balls, but it will also keep your cat's coat super shiny. A few drops of olive oil rubbed between palms can also be rubbed on human hair for a healthy shine.

4. Olive oil as a moisturizer

Olive oil is an effective and nontoxic skin moisturizer, especially on hands in colder months. Apply some directly on your hands and make sure to rub it into the cuticle area for optimum results. You can also use a small amount of olive oil directly on your body after a shower to keep your skin from drying out. Olive oil is effective on skin because it contains vitamins A and E, which are known to have significant healthy skin benefits.

5. Olive Oil as a makeup remover

And, finally, use a little olive oil on a cotton ball as a safe eye-makeup remover. It's incredibly gentle and works instantly. You'll also be keeping chemical-based makeup removers away from the most sensitive area of your face.