Fort Wayne Women: Coconut oil has been making a big splash in the worlds of beauty, cooking, and cleaning. But what's the big fuss?

As you may have heard, seen, or read, coconut oil is definitely the new kid on the block. The best part about it? It’s not just for cooking – you can use it for almost anything. Here are just a few great ways to use this inexpensive, all natural and organic product:

• Substitute coconut oil for other oils, butter, or vegetable shortening when cooking or baking.
• Use as a deep conditioner once a week on dry, brittle hair. After shampooing, simply soak your strands in the melted oil and let it soak in for an hour before rinsing out.
• Coconut oil is a natural SPF, so use it as sunscreen when you’re out at the beach, on vacation, or lounging in the backyard.
• Use as furniture polish to clean and moisturize wood, leather, and even vinyl. It works really well to remove scratches and other damage to leather chairs and couches!

In short, coconut oil is almost an all-purpose product, and being an inexpensive and all natural alternative to beauty products, household cleaners, and fatty oils make it a great investment. If you decide to use coconut oil for any of these purposes, share your experience with us on our Fort Wayne Women's page!