By Michael Franco and Katie Nolan
Believe it or not, your appliances can do more than their intended purposes. Check out the surprising ways you can use your big and small appliances around the house.
Making the Most of Your Appliances
If you think of your dishwasher, microwave, and coffee maker as one-trick ponies, you may be surprised to learn that they’re actually multitaskers. In fact, most appliances in your home can do double—if not triple—duty. Click through to discover some unexpected ways you can put your household appliances to use.
Defrost Food in the Washer
It may sound counterintuitive, but placing frozen foods in your washing machine and running it on the cold delicate cycle with a low water level may actually use less water and work faster than defrosting in the sink. Seal food items in a ziplock bag, and leave the lid of the washing machine open to prevent the spin cycle from engaging.
Steam Fish
Sure, your dishwasher gets your dinner plates clean, but did you know that it can also cook the food that goes on them? Just place some salmon on a piece of foil, squeeze some lemon over it, add a dash of salt and pepper, seal it up, and place the packet on the upper rack of your dishwasher. The slow, steamy heat of a wash cycle will poach it perfectly. Leave the detergent out, though, or you’ll have soapy salmon!
Soften Up Honey
Old honey has a tendency to crystallize, which makes it virtually impossible to drizzle or spread. Before you ditch your old honey for a new bottle, try zapping it in the microwave. First, remove the lid from the jar and place the jar in the microwave. (If the honey isn’t in a microwavable container, transfer it into a microwave-safe dish.) Heat on medium power for 30 seconds, and stir. Repeat at 30-second intervals, stirring each time, until the honey is soft and liquid again.
Remove Wax with a Blow Dryer
If you’ve spilled wax on furniture, scrape away as much as you can without damaging the finish, then go get your blow dryer. Place a length of paper towel over the remaining wax, then blow over it with high heat from the dryer. The towel will absorb the wax, leaving you with a clean surface. The same trick works for crayon marks on walls.
Speed Up Cleanup
On top of the daily wear and tear lunch boxes experience, they’re also subject to spills and leaks that leave behind sticky, smelly messes. Rather than having to deal with the gunk yourself, put lunch boxes in the washing machine on a cold-water cycle with a load of towels, and they’ll come out fresh and ready for school.
Crush It in the Grinder
Save yourself the trouble of pulling out the food processor when you just need to grind up a small quantity of food. Instead, use your coffee grinder to process nuts, graham crackers, pieces of bread, or other ingredients into a fine powder.
Spice Up Your Life
Use your slow cooker to create a liquid potpourri to fill a room with pleasant scents. Place your favorite spices and fruits into your slow cooker, cover them slightly with water, and set the appliance on low. Leave the lid off and enjoy the simmering fragrances.
Deep Clean Your Mattress
Sure, you clean your sheets, but when was the last time you cleaned your mattress? Don’t keep putting fresh sheets on top of a mattress covered with dust and allergens. The next time you change sheets, run the brush or upholstery attachment of your vacuum over the top and sides of the mattress, paying special attention to crevices, seams, and other detritus-collecting spots. While you’re at it, vacuum any pillows that can’t safely go in the washer and dryer.
Iron a Square Meal
It may not be the pros’ go-to kitchen tool, but it works in a pinch. You can use your iron to make quesadillas, grilled cheese, and other toasted sandwiches. Wrap the sandwich in aluminum foil and press down for about 30 seconds. Carefully unwrap to check if it’s warm and if the filling has melted. If it’s not yet to your taste, wrap the sandwich back up and press down a few more times with the iron.
Rinse Off Garden Grime
Garden tools have it rough: They not only end up caked in dirt, but they also get exposed to chemicals and diseases. You can give some of your garden tools a more thorough cleaning by running them through the dishwasher. Place tools on the top rack along with small plastic plant pots, and put the bigger pots, rubber boots, and other tall accessories and supplies on the bottom.
Roast Beans in the Popcorn Popper
Pour raw coffee beans up to the max fill line of your popcorn maker, then turn on the machine. Place a bowl under the spout to catch the chaff. The beans will pop just like popcorn, and when they stop your coffee will be roasted! Experiment with different cook times to find the roast level that’s best for you.
Make Them Cold and Clean
Throwing your jeans in the washer and dryer too frequently causes them to fade and stretch. To get your denim clean without losing its shape, try putting it in the freezer, in a sealable bag. Exposure to the cold kills bacteria and removes odors while keeping the denim fresh and crisp.
Produce Fast Flavor
Speed through the process of drying herbs by using the microwave. Pat fresh herbs dry, making sure all water has been removed. Next, pick the leaves off and place them between paper towels. Put the herbs and towels on a microwave-safe plate, and heat for about a minute. Take the plate out to check if the herbs are fully dried. If not, continue to heat them in brief, 20-second spurts.
Freeze Gum Out
Stepped in gum? Rather than trying to scrape off the sticky mess, put the shoe in a plastic bag and stash it in the fridge for a few hours. When you take it out, the gum should come right off.
Give Home Decor a Quick Rinse
Rather than having to go around the entire house, dusting and wiping down every last piece of home decor, send washable items like glass lampshades, cabinet hardware, and even throw pillows through a cycle to get rid of the dust, grime, and germs.
Brew Some Good Eats
You’ve probably never thought about it before, but your coffee maker actually has three cooking modules: the burner, which can be used as a grill; the basket, which can be used as a steamer; and the pot, which can cook anything from rice to salmon.
“Namaslay” Sweat Away
Notice a stinky smell while planking on your yoga mat? Think about the last time you really cleaned it. While a quick wipe down between workouts is fine, every once in a while you should give your mat a thorough cleaning to rid it of sweat and bacteria. So, toss in your yoga mat the next time you run a load of towels or sheets. Just make sure to take it out before the spin cycle and let it air-dry.
