Freezer Tricks

Most people have heard that if you put a sealed envelope in the freezer, you can then slide a knife under the flap to open the envelope and it can be resealed. The freezer can come in handy in other ways, too!

Candles:
To remove old wax from a glass candle holder, place the candle holder in the freezer for a couple of hours. When you take it out and turn it upside down, the wax should fall right out. I haven't tried this with a metal candle holder yet, but it definitely works for glass.

Also, you can extend the burning time of a candle by leaving it in the freezer at least 3 hours prior to lighting the candle. (Of course, don't light the candle in the freezer. That's just silly.)

Paint brushes:
If you're in the middle of a big painting project and have to stop for the day, or even just for several hours, instead of rinsing the paint brushes out just so you can get them dirty again the next day, put them in gallon Ziploc bags and stick them in the freezer. The next day, or whenever you get around to finishing the project, pull the brushes out of the freezer and let them thaw for about 20 minutes. Voila! The brushes are ready to use again, and you don't have to worry about water in the brushes!

And finally...

Smelly Freezer:
Leave a section of newspaper in the freezer and change it out once a week. Newspaper absorbs odors very effectively. If you have to store fish in the refrigerator, cover it in newspaper to keep the smell from lingering in your fridge.

Icy Steps

With all of the snow and ice hitting many of my friends (but not us - all we have is cold, cold rain), I figured this little tip would be a good one to share:

Instead of treating your icy walk with salt, which can kill the grass, mix 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid with 1/2 gallon of warm water and pour it over your steps and sidewalk. The dishwashing liquid helps prevent the ice from re-freezing. To make the ice melt faster, add a tablespoon of rubbing alcohol (or add beer, but really - who wants to waste beer?) to the mixture.

You can also use dishwashing liquid to make a home-made gel ice pack by pouring a small bottle of dishwashing liquid into a Ziploc bag (I would double-bag it) and putting it in the freezer. The dishwashing liquid does not freeze solid. Of course, it may be just as easy to go out and buy a gel ice pack.