Each kitchen equipment has a specific function, such as toasting bread, preparing coffee, heating food, or combining components. However, astute homeowners can think beyond the box and use their appliances to complete a variety of unexpected chores. For example, did you know you can clean hardware in your Crock-Pot and wash throw pillows in your dishwasher? Take a look at these 10 brilliant ways to hack your appliances.
Wash Throw Pillows in the Dishwasher
Throwing throw pillows in the washer results in torn stuffing and damaged fabric. Load the pillows (without their cases) into the top rack of the dishwasher instead. Run them through a cycle, but skip the hot dry option and use borax instead of dishwasher soap to avoid suds. After that, hang them up to dry.
Clean Hardware in the Crock-Pot
Hardware develops caked-on paint and grime after years of use. Get rid of the mess with nothing more than your beloved Crock-Pot. Simply place the hardware in the slow cooker, cover it with water, and set it to “low” overnight. The paint will slide off off your hardware when you open the Crock-Pot in the morning—win!
Warm Plates in the Toaster Oven
When you place hot food on a chilly plate, the temperature of your meal drops a notch. Nobody likes cold dinners, so reheat your plates for five minutes in your toaster oven on the lowest setting before filling them.
Make Fresh Breadcrumbs in the Coffee Grinder
Do you require breadcrumbs on the fly? With a regular coffee grinder and a fresh loaf of bread, you can make some in no time. It’s almost as simple as dumping breadcrumbs from a can—and tastier!
Dehydrate Food in the Oven
Dried fruits and meats are delicious, but professional food dehydrators can be expensive. Make your own dehydrator as a low-cost alternative by stacking numerous cooling racks on top of each other, divided by aluminum foil balls in each corner. Set the temperature to 200 degrees Fahrenheit and place the stacked racks in the bottom of your oven (you may need to remove the oven racks). You’ll be able to savor perfectly dried fruit, veggies, and jerky in four to six hours!
Roast Coffee Beans in the Air Popper
Coffee lovers, take note! In an ordinary air popper, you can roast your own beans (preferably an older model, which will reach a higher temperature). Set up a container to capture the chaff as the beans crack, as well as a sieve or colander to cool the completed product. It’s never been easier to enjoy freshly roasted coffee at home!
Cook a Meal with a Keurig
A Keurig can make any manufactured item that requires boiling water, whether it’s instant oatmeal or a cup of noodle soup. Simply run a cycle without a K-Cup and allow the water to flow directly into the meal. It’s far faster than boiling water, and it’s a lifeline for people who don’t have microwaves.
Freeze Gum Off Your Shoe
Stepped in gum? Try sticking your shoe in the freezer for a couple of hours. When you remove it, the gum will chip off the sole much more easily.
Shred Meat in Your Stand Mixer
Homeowners can quickly shred chicken, pork, or beef in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. The mixer makes quick work of a job you may always have done with two forks!
Craft with Your Electric Knife
Your electric knife can do more than carve the Thanksgiving turkey. Rely on the appliance to cut floral foam for flower arrangements, or use it to shape polyurethane foam for dining chairs you’re reupholstering.
