We’ve yet to meet a home cook who doesn’t love their slow cooker. It’s an appliance that saves so much time and makes life simpler because it allows you to have a home-cooked meal on the table at the end of the day even if you barely had time to step foot in the kitchen. Slow cookers make cooking so much easier, but did you know they also have plenty of other uses around the house? Here are 8 of our favorite ways to use a slow cooker… that have nothing to do with food!
(For some of these, it’s probably a good idea to use a slow cooker that you don’t use for your food. You probably don’t want to eat out of something you’ve stripped paint in, for instance. Luckily, slow cookers are easy to find at the thrift store for very little money!)
1. Potpourri / Air Freshener
You can make your whole house smell amazing with your slow cooker! Though you probably already know that… after all, simmering stew smells amazing. But if you’re looking for an aroma that’s more along the lines of a pleasing autumn candle, look no further than your slow cooker. You can fill up the insert with a bit of water and a combination of your favorite scents: cinnamon sticks, vanilla, lemon, cloves, allspice, oranges, rosemary, cranberries… and let the pleasant aroma waft through your home throughout the day. It’s a great trick during the holidays.
2. Make Soap
3. Play Dough
You just need:
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1 cup salt
- 1/4 cup cream of tartar
- 2 cups hot water
- 2 teaspoons oil
Turn slow cooker to low and dump in dry ingredients. Add water and oil, and turn slow cooker to high. Check dough every 30 minutes, stirring when you check. When dough forms a ball, it’s done! It might take just 30 minutes but can take up to 2 hours. Use food coloring to create fun colors!
4. Homemade Candles
