3 Genius Ways to Use a Slow Cooker that Don’t Involve Food

Sarah Essex

The slow cooker is a thing of beauty – you load it up in the morning, turn it on, and come home from work to a fully prepared and ready to enjoy meal. It’s the busy person’s secret weapon! But, did you know that its capabilities extend far beyond the realm of food?

The slow cooker can be used for many other tasks that may surprise you. Want an easy way to make candles at home? Pull out the slow cooker. Want to make sure your baby’s toys are totally sanitized? Set that handy appliance on high. And if you want your home to smell amazing, you guessed it – the slow cooker.

These three “no cook” slow cooks are the gateway to the simplicity of turning it on and walking away.

Candle Making

There’s nothing quite like getting exactly what you want! When you make your own candles, they’ll smell and look exactly like you want them to, and with a slow cooker, it couldn’t be easier.

Materials:

  • Soy Chips for melting

  • Scent

  • Color Dye

  • Wick

  • Mason Jars with lids

Tools:

  • Slow Cooker

  • Skewer

  • Scissors

  • Chop Sticks for stirring

Instructions:

1. Fill your slow cooker with 2” of water and heat on high, with the lid on.

2. Fill mason jars to the top with soy chips, place them in the slow cooker and let the wax melt for about an hour.

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3. Remove jars with melted wax, add dye and scent and mix thoroughly.

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4. Add more chips to the top and mix well again.

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5. Push a hole down through the middle of the wax for a wick and drop in the wick.

6. Secure the wick by wrapping it around a skewer laid across the mouth of the jar.

7. Place the jar back in the water, put on the lid and let it melt again, about an hour.

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8. Remove the jar from the slow cooker and let dry.

9. Trim the wick and screw on the lid.

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Sanitizing Baby Toys

You want to make sure your baby’s toys are sanitized, and this is a gentle and effective way to do it.

Materials:

  • White Vinegar

  • Essential Oils

Tools:

  • Slow Cooker

Instructions:

1. Fill the slow cooker with water and heat on high.

2. Add 1 cup of white vinegar and 2 drops of eucalyptus essential oil.

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3. Add baby toys, replace the lid, and let simmer for 30 minutes or more, but not more than 1 hour.

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Related on Yahoo Makers: Quick and Easy Slow Cooker Recipes

Room Deodorizer

If scented candles aren’t your thing, but you still want your room to smell fresh, a little baking soda and lemon will do the trick.

Materials:

  • Baking Soda

  • Lemon

Tools:

  • Slow Cooker

Instructions:

1. Fill the slow cooker with water and heat on high.

2. Add 1 cup of baking soda.

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3. Squeeze in lemons.

4. Leave the lid off, so the room odors can be absorbed.

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Also on Yahoo Makers:


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