I think we can all agree that the freezer is a vital component of the kitchen [1]. Even if you rarely buy prepackaged or frozen meals, the freezer can still be exceedingly useful in prolonging the freshness of most perishable foods [2], keeping your drinks ice-cold, and even slashing meal-prep time [3]. But here's the thing: the icy appliance offers a handful of other non-food-related benefits as well. From cleaning your favourite denim jeans (sans water) to making your candles last longer, the freezer can be used in the following eight brilliant ways.
Freshen Smelly Shoes
Hey, it happens to the best of us. Some shoes just don't look right with socks, and after a couple of wears (in the Summer especially), they smell a little less than rosy. Throwing them in the freezer overnight will attack the odor-causing bacteria. If freezing alone isn't enough, you can also put bicarbonate of soda inside the shoes and leave them for another day or two — just be sure to tell your roommates there are sneakers next to the ice tray!
Clean Your Jeans
We all have a favourite pair of jeans that we may have paid way too much money for (not sorry!), and washing them the old-fashioned way will make them fade and fray over time. Freezing your jeans is a fade-free way of removing any living organisms on the denim and leaving them feeling crisp and clean. Just remember this won't work if you're trying to remove stains [5].
Reopen Sealed Envelopes
So you sealed an envelope before realising you forgot something you wanted to say? No need to buy a new card. Put your envelope in a sealed plastic bag and place it in the freezer overnight, then carefully use a letter opener to pry it open the next day (shred-free).
Make Your Candles Burn Longer
These days, a really good candle is going to cost you a pretty penny, so obviously you want to get your money's worth. Here's a brilliant tip: place your candles in the freezer for a few hours before the next time you burn them. The colder the candle, the longer it takes the wax to burn — so you can continue to enjoy the smell of vanilla verbena longer.
Prevent Snags in Your Tights and Delicate Tights
This hack has been around for decades. The theory says that running your tights or delicate tights under water and then freezing them overnight will strengthen the fibres, thus making them less likely to tear or snag. While this hasn't been proved, it certainly wouldn't hurt to throw your new digs in the freezer for a day or two before you wear them for the first time — just be sure to let them thaw first!
Make Coffee Cubes
Iced coffee is incredibly refreshing, but it can be tough to master at home. Pouring hot coffee over regular ice cubes will just water-down the brew, but not if you pour it over ice cubes that are themselves made of coffee. It's simple: make a pot of coffee and pour it evenly into ice cube trays [6]; then you'll be able to make delicious homemade iced coffee all week long.
Preserve the Charge of Certain Batteries
While the makers of standard alkaline batteries recommend storing them at room temperature, NiMH batteries (used in high-drain electronics like digital cameras) will actually benefit from your freezer's frosty temperatures. Research shows NiMH batteries [7] will keep 90 percent of their charge for up to 30 days when stored inside the freezer.
Make the Ultimate Sunburn Relief
When the sun's blistering rays [8] get the best of you, few things are as soothing as aloe vera. But for intense sunburns, frozen aloe vera cubes can provide even more relief, as the cubes numb painful areas in addition to cooling and soothing. Simply extract the gel from the plant and freeze it in an ice cube tray so you'll always be prepared if a sunburn strikes.