Alternative Uses for Ice Cubes

Cold weather is right around the corner, or already here, depending on where you reside.
The last thing I want is a cold glass of tea- or juice, or soda.

What makes cold drinks cold? Ice cubes! Well, if the tea, juice, or soda was not stored in the refrigerator.

Consequently, those ice cubes are taking up space in my freezer! What can I do?

Alternative uses for ice cubes-plants

Take about six or so of those ice cubes and place in and around hanging plants. (Or potted). The ice will melt slowly (not to be done in freezing temperatures), no overflow will occur and the soil has time to absurd the moisture as needed.

Alternative uses for ice cubes-gum removal

A friend of mine has a nine-year-old daughter than chomps her gum. (My own daughter has grown out of this stage, being that she is all of 12 now, or so she tries to convince me.) Bless her heart, when she gets overzealous about something, she chomps so hard, her gum usually falls out.

Most often onto their couch. Ice cubes can remove gum from fabric. The couch is not a sticky repository, and guests can still be seated comfortably without fear of an awful yucky discovery. Wrap an ice cube in a paper towel and apply directly on top the gum spot. As the gum hardens, a few scrapes with a bitter knife will ease it right up and off the fabric, nary a trace.

Alternative uses for ice cubes-caulk appeal

Now might be a great time to re-caulk the bathtub. Run an edge of an ice cube over the seam, along around the circumference of the tub. The ice cube provides a smooth slippery surface that can produce an even finish for the caulk.

Alternative uses for ice cubes- bad medicine

Do you have little one (or even a big one) that does not enjoy taking their medicine? Do they, in fact, run away when they see you coming with the amber colored bottle and a spoon? Have them suck on an ice cube for ten seconds, prior to swallowing the medicine. The coldness temporarily numbs taste buds, downplaying the bitter taste.

Alternative uses for ice cubes- plucking techniques

Do you enjoy plucking your eyebrows? Does it cause you pain, therefore you put it off until you resemble Groucho Marx? Rub an ice cube along your brow line before you begin tweezing. This will momentarily numb the nerve endings, minimizing pain. Upon completion of plucking, rub a second ice cube along the brow line. This will act as an anti- inflammatory through constricting blood vessels, and reducing redness.

Alternative uses for ice cubes- curdle no more

Are you tired of creating wonderful and delicious cream sauces that are... clumpy? As soon as the sauce begins to curdle, remove from heat and drop in an ice cube. The ice immediately lowers the temperature of the sauce, therein reactivating the emulsifying agents in the overcooked yolk, ensuring the cream based ingredients will be able to bond with the acidic juice for a non-clumpy sauce.

Alternative uses for ice cubes- rice back at you

When you reheat rice, does it always turn out right? Oft times, the rice when reheated in the microwave turns out dry and crunchy. When reheating, simply add an ice cube to the rice and cover with a lid. The microwaves heat melts and evaporates the ice, creating steam that infuses with each grain of rice-leftovers- yummy! Not crunchy.

In addition, to round off ice cubes are wonders at cleaning garbage disposals and coffee pots!