My microwave is sitting unplugged on my counter so I don’t accidentally go stick something in there to reheat. But once I’ve broken the habit of reaching for the microwave first, and it gets plugged back in, it would be nice to see it occasionally used for non-food items. Here are 5 of my favorite tips for creative uses of the microwave:
1. Sanitize your sponges
Grossed out about just how many old bits of food and germs are lurking in your sponge? Put a damp sponge in the microwave on high for 2 minutes, and watch (or imagine) the E.coli being zapped away! Check out this article about getting rid of germs in your microwave. Oh, and yes, you could also throw it in the dishwasher, but this is a post about microwaves.
2. Revitalize your mascara
If you’re like me, your mascara can get dry and clumpy. Did you know you can remoisten your tube of mascara by simply placing your mascara tube and a cup of water in the microwave for 15-20 seconds? You can check it out here. Be careful not to overheat, and make sure you use that water, as some people have reported their mascara tubes exploding. And of course, if your tube has any type of aluminum or metal on it, probably not a good idea…
3. Make a heating pad
Sore neck? Get a long tube sock, fill it 3/4 full with rice, tie the end tightly with a ribbon or rubber band, and microwave for about 1 minute. Voila! Instant relief. Want to see a how-to with photos? Check out this site.
4. Disinfect a cutting board
This goes along the same lines as sanitizing a sponge. If you have a cutting board that will fit in your microwave, rub the cut side of a lemon on it, and place it in the microwave for 1 minute. You can read more here.
5. Dye some fabric or yarn
Check out this great tutorial for an easy microwave Kool-aid dye technique. Hey, Kool-aid has to be good for something, right?
There you have it. Five easy things to use that microwave for, that you won’t be ingesting into your body!
Leave a Reply