Unexpected Uses for Your Freezer: How to Get the Most Out of This Appliance

Yes, your freezer really comes in handy when you want to save those delicious leftovers, prep and save crockpot meals for an easy weeknight dinner, and keep ice and frozen treats on hand for hot summer days. But did you know you can use your freezer for a lot of other things as well? From prolonging the life of batteries to storing seeds to killing bacteria, get the most out of your freezer with these handy uses.

At Diamond Appliance, we help appliance owners like you with freezer repair, refrigerator repair, and more. If your freezer is on the fritz, give us a call today.

Here are just a few of the unusual ways you can use your freezer:

Save Seeds
Collected from your favorite fruits and vegetables, seeds can be stored in a freezer until you’re ready to plant them. By freezing the seeds, you’re essentially putting them into a state of suspended animation which prevents them from going bad. Then, next spring, simply plant the seeds as you normally would.

Prolong the Life of Batteries
You can prolong the life of your batteries by keeping them in the freezer. When stored at a temperature below 32 degrees, it will slow down the chemical reaction inside batteries which means they’ll last longer. So next time your smoke detectors start chirping, pop in some new batteries and then store the old ones in the freezer for future use.

Get Rid of Mites
If you’ve ever had mites, you know how difficult they are to get rid of. But by freezing items like stuffed animals, pillows, or clothing, you can kill the mites and their eggs. Simply place the items in a freezer bag and store them for at least 72 hours. This should be sufficient to kill the mites on most items. However, if you want to be extra careful and if the item is safe to be washed, you can wash the items on the hottest cycle possible to remove any residue.

Kill Bacteria
You can also use your freezer to kill bacteria on kitchen items that can’t be washed like cutting boards or plastic containers. Just like with mites, you’ll want to store the items in a freezer bag for at least 72 hours to make sure all the bacteria is killed. Then, you can gently hand wash the item to remove any last bacteria and use the item as normal.

Get Your Denim Looking Fresh
Freezing your denim can actually help to remove bacteria and make them look extra fresh. Just pop them in a freezer bag and let them sit for a few hours. Then, take them out, give them a shake, and voila! Your jeans will look as good as new.

Save Wine and Herbs for Cooking
Wine that’s been open for too long and is starting to go bad can actually be saved by freezing it. Just pour it into an ice cube tray and then use the wine cubes in your cooking. You can also do this with fresh herbs. Simply chop them up, place them in an ice cube tray, and cover with olive oil. Then, when you’re ready to cook, you can add a flavorful ice cube to your dish.

A freezer is one of those appliances we often take for granted. We assume that it will always work when we need it to, but like any appliance, freezers can break down. When they do, it’s important to have a repair company you can trust to come in and fix the problem quickly and efficiently. Diamond Appliance Repair of St. Louis and Kansas City are experts in freezer repair, and we are always available to help when you need it. If your freezer or refrigerator/freezer is still under warranty, you will need to work with the manufacturer to schedule your freezer repair. If it is no longer under warranty, call Diamond Appliance today for expert freezer repair in St. Louis, Kansas City, and surrounding suburbs. Proudly servicing Whirlpool, Maytag, GE, and other major freezer brands.

Do you have any other unusual uses for your freezer? Let us know in the comments below!