12 Useful Things You Didn’t Know Your Freezer Could Do

Today’s post is an ode to the freezer, the fridge’s under-appreciated sibling. I use my freezer to store all kinds of things—frozen foods, leftovers, freezer meals, fresh fruits and veggies, and more. I even wrote a post about what kinds of foods you can freeze to save yourself time and money, which you can check out at the link below.

Related: 20 Ways To Use Your Freezer To Save Time And Money

But we won’t be talking about food today. Instead, we’ll be exploring useful ways you can use your freezer that have nothing to do with food. By the end of this post, you’re sure to have a whole new appreciation for just how useful your freezer can be.

12 Unexpected Ways To Use Your Freezer

1. Open A Sealed Envelope

Have you ever sealed an envelope and then realized that you left out something crucial? How annoying! Luckily, your freezer can help you fix it.

Just place the sealed envelope in a ziplock bag and freeze it for 1 to 2 hours, then take it out and immediately open it back up with a blunt knife or a letter opener. Let the envelope return to room temperature, then remoisten the adhesive to seal the envelope again.

2. Make Candles Last Longer

Place new candles in your freezer for a day before lighting them. Chilled wax burns slower and thus makes the candles last longer (and with some candles, it can even prevent the wax from dripping.)

3. Refresh Your Jeans

If the threat of fading or shrinking has you nervous about washing your nice denim jeans, roll them up and stick them in a canvas bag, then place the bag in your freezer overnight. The frigid temperature in the freezer will kill any odor-causing bacteria, which will freshen your jeans without affecting their color.

4. Freshen Smelly Shoes

The same principles above work just as well with smelly shoes too. Just seal a pair of smelly shoes into a ziplock bag and stick the bag in your freezer overnight to kill odor-causing bacteria.

5. Kill Bugs

Wooden antiques can sometimes harbor woodworm, which are the larvae of beetles. These little critters can chew right through your wooden antiques, leaving unsightly holes. If you bring home a new wooden item and you’re not sure about how bug-free it is, stick it in your freezer for a couple of weeks. The prolonged exposure to cold temperatures should kill any woodworm.

Other household items can be magnets for creepy-crawlies, including your bedding. Dust mites love bedding because it’s generally rife with dead skin cells for them to eat. You can take care of any dust mites by putting the item in question in your freezer overnight. Give it a wash in the morning, and it’ll be fresh, clean, and bug-free!

6. Simplify Plastic Wrap

Plastic wrap can be infuriating when it won’t stop sticking to itself, but you can use your freezer to simplify the process. Just stick the plastic wrap in your freezer for a few minutes to hamper the clinging action enough that it becomes easier to handle. (Don’t keep it in the freezer too long though, or it will lose its stickiness entirely.)

7. Save Seeds

If you have extra seeds that you want to use next planting season, you can keep them fresh in your freezer. Make sure they are completely dry first, then place them in an airtight container in your freezer. Then pull them out next spring, make your own seed tape (see the link below), and plant them.

Related: How To Make Seed Tape For Easy Spring Planting

8. Make Pantyhose Last

You can help extend the life of a new pair of pantyhose by freezing them. Get them wet, wring them out well, then stick them in a plastic bag and place it in your freezer overnight. Remove the bag in the morning and allow the pantyhose to thaw at room temperature. Let them air dry and they’ll be ready to wear.

9. Stretch Tight Shoes

Your freezer can help you stretch out that pair of shoes that’s just a bit too tight. The process involves freezing a bag of water inside each shoe, so that it gently stretches the shoe as the water freezes and expands. Get all the details at the link below.

Read More: How To Stretch Too-Tight Shoes

10. Remove Gum

Using your freezer is one of the easiest ways to remove gum from the bottom of your shoe because it requires very little scraping. Just stick a sturdy piece of paper to the gum then place the shoe in your freezer for 1 to 2 hours. When you remove the shoe, the paper and the gum should peel away easily.

11. Prevent Sweater Shedding

I love a good fuzzy sweater, but I don’t love how much they tend to shed. But you can use your freezer to help prevent that dreaded shedding.

Roll up your fuzzy sweater or cardigan, place it in a ziplock bag, and stick it in the freezer overnight. The cold temperatures will make the fibers contract, which will keep them from shedding so much.

12. Makeup Hacks

Lipsticks will last a lot longer if you store them in your freezer. This is especially useful for preserving lipsticks that you only use on special occasions.

Your fridge or freezer is a great place to store your natural beauty products too, since they usually don’t have as many preservatives as standard beauty products. Put them in the fridge if you use them often, and the freezer if you use them sparingly.

And finally, your freezer can help give your eyeliner a super sharp point. Place your eyeliner in the freezer for 10-15 minutes before sharpening it, which will make the sharpening process easier. You’ll get a sharp, precise point!

Do you use your freezer for any unconventional purposes?