Genius House Hacks · a GopherCentral & PulseTV publication
Household Hacks & Kitchen · Nov 01, 2022 edition

A DIY Heating Pad, a No-Slip Cutting Board, and a Cast Iron Cleaning Trick

From the Genius House Hacks archive.

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A sore neck or back doesn't need an electric heating pad. Filling a sock with uncooked rice, tying the end, and microwaving it for two or three minutes makes a heating pad that conforms to whatever needs the heat, and a pinch of cinnamon or lavender tossed in adds a nice scent.

Make a No-Slip Cutting Board

Slipping a rubber band around each end of a cutting board, laid flat and untwisted, stops it from sliding around the counter during use, even without a built-in rubber bottom.

Clean a Cast Iron Skillet With Coarse Salt

Skipping soap (which can strip a cast iron pan's seasoning) in favor of a tablespoon of coarse salt scrubbed over the surface breaks up stuck-on food safely; the dirty salt gets tossed, the pan gets rinsed with hot water and dried, and a few drops of vegetable oil rubbed over the surface afterward keeps it protected.

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