Seven bizarre uses for ice cubes that don’t involve cooling you down

If you thought ice cubes were just for keeping your drinks cool in the sweltering Summer weather, think again.

We here at Starts at 60 are always on the lookout for ways that everyday items we don’t usually give much thought to can actually improve our day-to-day lives.

Who’d have thought those tiny cubes of frozen water in our freezer could serve a bigger purpose?

Here are seven quirky uses for ice cubes that don’t involve cooling you down.

1. It’s great at removing chewing gum

Picture this – your grandchild has got their hands on some chewing gum (even though you told them not to) and naturally, have got it stuck on their clothes, in their hair, or worse, on your brand-new carpet.

Rather than wasting hundreds on special shampoos or fabric cleaners, many claim that using an ice cube proves just as effective.

The ice will actually freeze the unwanted gum which will typically make it easier to remove. How quick you move is going to impact how reliable this method is.

If you’ve had gum stuck on your carpet for years, this probably isn’t going to work.

2. Helpful for crease-free clothes

Do you have that one item of clothing that always looks crinkly, no matter how much you iron it?

Try wrapping some ice cubes in a soft cloth and rub over the stubborn area. Next, use your iron again over the area. This process should leave your clothing item looking smoother.

3. Perfect for reheating rice

If like us you tend to overcook at meal times, you’ll be thrilled to know that you can actually microwave your rice as leftovers without it going all dry or hard.

After you’ve placed the rice in a bowl, simply pop an ice cube or two on top before placing it in the microwave.

You’ll find that the ice will melt and turn to steam as the rice reheats, making it tastier and more eatable.

4. An effective way of removing stains on clothes

We’ve all been in that situation where you think wearing a white top is a great idea – until a bit of food or drink misses your mouth and spills all over you.

If you have an ice cube handy and you move quickly, you can actually prevent the stain from setting. Simply rub the ice cube over the impacted area before putting it in the wash.

5. Useful for bad tasting medicine

Mary Poppins said a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, but we find that an ice cube is just as effective.

It’s pretty simple – suck on an ice cube just before you’ve got to take some medication. You should find that the numbness of your tongue takes away any unpleasant tastes and flavours.

6. Makes watering pot plants easier

If you’ve got a green thumb, you’ll know how hard it can be to water all your pot plants, especially those ones that hang from the ceiling.

If you throw some ice cubes into the baskets or pots, you’ll still be watering your plants without giving yourself a drenching.

7. Separates fat from soup

If you love nothing more than making a home-cooked soup, you’ll know how hard it can be to remove all that excess fat.

If you fill a ladle with some ice cubes and glide it across the top of your soup dish, you’ll discover that the fat hardens and sticks itself to the ladle.

Be sure to wipe the fat off before putting it back in your soup. You may have to repeat this a few times to ensure your soup is fat free.

Do you have any other uses for ice cubes that we’ve missed?