9 alternative ways to use a slow cooker

All our fans know that slow cookers are just about the best things in the world. But did you know that your favorite cooking tool can be used for much more than putting a hot home-cooked meal on the table? These awesomely inventive ways to use your slow cooker are more proof that no house should be without one. 

Many of these are completely safe to do in your daily use slow cooker, and some should be reserved for your back-up or older model you haven't gotten around to clearing out of the house. We're sure that you will like these so much, you might just go out and get a second one! 

The big trend right now is to de-clutter your life. If you have a humidifier that you only pull out for a few months out of the year, just to go into storage the rest of the time, consider donating it and getting extra use out of your slow cooker. Crock Pot Recipe Exchange recommends filling a slow cooker 3/4 full with water, then setting on high with the lid closed for an hour. Then remove the lid and let the steam naturally moisturize the air. Add more water as necessary. This is also a great alternative for those who might be prone to slack on keeping their humidifiers well cleaned, which can lead to releasing more allergens and microbes into the air, according to Berkely Wellness. 

2. Freshen up a Room (2 ways)
Potpourri:
Scented candles are a source of indoor air pollution that many might not be aware of. But there is no need to give up your favorite scents. Right before a gathering or to set a cozy mood put your favorite natural ingredients into a slow cooker and set it on low, uncovered. Monica from The Yummy Life uses her mini slow cooker and lets it run throughout the day, adding more water as necessary. 

Not sure how to start? Try this recipe:
Add cut lime, fresh thyme, fresh mint and a few drops of vanilla extract into your slow cooker. Cover with water and set on low for a fresh and subtle scent that's perfect for Spring.

Air Freshener:
Have a scent you want to deodorize? Masking it with other smells will likely have an overpowering effect. Instead, naturally freshen up the air with some baking soda. Life Hacker tested and approved an ingenious method. Fill a slow cooker half way with water, add a few table spoons of baking soda, then turn on low and leave uncovered. In a few hours, your room will be odor-free. 

This is a great way to have kids help with making their own fun. This is a slow cooker variation on the typical stove-top play dough recipe, found on A Year of Slow Cooking. The full instructions can be found on here.

For a large batch, you will need: 
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup corn starch
- 1 cup salt
- 1/4 cup cream of tartar
- 2 cups water
- 2 teaspoons cooking oil
- food coloring of your choice

Kids can help mix the ingredients and will love checking in to see how their play dough is progressing (a great way to teach patience). When it's cooked enough, carefully remove the dough. Once it's cooled enough for little hands, add the food coloring and have them smash and mix the coloring in. They'll have a blast. Homemade play dough is also great as gifts. 

If you are a fan of DIY and homemade beauty regimens and remedies, you've probably come across a number of recipes that call for rose water. You can make your own without worrying about over boiling the petals by using your slow cooker. The Herb Gardener shares her recipe and tips for making flower scented water on her blog. 

A slow cooker filled with water on the low setting is a great way to control temperatures for candle making. The Chew demonstrates an easy way use the slow cooker for perfect candles. Place a glass jar in the slow cooker with enough water to come almost to the top of the jar. Fill the jar with wax shavings and let sit until the wax is fully melted. Then insert your wick and any fragrance you might desire (a perfect time to use some homemade rose water). Once the wax has cooled your candle is ready. You can also use this method to melt any wax to easily clean out a jar from an old candle. 

You can also use the slow cooker to remove any labels stuck onto a glass jar if you wanted to reuse it for a candle, or whatever suits your fancy. Add a few drops of liquid dish soap for particularly difficult labels, recommends CNET.

Why stop at candles? You can also make your lip balm and lotion bar. Lindsay shares her recipe for an all natural, soothing lip balm on her blog, Passionate Homemaking. The same recipe can be used for lotion bars, or try this recipe from Simply {Darr}ling. The best part of making your own lotion bars? Add a few drops of your perfume for an on-to-go perfume refresh that won't be too overpowering.

Skip the expensive jewelry cleaner and reach for your slow cooker. For this trick from The Chew, you'll want to be sure to only use a slow cooker that is ceramic or glass. Add 2 1/2 cups of vinegar and 2 tablespoons of salt. Turn the crock pot on low and wait for the mixture the heat up. Place your jewelry in the bath for 15 minutes before scrubbing with a brush. 

Whether you are reclaiming hardware off a piece of thrifted furniture or are hoping to give your existing hardware some new life, the slow cooker is great aid for getting off old paint. CNET recommends filling the slow cooker 2/3 with water and a tablespoon of dish soap. Then let your paint crusted hardware or tools soak for a day in the low setting, or unti the paint starts to fall away. 

Hand dying can be a lot of fun for both serious artists and as fun kids crafts. Knit Picks provides easy-to-follow directions for using the slow cooker to dye yarn using commercially purchased dyes and natural plant dyes. The same process can be used to dye garments made out of natural fibers. Give an old shirt a new look or let children have fun with tie dye.