Last year Maxwell shared his surprising freezer method of 'washing' jeans, and last week Jill posted about freezing all her wool clothes and decor to get rid of moths (pictured). It got me thinking about the various other inedible things we should and do store in the fridge and freezer. Though I have an apartment fridge with decidedly ungenerous proportions, I always keep batteries in the fridge and candles in the freezer, but are these genuinely good ideas or old wives' tales? Let's take a look at some of the things you might want to store at chilly temperatures.
Batteries: Batteries remain freshest when stored in cool, dry places. That's why I've always kept them in the fridge, like the owner of the fridge above (can you spot the batteries on the lowest door shelf?) But it turns out that storing them in the fridge isn't totally necessary after all, unless your apartment is unusually balmy. Low temperatures do indeed extend the lives of alkaline batteries, but according to WiseGeek, only by a few minutes at best. Lithium batteries may benefit more from being refrigerated, since they degrade much faster in warm temperatures. But then you should let them come slowly to room temperature before using them, to prevent condensation.
Candles: There seems to be some disagreement on this point, but I have always found that freezing candles before using them helps prolong their lives, since it delays melting. This seems more effective on my normal 12" tapers and thick scented candles than on skinny candles like birthday and Hanukkah candles. Have you found this to be true, as well?
Film: If you use old-school film for your camera, you might want to keep it in the fridge, especially during summer months when heat rises above 75°F. It's probably not necessary, but it could help maintain optimum performance. If you do keep your film in the fridge, let it slowly come to room temp before using it, to eliminate risk of condensation. Also, according to Kodak, refrigerating film won't help keep it fresh beyond its expiry date, so don't get too excited.
Lipstick: Keeping cosmetics cold is apparently a good way to keep them fresher longer, but I've kept lipstick out at room temperature for years without noticing anything awry. Might be worth trying though — especially for special-occasion shades that don't get used too much. Has anyone tried it?
Eye creams: Nothing feels more vivifying to tired, puffy eyes than cold moisturizer. Dermatologists and cosmeticians recommend keeping eye cream in the fridge for a little de-puffying pick-me-up whenever your eyes need it!
Is there anything else inedible you keep in the fridge for any reason?
Images: 1 Jill Slater on Apartment Therapy; 2 Green Prophet; 3 Fabulous Fashions 4 Sensible Style; 4 Range Finder Forum user jonmanjiro; 5 D Fashions; 6 Daily Glow.
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My husband always stores a few ice cream bowls in the freezer so his ice cream doesn't melt so fast when he's eating it, especially in the summer!
Regarding storing batteries, film, candles, cosmetics/perfume in the fridge, how safe is it to store all those things right next to food you consume? Seems like it might be a health concern, no?
Nail Polish!
In high school I babysit for a woman that would freeze her husband's shirts before she ironed them. Ive also heard that if you freeze pantyhose they wont run as easily when you wear them. I can imagine putting cold hose on though.
re: the shirts. My mother used to put them (and other things) in the freezer but only if she had 'sprinkled' them but hadn't gotten around to ironing them. Then they could be taken out and ironed when she had time. They defrost pretty much instantly.
Does anyone sprinkle clothes anymore before ironing them? does anyone even iron anymore?
Tupperware! I keep (washed) empty tupperware in the fridge as I don't have a lot of cubbord space. They're going to end up there anyway when I put food in them, right? So, why not just store them there? Mind, I live a lone and my fridge isn't crammed with family-sized portions of stuff, so this may just be a good idea for a single person with limited storage space. x
We keep the bug bite ointment in the fridge. It doesn't prolong the life but it feels really great when you have an itchy bite.
When we're in the middle of a painting project, we put the foil wrapped paint brushes in the freezer until the next time we use them.
Dulcibella-My grandmother always used a spray bottle of water when she ironed my uncle's shirts, and I found it really makes it easy, esp. if you don't want to use any spray starch or its a no-iron shirt that still needs ironing. Only my husband needs to iron clothes regularly but I do like to iron my pillowcases after they are washed-so smooth and not hard to iron a bunch at once.
I don't have any extra room in my freezer for anything but food, but I like the idea of keeping eye creams in the fridge. Man, my post sounds like I'm in 1950.
@PETEG: That is fantastic idea and I am totally stealing it!
wonderful tips. only question is. how do i find extra space in my freezer -__-
I put pillowslips in the freezer (not long term though). I just seem to sleep better when my pillows are cool/cold.
@Bzowy-- I do that too! My husband thinks I'm weird.
I also wet and freeze washcloths and then take them out when they are cold and crunchy and put them on me. So refreshing.
Seems wrong to repeat the bit about freezing wool to get rid of moths, when the original post garnered several comments pointing out that the temperature and duration used by the writer were unlikely to be that effective against hatched moths, and would not do much at all against eggs.
Dust Mite Control! If your children (or you) are allergic to dust mites, you can place wrapped stuffed animals & pillows in the freezer for 24 hours if the items are not washable.
The deep freeze will kill them. It is not a substitute for washing; their waste still remains, which is the allergenic part. It is eerie seeing teddy in a freezer bag but it really helps in the mite fight.
Keeping film in the fridge is always a good idea. Film is far more sensitive than people realize. If film is too warm it can actually affect the grain of the final image. If you doubt this - try getting some film really toasty by placing a warm spot for an extended period of time, then shoot with it. You should also ask for film to be hand-inspected at the airport instead of x-rayed. No matter what TSA says, x-raying film is a bad idea.
In the summer I keep aloe vera gel in the fridge for the occasional sunburn- it really feels good!
I keep my used teabags in a bowl in the fridge. If I need to de-puff or soothe my eyes, placing cold, wet teabags on them for a few minutes feels wonderful.
My grandmother and mother used to sprinkle clothes, wrap them in a towel, and put them in the refrigerator for several hours before ironing. I haven't thought of this in years. I think it was before the day of steam irons.
I always put the bowl and the beaters in the freezer for 15 minutes or so before I make whipped cream. The cream whips faster that way.
My daughter is a biologist and is known to pick up dead things. I'll never forget opening the freezer one morning and seeing a duck seemingly staring out at me.
@Kathryn1123 Totally on the whipped cream - especially on a warm day. It whips astoundingly fast that way!
Otherwise, I just I keep beer glasses (duh) in the freezer and have been known to put my sheets and mattress pad and small rugs on the clothesline in the dead of winter to ensure no keep dust mites at bay. On a sunny winter day, they will dry on the line, even if it is really cold - it does take nearly all day though.
I always keep my daily water glass in the fridge, whether it currently has water in it or it's empty in between refills. In the summer, I soak bandanas in water, fold them into neckerchiefs, and stash them in the freezer. The I wear them around my neck when I'm working (our home office is the only room where we don't have AC), or to go out for a walk on a particularly steamy day. (I do it with my dog's bandanas too!)
I never thought about candles. Do they make the fridge smell nice? :) My boyfriend is a cinematographer; his freezer is full of film canisters.
@PeteG Great idea!
@Elboch A friend of mine growing up used to ritually put her nailpolish in the fridge to chill before putting it on. I never could decide it it actually works or not. (Its supposed to make it go on smoother?)
I'd like to add- Witch Hazel! My Nana always had a bottle in her fridge to put on bug bites and sunburns.
according to Kodak, refrigerating film won't help keep it fresh beyond its expiry date, so don't get too excited.
Freezing film will keep it fresh much, much longer than simply refrigerating. The best way to avoid condensation is to keep it in the plastic canister until it warms up. For most, it's too impractical to try to control how fast it comes up to temp when in hot weather.
Consumer films don't need refrigeration, since they are manufactured to looser tolerances. Pro films need to be refrigerated or they'll start to shift well before their expiration date (which is based on storing at refrigerator temps).
We have gin in our freezer for nice and cold G&Ts in the summer time. I make my own facial moisturizer and it doesn't have preservatives in it, so I keep a little in the jar in the bathroom and the rest in the fridge. You could totally eat it if you wanted to, though. ;)
I keep food in mine. Guess I'm weird that way....
Pint glasses are a MUST for the freezer. Sacrificing one of my freezer door trays for 7-8 pint glasses that get frozen for my enjoyment of water, soda, or beer is the best thing I've ever done in my kitchen.
A bag of frozen peas that I use as an ice compress if I hurt myself. A physical therapist recommended it. Big "do not eat" note on them.
When I was in photo school (and film was still in common use) we would intentionally leave full boxes of (colour) film on top of the radiators in our rooms in an effort to force shift the colours. Every roll was different, but it certainly made for some brilliant tones.
If you've got it..shoot it. Process it.. and enjoy it before it's gone.
I don't keep lipstick in the fridge, but it's probably not a bad idea - I have had the occasional tube that gets melty and separates when the apartment was exceptionally hot.
It seems to happen more often with organic-y balm types made with beeswax and natural oils than old fashioned lipstick tubes made of petroleum, too, so maybe you should only bother with "green" cosmetics.
@LadyKatey - I kept my nail polish in the fridge for a long time, but I was told that it kept the tops from sticking (which did work, beautifully).
Birdseed (and people grains & flours) in the freezer for an extended time kills most insects so you don't end up with infestations.
my three kids all had lice last week (GROSS) and I learned that things that can not be washed (ie helmets) can be put in the freezer to kill the buggers. as a crazy precaution, I also put all jackets, hats, etc in the freezer too after washing them in hot water and putting them in the highest heat dryer. it was a long exhausting week, but I was thankful for my large basement freezer.
(back in the '80s when I wore 'em): Nylons/pantyhose--somehow makes 'em less likely to run (read it in an "authoritative" source back then). Just "freeze" them for a day, then take them out and put them in your drawer--no need to store them in the freezer...
Aloe Vera. Feels great on a sunburn when its cold.
Benson & Hedges Mentholated Cigarettes. Out of the freezer, into the lungs. A better refreshment cannot be found!
In the fridge: medical salves and gels, homoeopathic drugs, especially those in gelatin capsules. Batteries, film, sun lotions, plant seeds. Sometimes seeds mixed with damp soil for stratification. In summer in the freezer small wet towels for refreshment.
@Kathryn1123 - I was cleaning out the freezer the other day and found an insect specimen, courtesy of my daughter.
Thought of another thing that lives in the freezer from time to time: dead fish.
Our pet store has a policy of fish replacement if new ones die within 7 days. Happens sometimes. Store wants 'em back, if I need to I will freeze them if I can't return in a day or 2.
About the frozen peas....my husband made dinner one night...you guessed it...cooked the "therapeutic peas". My mother turned me on to eating frozen peas as a refreshing summertime snack.
I put candles in the freezer after they're burned out. It helps the wax release from the glass cleanly so I can reuse votives and such.
I have heard that putting nail polish in the freezer makes it easier to apply the nail polish at first, but gives it a shorter overall lifespan.
ALOE VERA GEL. It feels amazing when you get a sunburn.
I meant to add to put the aloe vera gel in the fridge. It was a lifesaver last summer.
I have always kept my moisturiser in the fridge (I have big pumps of Oilatum, Dermol and Unguentum prescribed by my dermatologist for a few different skin conditions I have)
It is so soothing on a burning hot itch and it generally seems to work better, especially in the summer!