Fresh-smelling laundry

If you have bath salts that you know you will never use, try them when laundering linens and blankets. Add 1/4 cup to the rinse cycle of your washer, instead of fabric softener. The same oils that scent bath water are absorbed by the fabrics and will leave a pleasant fragrance on your clean items.

Hanging posters temporarily

To avoid pinholes on your walls when you have to hang posters for a short period of time, dab white toothpaste on each of the poster’s corners and stick onto the wall, applying light pressure to the pasted areas. When the picture comes down, wipe away leftover residue with a damp cloth.

Rice Cooker Day!

A kitchen appliance created to make perfect rice, either through boiling or steaming it, can also be used for other slow-cook dishes and even to give you a hand in the kitchen keeping food nice and warm...

Simmering fruit

You can make healthy desserts using you rice cooker. From poaching fruits in liquids like wine, juice or maple syrup, to making sauces such as applesauce or any other fruit sauces.

Slow-cook dishes

You can create long-simmered dishes without burning or boiling over. Just add enough liquid and time to your rice cooker, and you can try beans, stews, or different kinds of soups, mixing vegetables with meat, tomatoes, wine, herbs and much more.

Cooking risotto

Sauté onions in butter in an open rice cooker, then add 1 part short-grain rice and 4 parts liquid (such as broth and wine). Cook for about 25 minutes in an on/off cooker or use the "slow" or "porridge" cycle if your machine has one. Add grated cheese and herbs when close to serving.

Steaming vegetables

If your rice cooker comes with a steamer rack, use it to cook cut vegetables, tofu, potatoes, shrimp, fish fillets or even chicken breasts. Take out and serve as a one-pot meal.

Keep breakfast warm

You can use a rice cooker to make oatmeal or other hot cereals for breakfast. Just add a little less milk or water than you would for stovetop cooking, and, if you would like, add some chopped nuts and dried fruit. The "keep warm" function will keep food from getting cold and mushy.