How can I reuse or recycle clean, hot water?
It’s World Water Day on Sunday so this week’s Recycle This is water themed.
Following on from Monday’s post on reusing bath water or water from a shower, I thought it would be good to get some reuses for misc CLEAN hot water.
As good citizens of the world, we only try to heat as much water as we need when we use the kettle but sometimes someone changes their mind over a cup of tea or we just simple misjudge how small a container is, and there is freshly boiled clean water leftover. It would be a waste of both power and water to just let it cool again then tip it away.
I also had sinusitis for most of last year and the best way to get temporary relief was to steam open my block cavities with a bowl of boiling water and a towel over my head. The water was always still super hot when I was done so again, it was a shame to just throw it down the drain.
I mostly use our leftover hot water for pre-washing pans or other cleaning tasks around the kitchen – at the very least, it gets swooshed down the dish-draining rack on its way to the plughole.
Away from the kitchen, I have half a memory of very hot water in a spray can being good for getting rid of aphids or something. And crafters could use it for hand felting small objects like felt balls.
Any other suggestions to make the most of it?
If you have a nearly full pot, use it to pour on a fire ant mound instead of using chemicals.
I pour hot water saved from draining pasta in the cracks in our cement walk to get rid of any weeds starting to grow. If fact, even if the weeds get a head start, the hot water will get to the roots of the weeds and within a very short time, the weeds will wilt and die. The hot water kills any weeds starting to sprout. In fact, if weeds have started to grow in the cracks, the hot water will still kill the weeds.
I also have sinus problems but I re-use the water that usually has “Vicks” type stuff in it. So I keep the bowl in the microwave and re-heat it throughout the day.
A big pot of clean hot water makes a good chaser for some baking soda and vinegar poured down a sink drain to help keep it clear.
Use it to pre-soak beans or lentils or other dry material before cooking. Wash and rinse the beans first, then put them to the hot water and leave somewhere where the heat stays nice – you will save so much in cooking time.
If I have boiled any excess water in a kettle, I pour it into a vacuum flask to re-boil up later for the next cup of tea!
Yeah, I too just put it into a Vacuum Flask, but I don’t bother reboiling – I’ts fine as long as it is not in there for more than a couple of hours. Saves time and Energy =D
I carefully pour just a few drops on my stove top-avoiding the burners!-and countertop. Then wipe with a rag. Dissolves spilled, dried messes almost instantly, without cleaning agaents, or even very much elbow grease. But just a tiny amount, and be careful, please!
I often put it in a hot water bottle so I don’t need the heating on so much.
Kill the weeds.
Keep the lid open to humidify the air.
Deep eggs in it for 20 min. and they’ll come out cooked.
Throw in some herbs for a nice smell in the house.
Place in it some cups, glasses, jars or spoons and forks you’d like to really disinfect.