4 Unique Uses for Your Electric Blender

by DoItYourself Staff

An electric blender is a great household appliance with many unique uses other than food preparation. The following ideas are a great way to use an electric blender at the work bench.

Recycled Soap

When you are left with leftover slivers of hand soap, allow them to dry completely. Place them in the blender for a few seconds and allow the blades to pulverize the bars into a powder. Use this for washing delicate fabrics, rather than a harsh detergent. Or, add enough water to the blender while the soap is breaking down to create a thick liquid. Place in a plastic bottle and add more water to a liquid detergent consistency. This works well for little ones who love toy bubble blowers.

Better Barbecue

For better flavored foods on the gas barbecue, try this trick. Gather fragrant cedar twigs no more than 3 inches in length and a ¼-inch in width. Place them in the blender and create small chips to layer over the fire.

Around The House

Mix Cement - Use the blender to mix quick-dry cement to fix cracks or patio blocks.
Make Sawdust - Pulverize a piece of 2x4 lumber. Use to fill holes, as a base for a flower vase or to make crafts.

Paper Crafts

When the kids bring home projects as part of their homework, an electric blender comes in pretty handy for those 3-D relief maps and science projects. Another unique use for an electric blender is making paper mache without the usual mess. Simply shred the paper into the appropriate size in the blender, add paper glue and blend a few seconds longer. Use a spatula to remove the blender contents and place on waxed paper. Shape into whatever forms are needed.

This is also a good way to create beautiful holiday ornaments. In this case, save last year's holiday wrapping paper. Shred in the blender. Add glue and blend as for paper mache. Then, decorate with glitter.

For an added decorative touch, gather pine cones to pulverize into chips in the blender. Add a dash of cinnamon and glitter. Store in a glass container for use as a scented sachet. Don't forget to add a festive, colored bow.