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A popular side dish and ingredient, often called the bread of Asia, is easy to digest and keeps you full for a long time. Thanks to its properties, however, it’s not only suitable for the plate. Rice can help remove moisture, rust or clean hard-to-reach places.
Rust won’t stand a chance
It doesn’t matter whether you’re fighting rusty tools in the workshop or knives in the kitchen.
In the first case, pour a thicker layer of rice into the place where you usually store tools; in the kitchen you can make a practical and stylish stand. Simply pour a larger amount of rice into a clear vase or jar, and stick the knives into it blade-first.
In no time you’ll make a nice decoration and also prevent the knives from rusting. Rice absorbs excess moisture and rust won’t have a chance.
Easy cleaning
Cleaning a vase, thermos or bottle without special brushes can be quite a chore. But if you don’t have these handy tools, ordinary (uncooked) rice will do the job quite well.
Pour a little water and dish soap into the hard-to-reach area and add a few grains of rice. Shake the bottle (vase or thermos) thoroughly several times and there won’t be a trace of deposits or dirt left.
Rice warms and cools
Are you troubled by muscle or joint pain? Do you need to quickly cool a burned area? For these purposes there are special heating/cooling pads, which you can buy at the pharmacy or home goods store.
Did you know that an alternative that costs only a few crowns can be easily made at home? Simply fill a small bag with rice and sew or tie it shut. To transfer heat, put the rice pillow in the microwave for a few seconds. To cool it, leave it in the freezer for a while.
Homemade air freshener
Want your home to smell pleasant but don’t want to spend money on chemical fresheners from the store? Try a natural alternative in the form of a rice freshener! Pour a layer of rice into a small bottle or decorative container and drizzle it with a natural oil. Mint, eucalyptus or lavender are pleasant options. Occasionally stir the rice to renew the intensity of the scent.
You can heat or cool the rice — and use it instead of heating pads.
Toy for pets
Instead of expensive toys, try making a rice pillow for your furry pet. Cat owners can add dried catnip to the rice or drizzle rice grains with valerian drops.
If your pet loves toys that make noise, nothing could be easier than filling an empty plastic surprise egg with rice. Your furry friend will be overjoyed!
Coffee grinder like new
Do you grind your own coffee at home with a traditional coffee grinder? Then sooner or later you’ll notice the grinder blade doesn’t grind beans as easily as it used to. It’s due to the oils from the coffee beans that build up on the blade and removing them isn’t exactly easy — unless you have rice on hand. Simply pour grains into the grinder and grind thoroughly. The blade will be like new again.
Loose salt and ripe fruit
Are you troubled by high humidity in your house or apartment and related damp salt or sugar? Just pour a few grains of rice into the salt shaker or sugar bowl — the rice will simply absorb the moisture.
„The rice trick“ can also be tried with unripe fruit. When you immerse it in a thick layer of rice for a few days, it ripens faster. This magical ingredient can retain the plant hormone ethylene, which causes fruit to ripen more quickly.
