5 Clever Ways to Reuse that Old Crockpot

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As you declutter your kitchen appliances, you may be considering tossing out that old crock pot you don't use anymore. Rather than having it end up in the landfill, why not repurpose or reuse it for other things? There are some pretty creative ways you can use that handy appliance other than making meals. 

From DIY projects to growing plants, these ideas will help you decide the best way to repurpose that old crockpot. 

Wax Melter for Homemade Candles

One of my favorite ways to reuse a crockpot is to use it to make candles. We had an extra crockpot that we didn't use anymore, but instead of donating it or throwing it away, we reused it as a wax melter and made decorative candles. Since we were no longer going to use it to make food, we simply poured the wax flakes directly into the pot. 

You want to stir the wax as it melts, and never leave the pot unattended. Note that removing the remaining wax is difficult if it hardens, so we just made it a permanent melter. You can avoid getting the pot all waxy by using this method by The Prairie Homestead, and put the wax in jars instead and fill the bottom of the pot with water.  

You can find everything you need to make candles on Amazon!

Simmer Potpourri to Make Your Home Smell Amazing

Fill your home with alluring scents by mixing up a potpourri mix in the crockpot. This is a popular practice during the fall and winter seasons, but you can change recipes to have your favorite scents that partner with the current season. For instance, Beautiful Eats & Things has a spring simmer potpourri recipe that includes grapefruit, lemons, thyme, vanilla, peppercorns, and water.

During the fall, you can brew up a potpourri mix like this one featured on Food.com, which consists of apples, cinnamon sticks, and vanilla for the perfect autumn scent. 

You should set the pot to the "warm setting" to keep your home smelling fresh all day long. However, just make sure to turn it off if you leave.

Turn it into a Planter

For plant lovers and gardeners, one of the best ways to repurpose your crockpot is to turn it into a planter. The Kitchen & Beyond blog has a straightforward process for upcycling a crockpot into a cute planter and you don't even need to drill holes.

However, you do need to ensure you input pebbles and rocks to separate the soil from excess water that will accumulate in the bottom of the pot. Otherwise, you will need to drill holes to allow proper drainage for your plants. 

Your newly renovated crockpot can be used to grow plants indoors or outdoors in a flower bed or garden. 

Create a Spa Experience

People on TikTok are sharing videos on how to use crockpots to provide a spa-like experience at home. One popular way they are repurposing them is as towel warmers. You add a cup of water to the pot with the setting on high, then add damp rolled-up towels for 30 minutes, and voila! Make sure to allow the towel to cool a bit before using it to avoid getting burned.

Another way to embrace a self-care spa night is to use it as a foot soak. You can mix Epsom salt and essential oils in a pot of water and warm it up to a nice temperature. Make sure you don't put your feet in the pot with it plugged in for safety reasons. 

Make Your Favorite Hot Beverages

Sure, it's not as creative as the other ideas, but if your crockpot is in good shape, you can use it to make delicious hot drinks. Cider, mulled wine, hot chocolate, tea, coffee—you name it—you can make it in your slow cooker. There are tons of recipes for all sorts of yummy hot drinks to try. This is a great way to have tasty beverages on hand for gatherings. 

Now you have some inspiration for repurposing your old crockpot or ideas for one you may find at a thrift store or yard sale. Finding ways to reuse and upcycle items like your crockpot helps reduce waste and can help you work towards a sustainable lifestyle.