Gum on your clothes or car seats? Don’t panic or reach for harsh cleaners.

Instead:

• Place a frozen spoon directly on the gum.
• Let it sit for a few minutes until the gum hardens.
• Gently peel it off—no damage to the fabric.

If it’s stubborn, use the spoon’s rounded edge to scrape it away with care.

5. Detect a Freezer Malfunction While You’re Away

This might be the most ingenious use of all. If there’s a power outage while you’re gone, your freezer could thaw and refreeze without you realizing, putting your food at risk.

To safeguard your food:

• Fill a cup with water and freeze it solid.
• Place a spoon on top of the ice.

If the power goes out and the ice melts, the spoon will sink. When the freezer comes back on and everything refreezes, the spoon won’t be on top anymore. If you return and find the spoon inside or at the bottom, you’ll know the contents were compromised.

Tip: Do this before leaving on vacation or during storm season.

Final Thoughts

It’s amazing how one frozen spoon can solve so many problems—from soothing headaches and tired eyes to making drinks enjoyable faster or even warning you about a freezer failure.

Since learning this, I’ve made it a habit to keep at least one spoon chilling in the freezer at all times. Try it yourself, and you might be surprised how often it comes in handy. Just like I did, you’ll wonder how you ever got by without it.