I've been doing a fair bit of canning lately, and that means washing a lot of jars.
Years ago, I bought a nifty little device for washing canning jars: basically, sponge pieces at the end of a plastic stick. I use this jar washer so frequently that I stopped putting it away when dry and just keep it permanently in the utensil rack of my dish drainer.
The only trouble is the original sponges were cheap. They were crumbling and falling apart and not wanting to stay within the prongs of the holder. As a result, the jar washer didn't do as good a job cleaning the insides of jars.
So I purchased a large plain sponge with an eye toward replacing the original (and cheap) sponge pieces that came with the jar washer.
I asked Don what would be the best method for cutting the sponge. Knife? Box cutter? He suggested the band saw, so he took the sponge to the shop and sliced it up into pieces approximating the size of the original sponge pieces.
I folded one piece and wedged it between the prongs.
A hundred percent improvement!
It's the little things in life, y'know? The fact that I keep this jar washer permanently in the drain rack is a testament to how frequently I use it. With the extra slices from the sponge, this humble tool should last me the rest of my life. Win-win!
I want one of those!
ReplyDeleteJust curious what you are canning this time of year.
ReplyDeleteAbout three times a year, I go into the city for any bulk items we can't get locally. I took such a trip a couple weeks ago, and based on those purchases, I canned up a 40-lb. box of boneless skinless chicken breasts, a case of sliced mushrooms, and a case of mustard.
Delete- Patrice
Patrice, are those canned or fresh mushrooms you canned. I bought some canned ones years ago and didn't care for them...maybe they have changed! When I can this time of year, I call it my winter canning, ie dried beans, also chicken breasts that were on sale. happy canning !
DeleteThey're fresh mushrooms. When I'm in the city, I pick them up at a restaurant supply store ("Chef's Store"), though they never seem to have as many in stock as I'd like to buy. See this blog post on how I can fresh mushrooms:
Deletehttp://www.rural-revolution.com/2023/06/canning-mushrooms.html
- Patrice
Isn’t it nice to have a husband who knows how to do practical things?
ReplyDeleteElectric knife cuts things like that with no "sawdust".
ReplyDeleteThat was my first thought. I undertook an awful insulating project on my own last fall (crawling or laying perpendicular on joists with 0" to about 2.5 - 3' of head room using a broom handle to push my "custom" cut insulation in where there has been none). After asking others the best way to cut it (Kraft faced fiberglass), Google suggested an electric knife. I spent $20 on one and it was an absolute game changer! Now I use it for other things that are similar. Natokadn
DeleteHaving the right tool is everything! Being able to FIX that tool so that it's BETTER than new is even batter!
ReplyDeleteA GOOD pair of scissors cuts sponge really well, by the way.
I used a steak knife to cut sponge, but they were not that nice looking. Good job on 'repairing' the tool.
ReplyDeleteI purchased an item that was similar a few years back. It was a wooden spoon with a plastic scraper attached to one end. I find that I use it for more than canning jars. It's great to reach into tall glasses and I have even used it to clean pots and pans. I just love a very practical, multi-purpose and inexpensive item!
ReplyDeleteTrue prepping, thinking outside the box.
ReplyDeleteClever design. I need one of these too lol.
ReplyDeleteGreat handiwork! I say, Good Save!
ReplyDelete