A couple new tricks up my sleeve

[Curmudgeoness]

4. I would be careful with the de-icer crystals.

First of all, I bet it is only one kind of de-icer that will work, and that would not be the rock salt type. Since all of the de-icers are salts or chemicals, contact with skin could be dangerous, especially for any extended time. I would prefer to use socks and warm slippers myself than worry about contact with the chemicals. Another option to try would be a rice/popcorn/bean or whatever bag that you can put in a microwave to heat and can be reused for years.

But I do like the baking soda idea as a toilet cleaner. I am curious about whether it really does form a lump, and whether that lump wouldn't just go right down the drain, but I don't see any problem with it even if it doesn't work as well as the instructions say it will.