Before you try to secure your ice chest into a canoe, make sure you have an ice chest suitable for canoe trips or canoe camping. It should be sturdy and small enough to sit on the floor near the middle of the canoe. Most important, your ice chest should have sturdy handles that can be used to secure it to the crossbars of the canoe. This is the only way to secure your ice chest in case of a tipover. If the handles break, you may lose your ice chest. more »

Ice chests are necessary in summer months to carry cold drinks and food. You don't need to buy an expensive ice chest. You can make an ice chest with simple ingredients you have around the house. You can use a homemade ice chest for a beach party, a 4th of July party, or a backyard bbq. A paper bag ice chest is easy to carry and you can recycle it when you are done. more »

If you find yourself without an ice chest, it's possible to improvise one from what's on hand. more »

A wooden ice chest is a fun, rustic way to go back to the old days before there were plastic materials. Many people call these coolers “cowboy coolers” because they have that rustic appearance. Some ice chests can be made only from wood and metal, but that is very hard to make water tight and insulated. These plans use wood to contain an already finished ice chest made of plastic or Styrofoam. This is safer for the contents of the chest, as well as much easier to insulate. This way you can have the convenience of a modern ice chest with the appearance of an old-fashioned one. more »

Whether it is a collapsible six-beverage can size, a 45-quart stainless steel or a 40-quart thermoelectric chest style that plugs into a cigarette lighter, an ice chest is an important gear for picnics, camping and long road trips. Basic cleaning will prolong the life of the ice chest, but what about smells from spoiled foods, or spilled mustard stains, or mildew that grew when the lid was closed before the ice chest was completely dry? Although it might take several attempts, something can be done to clean smells and stains from ice chests. more »

After having a great time on your camping trip it's time to come home and clean and store ice chests, water containers and sleeping bags. We always clean all these things again before the next camping trip, but here is a helpful hint for the ice chests and water containers... more »

Food spoilage is always a concern when taking different foods in an ice chest. Whether it be meat or condiments, food safety is an issue. How do you keep your food items cold and safe? This is a way to keep your ice frozen for up to 5 days in an ice chest more »

Dry ice will freeze and keep frozen everything in its container, including any extra ice, until it completely sublimates. These frozen items will take some extra time to thaw because they have been so cold. Packing an ice chest using dry ice is great for a long trip. When packing with dry ice, follow these simple steps. more »

If you are having a house party and you're running low on space to store either ice or iced-down beverages, a washing machine can certainly get the job done. It's not a particularly elegant presentation for your guests, but for the laid-back crowd, it gets the job done. Read on to learn how to use a washing machine as a cooler or ice chest. more »