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Aluminum foil can have more than one use; after you use it in the kitchen, wash it, let it dry, and then try some of these handy tips.
Kitchen Scrubber
A ball of aluminum foil can take the place of steel wool to remove baked-on food from a glass pan.
Paint Protector
Aluminum foil is a great tool to protect doorknobs, hinges, and cabinet hardware when you paint. It molds easily to whatever you cover with it. When the job is done, just peel it off to remove.
Perfect TV Signal
Stacking your DVD player on top of the television may cause electromagnetic signals that create a snowy picture. By placing a sheet of aluminum foil between the two pieces of equipment will help keep the signals separate.
Wrinkle Remover
To get wrinkles out of delicate fabrics, place a piece of foil on your ironing board. Lay the garment flat on top of it. Without touching the garment with the iron, press the steam button and make several sweeping passes over the garment. The steamy heat will be reflected from the foil helping smooth out wrinkles.
Berry Baskets
After you have enjoyed the sweetness of the berry harvest, put those plastic baskets to use.
Bow Protector
Have to transport a nicely wrapped gift? Place a plastic berry basket over the bow to protect it from getting smashed in transit,
Bubble Wand
In a pie tin, make a solution of two parts liquid soap to one part water. Dip the basket bottoms into the solution and then wave gently in the air to make tiny bubbles.
Dishwasher Catchall
Use two plastic berry baskets, secured with a rubber band, to hold those little things like baby bottle caps, from getting lost in the dishwasher. Top-rack safe.
Flower Frog
In a decorative bowl, turn a plastic berry basket upside down and secure its rim with clay or putty. Insert the flower stems to arrange a pretty bouquet.
Protect Garden Bulbs
Deter pests from harming your flower bulbs by planting them inside a plastic berry basket. Simply dig a hole large enough to hold the basket, set the bulb inside, and cover both with dirt.
Protect Young Seedlings
Use plastic berry baskets to protect tender plant starts from harm. Secure the baskets with pieces of bent wire stuck into the soil.
Paper Towel Rolls
Give the inner tube of your paper towels one more useful life; it’s a small gesture that will make a positive difference in the big picture.
Document Protector
Roll up documents that you want to protect and slide them inside a paper towel tube.
Fire Starters
Fill an empty paper towel with dried leaves then wrap it with newspaper. Leave enough paper on each end so you can twist the ends for easy lighting. These are great to keep handy by the fireplace, or to take camping.
Plastic Bags
Plastic bags never biodegrade and they are choking our ecosystem. We need to make every effort to reduce the amount we use, and to reuse or recycle the bags we already have.
Paint Brush Preserver
When you are in the middle of a painting project and are called away for a short time, brushes and rollers will remain moist if you put them in plastic bags and wrap them tight to keep air out. This will keep your brush from drying out for a day or so.
Planter Filler
You can cut down on the amount of potting soil needed to fill a large pot by crumpling plastic bags and making a wide layer near the bottom of the pot. Be sure not to cover the drainage hole or your plant will get over-watered.
Plastic Bag Storage
Use an empty tissue box to store plastic bags, and then you can pull them out one by one when needed.
Plastic Bottles
If we can keep just one plastic bottle out of the landfill, we are doing the Earth and humankind a great service.
Funnel
Simply cut off the bottom of a plastic bottle, turn the bottle upside down, and you have a handy funnel ready to use.
Yogurt Containers
Give yogurt containers and butter tubs a new life rather than throwing them away.
Measuring Cups
When you’re in a pinch and need to roughly measure amounts, an 8-ounce yogurt container holds about 1 cup of flour or liquid, and a quart container holds about 4 cups. These are great utensils to take camping as they are unbreakable and can be used for other needs that may arise.
Storage
Because of their pliable and sturdy nature, yogurt containers and butter tubs make great storage bins for anything you want to keep together. Label them with a permanent marker to know what’s inside.
Wine Corks
Cork is biodegradable and comes from a renewable resource, but this doesn’t make it trash. While there are no readily available places to recycle wine corks, there are many ways to put them to reuse.
Cork Stamp
Carve an image on one of the ends, dip in paint, and stamp a design.
Fishing Float
If this float gets loose from your line it won’t harm the environment.
Hot Pad
Using an old wood frame, a tray, or anything with sides and a bottom, add corks in a decorative design and secure them with glue.
Knitting Needle Protector
Add a cork to the end of each knitting needle to protect them from poking.
Pincushion
Keep pins in place. A cork works great for a travel sewing kit.
Poster Pin-Board
Arrange and glue corks inside a large frame. Hang the frame on the wall and display photographs or other memorabilia attached with pins.
Planter Filler
Use a layer of corks mixed with soil to fill a large pot and aerate the plant.
Scratch Protectors
Slices of cork glued to the underside of objects helps to prevent them from scratching the surface of tables and floors.
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