The Handiest Way To Repurpose Coasters Between Parties

If you're an attentive party host, you might bustle around to ensure everyone has a good time, their drinks are filled, and the vibe is playful. And if you're like us, you're secretly monitoring whether your guests are setting their drinks down on the coasters you provided, gently encouraging their use to spare your tables from water rings. In case any of your guests go rogue, we found a two-ingredient solution that will erase water stains.

Because your table isn't the only place rings show up, we found a way you can get unexpected use out of those coasters in between parties. We love repurposing common household items in new ways that save money, contain natural ingredients, or help reduce some kind of mess.

In the mess-reduction category, coasters are an excellent option to keep other types of rings at bay. If they're just sitting in a kitchen drawer waiting for the next party, repurpose your coasters by placing them in the kitchen cabinet under your olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, agave, or anything sticky and drippy that's been gunking it up. Instead of swabbing the decks every time you put the vinegar back on the shelf, use a coaster beneath your bottles.

The use of coasters dates back to about 1760 to slide wine bottles across the table. Now, there are as many types of coasters as there are styles of glasses or dishes. If preventing messes with coasters is appealing, but your coasters are made from leather, raffia, beach grass, rope, or some other absorbent, hard-to-clean material, this might be a great time to upgrade to a new type. It'll also give you the opportunity to purchase a few extras just for the kitchen cabinet.

These simple Craft Coasters from Crate & Barrel are elegant and sturdy. They're made from hand-glazed stoneware that's dishwasher-safe, which is a fabulous option to clean off those sticky rings. Icy-looking Slab Glass Coasters from Pottery Barn seem like they'd keep your drinks cool, plus they're a solid choice as mess catchers. Black Silicone Coasters from Target are perfect if you're budget-minded. Silicone is a durable material, and black is always an elegant neutral for just about any home. Stone Salt Agate Coasters, also from Target, are beautiful, light, and airy-looking, yet have some real heft.