All The Ways You Can Repurpose Aluminum Foil Around The House

We typically use aluminum foil in the kitchen when covering pasta dishes to keep them warm or when lining baking trays for easy cleanup. Because this material is useful for these common tasks, it's a popular household stable, but it has many more uses in other areas of the home as well. Aluminum foil is a versatile tool that's great for cleaning, gardening, preserving food, and laundering clothes, to name a few of its qualifications. These foil hacks are inexpensive, easy to complete, and effective. Further, instead of throwing this material away after each use, it can be cleaned by hand or in the dishwasher and then reused over and over again. This means that, even after a sheet has been used to cover leftovers, it can then be repurposed in another area of the home.

However, there are some mistakes you should avoid making with aluminum foil, including using super thin and flimsy wrap. Some of these tricks require heavy-duty foil for the best outcomes. Then, you can enjoy all the beneficial properties of the metal, which include its flexibility, durability, reflective surface, and temperature and corrosion-resistant qualities. Further, it's non-toxic, so it can be used anywhere. Once you discover these uses, you'll be tempted to keep a roll in every room.

When it is time to whip out a fresh can of paint, do not forget the foil. You can wrap door handles, faucets, cabinet knobs, and other fixtures with aluminum paper as a stand-in for painter's tape. It will mold perfectly to the object, and once the painting is over, the removal process only takes seconds. Plus, it is reusable, so keep the painted foil with your other painting tools.

Each time you use your scissors, micro divots coat the blades and increase the friction, which makes it harder to cut things and wears down the edges. Foil removes those imperfections so the blades don't dull as quickly. To sharpen your shears, take a foot-long sheet of foil and fold it until it's six layers thick, then cut the metal at least 10 times (the more, the better) with the entire length of the blades. Test your refreshed scissors on a sheet of paper until you get a smooth slice.

Another way foil can help with your clothing is in the dryer. Crumple the wrap into 2 to 3-inch balls and throw them into the dryer with your clothes. The metal orbs neutralize the electron transfers happening in the appliance, which is what causes static build-up. It might make the cycle slightly noisy, and you won't get a fresh smell like you would from dryer sheets, but your garments will be static-free.

Foil isn't just for cooking and cleaning, as it can also be used to benefit your techno gadgets. Placing a piece of aluminum behind your Wi-Fi router can strengthen its signal. The metal acts as a reflector, sending the digital wavelength out further. To boost the signal, form the foil paper into a "C" shape with the shiny side inward, then prop it behind the router's body or antennas and point the foil in the direction where you want the Wi-Fi to reach.

Don't hurt your back lifting the sofa. Instead, use a few tears of foil to slide that beast across the carpet. The dull side of the aluminum is super slippery, so you can use it as a furniture coaster to rearrange heavy pieces with ease. Plus, it will stop a bulky dresser from bumping around as it glides. Just attach a folded piece to the legs of your furniture with the dull side facing the floor, and you're good to go.

Is there any residue or a puddle of water left in your soap dish? That slimy mess is preventable with, you guessed it, foil. Line your holder with the metal paper to create a waterproof shield that protects the dish from the mess while wicking moisture off of your soap. You can also wrap the entire bar in aluminum to keep it dry and prevent it from dissolving.