Things You Can Do with Aluminum Foil

We already know the many things aluminum foil can be used for in the kitchen. I have a distinct memory of opening up the kitchen drawer when I was a child and seeing old pieces of neatly folded foil there, that my mother had washed thoroughly in the sink for re-use. My Depression-era grandmother had taught her that doing this would “save waste and money”, so Mama kept up the habit, well into old age.

I must admit that I am not anywhere close to being as frugal as the generations who came before me and when I finished using aluminum foil one time, I usually threw it away, without even the slightest twinge of guilt. Now, however, environmentalists seem to agree with my mother and grandmother that throwing away aluminum foil is not particularly the best thing to do, so I am trying to follow their example better now by attempting to recycle.

I do like to make sure that I get the most use of the products I buy and it’s good knowing that I can actually contribute, in some small way, to the environment by finding interesting ways to utilize used aluminum foil.

Some ways you might consider using old aluminum foil are:

Ironing board aid

After taking off the cover from your ironing board, wrap it with aluminum foil and put the cover back on. This is one of the things my mother did also, when I was growing up. It makes the heat go through better from your iron, which makes ironing a snap.

Fishing tool

Got a fisherman in your household? He or she can make a nifty fishing lure with old aluminum foil by wrapping it around a hook and tearing the ends so that it looks like something wiggling or squirming in the water. The fish won’t know the difference between this economical lure and a fancy one.

Pet deterrent

Does your dog or cat love to climb up on your furniture? Try putting pieces of aluminum foil around the furniture item they are most tempted by and, when they hear the noise it will inevitably make when they walk on it, it will discourage them from wanting to get anywhere close to your chair or sofa. The scrunchy sound just irritates the heck out of them!

Painting help

We all know how messy things can get when you paint. Splattering and dripping can be a problem and when paint gets on doorknobs, it can be nearly impossible to clean it off. Try putting aluminum foil on your doorknobs to keep paint off, then all you need to do, afterwards, is just remove the foil when you’re done.

Winter energy saver

When the weather gets cold, you’ll want some clever ways to save energy, so your heating costs will be lower. To make sure you maximize the amount of heat that reflects back into your homuse, put some aluminum foil between the wall in your room and the radiator. It will keep things nice and toasty and keep your heating bills a lot more reasonable. Of course, use caution and make sure the radiator is turned off first before you put on the aluminum foil.

Rust remover

If you’ve had a car long enough to start getting rust on the bumper, you can easily get rid of the spots by soaking some balled-up aluminum foil in cola (I use the cheap kind!) and then gently rubbing in the areas where you see the rust. Try not to rub too hard, though, since aluminum foil can be abrasive.

Kids’ crafts

Aluminum foil can always be used for various creative craft projects for kids. I don’t know of any special holiday where foil can’t be used for cool decorations or special projects. Especially during Christmas, aluminum foil can be helpful from anything from making costumes and props for holiday plays to ornaments and gift wrap.