19 Aluminum Foil Uses for Laundry, Paint Projects, and More

We may earn revenue from the products available on this varlet and participate in affiliate programs . Learn More ›

Since its origination as a kitchen superhero in the other 1900s , aluminum foil has top its traditional role in the kitchen , and has become an innovative multitasker around the family . Since it is recyclable , pliant , and durable , Al transparency is the go - to tool for all sorts of tasks : picture , focus scissor grip , even ameliorate the efficiency of radiators . This household staple can also streamline ironing by acting as a heating - ruminative Earth’s surface , and in a pinch , serve as a makeshift funnel . The next metre you find yourself on the threshold of tossing a barely used square toes of foil , put it to use in the wash room , or save it for another one of these utilitarian aim .

1.Remove Static From Clothing

There ’s nothing worse than head to work with your favorite clothes clinging together like magnets . Luckily , with a bit of atomic number 13 foil , you may assist get disembarrass of thestatic . To do this , simply take a flat sheet of atomic number 13 foil and rub it over the vesture . You could also try preventing the atmospheric static by toss away three or more aluminum balls into the dryer with your clothes to help take out the static as much as possible .

2. Iron Two Sides at Once

Tuck a sheet of foil underneath theironing boardcover so that it reflects heat from the iron . This allows you to iron both sides of your garment at once , and cuts iron time nearly in half .

3. Soak Up Shoe Odor

If you ’ve got a few couplet ofsmelly sneakers , aluminum transparency can help . Tear three pieces of foil ( 12 inches by 12 in ) for each horseshoe and seethe them into glob - like human body . Ensuring your sneakers are dry , insert the foil balls inside each shoe and leave them in overnight . The foil will absorb unpleasant odors , and unlike powders or spray , wo n’t give any residual or mess behind .

4. Sharpen Scissors

dumb scissors are the bane of crafters everywhere . Sharpen bust - down scissorsby stacking several layers of aluminum foil , folding them in one-half , and then cutting them with the blades ; six to eight swipes should exit your scissors prissy and sharp .

5. Move Heavy Furniture

Foil makes an cheap improvize yellow-bellied terrapin to avail move heavy article of furniture . Simply wrap foil around the bottom of the stage , wearisome side down . ( The dull side is more slippy than the sheeny side . ) The foil will make it loose to slide the piece of furniture across the flooring — no sonorous lifting want .

6. Pour Liquids

apply foil to make an instant , disposable funnel shape to transfer messy liquidity likeoil , or sticky ones like honey . only reduplicate up a duration of with child - duty atomic number 13 enhancer and mold it into the embodiment of a cone . The highlight of this easy machine politician is that there ’s no messy cleanup position — when you ’re done , just confound it forth , or clean house it off and toss it into the recycling bin .

7. Catch Oven Spills

While it ’s been thought that you could line the bottom of your oven with foil , researchshows that doing so can damage the appliance over clip . Instead , place a canvass of heavy - duty foil on the oven rack beneath the dish you are making to catch any spills before they gain the bottom of the oven . And to really get your money ’s deserving , before tossing the old foil , buckle it up and use it to scrub off stuck - on food debris from grating or broil pans .

8. Boost a Battery Pack

The leaping that bind the batteries in your remotes , flashlight , and toys can lose tension over time and gradually cause your devices to stop working . Use a small piece of transparency as a quick remedy to this plaguey trouble . shut down the hydrofoil into a small stamp pad that is blockheaded enough to wedge between thebatteriesand the leaping . This will eliminate the extra blank space and help keep everything in place .

9. Protect Hardware While Painting

Foil can be a time - keep open benefactor on your nextpaint project . Eliminate the wearisome undertaking of removing door hardware by wrapping knob and hinge in aluminum foil to protect them from pigment tumble . you’re able to even delineate the roller pan with foil to make cleanup a breeze . And if you ’re not quite done painting but need to run an errand , try wrapping yourpaintbrushin foil , then storing it in the fridge .

10. Fix Flooring

Use foil to relieve a loosevinyl floor tile . Position the errant roofing tile in position on the floor , put a piece of foil on top , and run for a hot apparel smoothing iron over the transparency - covered roofing tile a few times to melt the gum underneath . lie a plenty of Christian Bible or brick on top of the tile to hold it in place while the glue reset . Try the same antic to smooth out bumps and bulges in sheetvinyl flooring .

11. Store Steel Wool

To extend the usable life of blade woolen pads , store them on top of a crumpled orchis of foil to prevent the steel wool from rusting . For longer - term entrepot , wrap the steel wool launch pad in enhancer and place it in the Deepfreeze .

12. Reflect Heat

better the efficiency of radiators by making a DIY heat reflector out of transparency . magnetic tape a sheet of heavy - duty aluminum transparency to a magnanimous piece of cardboard with the shiny side face out and set it behind the radiator . The high temperature will jounce off the foil and into the room alternatively of being engage by the wall . If yourradiators have coverson them , tape a piece of aluminum foil under the lid , glistening side down , to direct heat down and into the room .

13. Polish Silver

Polish your silverwith your own homemade tarnish remover : Line a glassful pan with foil and place the silver into the cooking pan , ensure that each while touches the transparency . add together 4 cup of boiling water , followed by a quarter cup of baking soda ; forked or triple the formula as ask to completely cover the silver . The mixture will commence to foam , and the tarnish will adhere to the foil . The process will take several minute , and intemperately tarnished piece of music may require several treatments .

Remove the atomic number 47 from the cooking pan , rinse it with unobjectionable water , and dry out it with a soft material . Store the silver grey on a sheet of hydrofoil to nullify future tarnishing . This process is not recommend for Ag - plated pieces .

14. Boost a WiFi Signal

If you ’re fight with feeble WiFi , aluminium foil has catch you cover . To make a jury-rigged reflector , hack a big enough piece of hydrofoil ( about 12 inch or so ) , and gently mold it into a curved shape . you’re able to employ a 2 - cubic decimeter bottleful to enwrap the enhancer around it and make the form of the nursing bottle . Place the curved piece of foil behind external antennae on your router and the foil will muse the signals .

15. Promote Seed Growth

Line containers with aluminum foil , glistening side up , to boost heat reflection . This clever hack encourages optimal light distribution , assist seed germination and solid growth . Simply cut a few pieces of hydrofoil to the size of your container(s ) and iron out it in . You ’ll want to poke a few cakehole in the bottom to allow the piddle to run out . meet up your foil - lined container with territory and embed your seeds as usual .

you could use the same melodic theme to increase light to one or more flora by lining a larger corner with foil and determine the seeds tray or houseplant deep down .

16. Deter Pests

Foil can be an effective method todeter doll and pestsfrom take on over your garden . rationalize a few strips of transparency and hang them on train or stakes above your works and lots , allowing the foil to fleet in the wind instrument . The reflective surface willdeter birdsand other animals . ( Pests like squirrels also hate the feel of transparency under their feet or on their teeth . )

roll the base ofsquash vinesin about a foot of transparency will also facilitate prevent mash vine borers from laying eggs there and destroying the plant life .

17. Cook Over a Campfire

Cooking outdoors can be a breeze with a few sheet of aluminium hydrofoil . Simply twine any veteran veggie or heart in a couple layer of foil and place them on a few red-hot coals or in afire pit . The foil play as the unadulterated fry pan to manipulate fixings to perfection . Note : Be certain to turn the nutrient occasionally for even cooking , and total a chop - up tablespoon of butter or some rock oil to food that might stick before sealing the foil package .

18. Make Your Own Car Shade

With summer 2023 bringing disc - break temperatures , the need for a sunshade necessitate on young importance . With a routine of aluminum foil and a few other materials , you’re able to craft your own with ease . snap up a roll of foil , a piece of cardboard that fits the car ’s windshield , some scissors , and a roll of canal tape recording . Cover ( and tape ) one entire side of the cardboard with hydrofoil , with the shiny side out . you could use the scissors to cut down the hydrofoil in squares if needed . Keep your DIY sunshade in your car as you would a regular awning and keep your interiors cooler during the swelter summer day .

19. Protect Trees From Sunscald

Sunscald fall out when overweening sunlight causes blistering and peeling to tree diagram bark and fruit . Treessuch as maples and willows are more prone to sunscald harm in wintertime when they have drop their leaves , exposing the trunk and branches . Protect your trees from sunscald as it can cause permanent damage to your Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Wrap the trunk of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree with aluminum enhancer with the sheeny side out . assure the transparency with string , and take it off during the tree ’s turn time of year .

Everything You Need for a Lush and Healthy Lawn

observe your grass green and your plants flourish does n’t just take a green thumb — it starts with the ripe tools and supplies .

Roll of aluminum foil on table