10 Clever Uses for Aluminum Foil (2024)

Turn this kitchen staple into a secret weapon.

By Woman's Day StaffPublished: Sep 19, 2016

You already know that aluminum foil is handy for wrapping up leftovers, but it's actually super-useful all over the house. Here's how:

1. Sharpen your scissors.

Fold a piece into quarters to create four layers. Then, cut through it several times to hone dull blades.

2. Guard against paint drips.

No roll of blue tape? Wrap door handles, knobs and drawer pulls in foil to protect them from splashes and spots.

3. Get rid of rust.

To help remove stubborn patches of oxidation from chrome car fenders and household fixtures, rub the surfaces with crumpled foil.

4. Spend less time ironing.

Place a long strip of aluminum foil underneath your ironing board cover. Because the metal absorbs heat, it presses wrinkles out of cotton and wool fabrics more quickly.

5. Make a funnel.

Form a sheet into a cone with a small hole in the bottom and use it to guide liquids into narrow bottle and jar openings.

6. Tie things up.

Need to tie the legs on your roaster or veggies you don't want to fall apart in the oven? A thin strip of foil is the perfect solution.

7. Protect knobs from grimy fingers.

Kids getting messy with paints or dough? Wrap foil over sink handles and doorknobs to avoid fingerprints.

8. Prevent yucky soup skin.

Cut a piece of foil the size of the container and rest it directly on the surface of the soup or stew. Cover and store.

9. Guard your crust.

Don't burn your famous pumpkin pie—cover the edges with a ring cut out of aluminum foil to keep it from getting too brown.

10. Scrub burnt pots.

A ball of foil can get your dishes and cookware even cleaner—try it on glass casserole dishes or skillets.

Did you know? Demand was so high for aluminum foil during World War II that some movie theaters collected foil balls in exchange for free entry.