10 Ways You Can Reuse Aluminium Foil

Aluminium foil is probably one of the most versatile and useful mass-produced substances. Before it was produced, people used tin foil that was made using tin. However, tin transferred undesirable odours to food products and this is why developing an alternative became necessary.

If you visit a store or supermarket right now, you will come across hundreds of brands of aluminium foil products with different thicknesses and sizes. But one thing is common, they are durable as well as are capable of withstanding extreme heat and cold. Because of the foil’s durability, it can be used several times before it is discarded. However, many of us do not reuse the foil and do not even know that it can be recycled.

In the current world, recycling and reusing things multiple times has become extremely important. It is because disposing of such things would cause harm to the environment, and extracting or making them would also contribute to environmental decay. If all or even most of the aluminium products are reused, it would make a huge difference.

While cans and food containers are usually recycled, the aluminium foil is generally neither reused or recycled. Even the recycling centres do not accept the foil because usually, they are less clean. In order to recycle them, the centre will have to first clean them, which can be problematic for them.

People use aluminium foil for several purposes, such as covering a dish, as cover for pie crust or lasagna, etc. But the foil is hardly reused. You would be surprised to know that after washing the foil sheet, you can use it again. Read further to know how can you reuse aluminium foil.

1. Deter Garden Pests

If you put collars of the foil around a plant’s base or hand it in strips in your garden, it will help keep the birds, insects, and other animals away. All you have to do is wrap a foil strip around the plant’s base stem to prevent insects from crawling up.

Another way is to use the foil to create a barrier between any cracks or crevices in your door, walls, or near the windows. This would discourage the insects and rodents from entering your house.

2. Toys

If you have kids in your house, you can challenge the little ones to shape and then re-shape the foil to make it into metallic toys, such as robots, sailor hats, balls, spaceships, hot rods, etc. This will not only support reusing the foil but also force your child to use their imagination and create unusual toys for themselves. What’s more is that the toy can be reshaped and made into another one.

3. Scrubber

If you have dirty pans, pots, drills, or oven doors. you can clean them all using aluminium foil. How? Well, simply compress it, add baking soda to it, and then use it for cleaning. A bonus point is that it will also remove rust from chrome and steel.

4. Ironing

For improved ironing and flattening those adamant wrinkles, all you have to do is place a foil sheet under the ironing board cover. The foil reflects the iron’s temperature, heating the cloth from the bottom, and removing the wrinkles more effectively.

5. Cleaning Silver and Jewellery

Line a bowl with aluminium foil and add hot water to it. Then, add some bleach-free detergent powder or baking soda. Mix it well. Place the jewellery or silverware in it. Now simply wait for a minute. Remove the items from the solution and then let them air dry. This will clean your jewellery or silverware without even scrubbing them.

6. Sharpen Scissors

If you have dull pairs of scissors lying in your house, or you want a precise cut every time, this hack will help you. Just fold a used piece of foil seven to eight times. Then, using the scissors, cut it several times, or slice the blades multiple times over the folded foil strip.  You will end up with sharper blades in your scissors.

7. Re-Glue Vinyl Tiles

At times, self-stick vinyl tiles loosen as their glue reacts to fluctuations in temperature or moisture. If you have a loose tile, place aluminium foil above it and then iron it using the normal iron.

The iron may burn the tile in the absence of foil. By ironing the tile, the glue will melt and the tile will stick again. Put books or heavy weight over it or fasten it with tape until it cools and it should stuck firmly in place..

8. Catch Drippings or Ashes in the Fireplace or Grill

Take a used foil sheet and fold it in half to make it sturdy. Insert the folded sheet under your fireplace grate’s grill or even under your grill’s charcoal. Once you are done using the fireplace or grill, wait for it to cool and then gather the ashes in the foil and for easy cleaning.

9. While Painting

If you are painting your house or anything, use foil instead of duct tape on fixtures and doorknobs to protect them from dripping paint. You can use crumpled foil as well to add texture while you are painting a wall.

10. Reduce Static Cling

Make a two-inch tight ball from the used foil and toss it in the dryer with the wet clothes. This will help eliminate the annoying static cling.