25 Creative Uses for Coffee Filters Around the House
Most people think coffee filters only belong in the coffee maker, but these inexpensive household staples are surprisingly versatile. If you're looking for frugal living hacks, you'll love these creative uses for coffee filters. Best of all, you can pick up a large package at your local dollar store for just a few dollars!
1. Cover Food in the Microwave
Use a coffee filter as a splatter guard when heating food in the microwave. It helps keep your microwave clean without the need for plastic wrap.
2. Clean Windows and Mirrors
Because coffee filters are lint-free, they're perfect for cleaning windows, mirrors, and chrome surfaces without leaving streaks behind.
3. Protect Fine China
Place a coffee filter between dishes when storing fine china to help prevent scratches and chips.
4. Remove Broken Cork from Wine
If a cork crumbles into your wine bottle, simply pour the wine through a coffee filter to catch the pieces.
5. Prevent Rust in Cast-Iron Pans
Place a coffee filter inside your cast-iron skillet before storing it. It absorbs moisture and helps prevent rust.
6. Apply Shoe Polish
A balled-up coffee filter works well for applying and buffing shoe polish.
7. Reuse Frying Oil
Strain used cooking oil through a coffee filter to remove food particles before storing it for future use.
8. Weigh Chopped Ingredients
Place chopped vegetables, fruit, or herbs in a coffee filter when weighing ingredients on a kitchen scale.
9. Hold Tacos and Other Messy Foods
Coffee filters make handy holders for tacos, sandwiches, and other foods that tend to drip or crumble.
10. Keep Soil in Plant Pots
Line the bottom of flower pots with a coffee filter to prevent soil from escaping through drainage holes.
11. Catch Popsicle Drips
Poke a hole through the center of a coffee filter and slide it onto a Popsicle stick to catch sticky drips.
12. DIY Waxing Strips
In a pinch, coffee filters can be used as an alternative to waxing strips for small areas.
13. Absorb Grease from Fried Foods
Place fried foods like bacon, French fries, or chicken fingers on coffee filters to soak up excess grease.
14. Stop Razor Nicks from Bleeding
A small piece of coffee filter can help stop minor shaving cuts from bleeding.
15. Use as Sewing Backing
Coffee filters work well as temporary backing when embroidering or appliquéing delicate fabrics.
16. Freshen Shoes and Closets
Fill a coffee filter with baking soda, tie it closed, and place it in shoes or closets to help absorb odors.
17. Strain Soup Stock
Use coffee filters to strain homemade stock or bundle herbs for soups and stews.
18. Create a Spill-Free Funnel
Place a coffee filter inside a funnel when adding fluids to your vehicle to help catch debris and reduce spills.
19. Use as a Spoon Rest
Set cooking utensils on a coffee filter while preparing meals, then simply throw it away when finished.
20. Hold Baking Ingredients
Use coffee filters to hold pre-measured baking ingredients, chopped vegetables, or fruit while cooking.
21. Protect Christmas Ornaments
Wrap delicate ornaments in coffee filters before storing them away for the season.
22. Remove Nail Polish
Out of cotton balls? Coffee filters work surprisingly well for removing nail polish.
23. Sprout Seeds
Dampen a coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it up, and seal it in a plastic bag until the seeds begin to sprout.
24. Press Flowers
Use coffee filters as blotting paper when pressing flowers. Place flowers between two filters and weigh them down with a heavy book.
25. Make Disposable Snack Bowls
Coffee filters are perfect for serving popcorn, chips, crackers, and other snacks at parties or movie nights. Or you could even use them to line these food baskets!
And of course, coffee filters still make great coffee! But as you can see, there are plenty of creative uses for coffee filters beyond your morning brew. From cleaning and organizing to gardening and cooking, this inexpensive item can be used in countless practical ways around the house while helping you save money at the same time.
Here are 7 smart uses for mason jars that you’re sure to love!
Mason jars can be found in almost any store these days. While they are easy to find brand new, thrift stores and garage sales are also great places to find older mason jars in great shape.
But for starters, many of us will already have some empty mason jars around the house. Even empty glass pickle jars are useful! Here are some inventive and fun ways to reuse empty mason jars.
Mason Jars for Bathroom Storage
Mason jars are also great for storing bathroom supplies like cotton balls, cotton swabs, makeup sponges and even little soaps. You can also store bobby pins. I have found they are especially great to hold makeup brushes or toothbrushes.
Mason Jar Sewing Kit
All you need to create a mason jar sewing kit is fabric, batting, spray paint and of course the mason jars. Here is how to make them:
Spray the lid whatever color you want it to be.
Then, use the lid of the mason jar to draw a circle on the fabric; you want the circle to be about an inch wider then the jar.
Cut the fabric circle out.
Turn the lid upside down and place it on the fabric circle. Using a hot glue gun put a line of hot glue almost all the way around the lid and start folding the fabric over onto the lid bunching it as you go. When you are about 3/4 of the way around the lid, take the batting and stuff it into the opening of the fabric so it is on the top of the lid. You want it to be even and poofy. Now glue the last section of the fabric to the lid.
Now on the outer piece (the rim) you will need to make a line of hot glue. Press the fabric covered section of the lid into the outer piece and let it dry.
Now you can fill the inside of your jar with sewing essentials like thread, thimbles, sewing needles, mini scissors, buttons… etc. Once you’ve filled it, screw the lid onto the jar. Because of the fabric, the lid will be a little difficult to screw on. Now you have a beautiful little sewing kit with a pin cushion lid! These make great little gifts for teachers, moms or anyone really! They’re handy to keep in the car in case you have a little fashion emergency that requires a little sewing, such as a button that has popped off. (or a broken soccer shin pad in my husband’s case!)
Mason Jars for Pantry Storage
Mason jars are great for pantry storage solutions. Make your own labels and use them to organize your pantry. (I love these printable Chalkboard ones from Lia Griffith.) The larger mason jars are great for items like pasta or rice. Mason jars are a great solution because they’re decorative and because they’re made of glass, so you can see exactly what’s in them.
Mason Jar Cookie or Soup Gift
This is a simple gift idea that can look beautiful when everything is carefully layered in a mason jar. The best way to layer the ingredients for chocolate chip cookies, for example, is to start with an ingredient like flour and add the other white ingredients like baking soda, baking powder and salt which will mix in with the flour. Next, add the quick oats or M&Ms or chocolate chips. Finally, add the brown sugar and/or white sugar. Tie a ribbon around the top of the jar and add a tag with the directions on what wet ingredients they will need and directions on how to bake the cookies.
For the soups you can add different beans or noodles and other spices and dry ingredients the soup calls for. Again, layer the ingredients in a way that it looks visually appealing. Don’t forget the instructions on how to cook the soup.
Mason Jar Gift Containers
Mason jars make great little gift containers for things like a DIY manicure kit. Just get all the manicure must-haves like a few different shades of nail polish and some nail art supplies. You can find some super cute nail art supplies at dollar stores or Amazon. Take everything out of the packages so it will fit into the jar better. Then, to fancy it up a bit, wrap some of the smaller items in tissue paper and tie it shut with a little thin ribbon or twine. Add a few cotton swabs and cotton balls and you have your manicure in a jar all ready to give as a wonderful gift!
Mason Jar Luminaries
This idea is so simple and beautiful! Simply grab a mason jar and a string of battery operated fairy lights. Place the lights into the jar, then turn them on and place anywhere around the house or even on the deck!
Mason Jar Apple Pies
Apple pie in jars? It’s true! You can make adorable mini apple pies in mason jars! I have another blog post with instructions on how to make Mini Apple Pies in jars.
Have you seen this neat organization idea? If you want to free up a drawer in your kitchen, use some magazine files and command strips to hold your tin foil, plastic wrap and more!
