17 Ways to Use Coffee Filters That You Definitely Never Tried

Coffee filters aren’t just for coffee makers anymore. The inexpensive filters are perfect for tasks from the kitchen to the garden because of their bowl shape, strength when wet, absorbency, and they are lint-free.

We gathered 18 clever uses for coffee filters around the house, and after reading, we’ll bet you find many more reasons to keep the filters on hand.

Protect Dinnerware From Scratches

Constantly stacking dinnerware can cause tiny scratches on the surfaces that look unattractive and weaken the material. Place a single coffee filter between each plate when storing or moving dinnerware to help protect the finishes.

Catch Popsicle Drips and Taco Spills

Eating can be messy, but not if you keep some coffee filters on hand. Cut a small slit in the center of a filter so you can slip in the wooden stick of a popsicle before you hand it over to be enjoyed.

The round filters are also a perfect fit to hold a taco or burger if you’re standing up at a party or eating on the run in your car.

Prevent Rust on Cast Iron Pans

Dampness is the enemy of cast iron pans and cookware. After washing and drying your favorite pan, slip a coffee filter inside to absorb any moisture that might linger. A bonus is that the filter will protect the interior surface from scratches if you stack the pans.

No More Messy Hands When Baking

Most bakeware should be greased before adding the batter to prevent sticking. The process can result in messy hands but not if you use a coffee filter to spread the butter or shortening. Simply use the filter to evenly spread the butter, toss it in the trash, and keep on baking.

Absorb Grease From Foods

Most people use a paper towel to absorb excess grease from bacon, French fries, or fried chicken. But, a few coffee filters work just as well. Line a plate with the filters and watch them soak up the oil.

Make Glassware Sparkle

If your drinkware has spots after removing it from the dishwasher, use a coffee filter to make it shine. The filters are lint-free and slightly textured so they gently scrub away the minerals that leave water spots.

Tip

Coffee filters work well on shower doors and bathroom mirrors with water spots.

Save the Cost of a Plumber

Coffee filters won’t unclog a sink, but they can save you the cost of a plumber to remove the clog.

When cleaning vegetables or scraping plates after dinner, put a coffee filter over the drain. It will catch the small pieces of food and debris that might create a clog. When you are finished at the sink, gather up the filter and toss it away.

Remove Dust from Electronics Screens

The screens on electronics are sensitive and easily scratched by gritty cleaning clothes and stiff paper towels that can leave lint. Coffee filters are perfect for quick clean-ups of television, laptop, and gaming screens. Just use a light touch and dust and fingerprints will be gone.

Prevent Microwave Splatters

We’ve all done it; placed a dish of leftovers in the microwave uncovered and then discovered an oven filled with splatters. Use a coffee filter over foods to catch the mess before it happens.

Spout Some Seeds

If you enjoy fresh chia seed sprouts for salads or just want to get a head start on the successful planting of some types of seeds, use a coffee filter.

Dampen the filter, sprinkle on the seeds in a closed container (glass jar or plastic bag), and place in a warm spot. The seeds will sprout with ease.

Line a Plant Container

Drainage is essential in a plant container but you don’t want soil leaking out of the drainage holes. Whether you are planting a pot or a hanging basket, place a coffee filter (or a few) in the bottom of the container before you add the soil. The water will drain out easily but the soil will stay in place.

Shine Stainless Steel Until it Is Streak-free

After cleaning a stainless steel appliance or piece of cookware, use a coffee filter to buff the finish. Work in the direction of the grain and because the filters are lint-free, you’ll get a great shine.

Tip

After you clean a stainless steel kitchen sink, dry it with a coffee filter to prevent water spots and streaks.

Protect Treasured Holiday Ornaments

Even if you have customized containers for storing heirloom holiday ornaments, use a coffee filter to wrap each one to add protection from dust and scratches. The filters are inexpensive and easy to use. You’ll enjoy unwrapping each one year after year.

Coffee filters are the perfect last touch when cleaning windows. They will leave a lint-free, streak-free finish as you dry the glass. They also work great on car windows, mirrors, and glass tabletops.

Corral Small Pieces When Assembling Furniture

When you open a DIY furniture kit, use a coffee filter to hold the small screws and pieces. The bowl shape will help you keep them from rolling away and the filters are inexpensive enough that you can use several to sort the pieces. The same tip works great for kid’s game pieces.

Coffee filters work beautifully to absorb moisture when pressing flowers in a book or a flower press. The smooth texture will not leave “dimples” like some embossed paper towels and no dye transfer to delicate petals.

Make a Shoe Freshener

To help keep sneakers and shoes smelling fresh between washings, make some odor absorbers using coffee filters.

Put about one-fourth cup of baking soda in the center of a filter. Gather up the edges and tie them with some string or use a rubber band.

Place the pouches in the shoes to absorb odors. After about a month of use, toss the filters and make a fresh batch.

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Read the original article on The Spruce.