7 who-would-have-thought ways to use paper towels

Emily Hsieh, Shine staff

A friend just tipped me off to the fact that when she's out of coffee filters, she subs in paper towels in a pinch. Kind of genius, right? This got me thinking about the other ways to use paper towels besides the obvious (cleaning up spills and messes), so I compiled a few more ideas for broadening their utility. I'd love to know if you've got anything to add to this list too.

Seed Tester. If you found an old packet of seeds and want to check whether or not they're worth planting, take a cue from this grade school science experiment: Dampen a couple paper towels and sprinkle on a few seeds. Cover with a couple more wet paper towels. Make sure the towels stay moist over the course of a couple weeks-by the end, if most of the seeds have sprouted, you'll know they're worthy of your garden.

Wax Remover. If you have a bit of wax stuck on your carpet, layer on a couple paper towels over the spot and run a hot iron over them to transfer the wax onto the paper-and off your rug.

Corn De-Silker. Dampen a paper towel and use it to wipe down a cob of husked corn from top to bottom to remove all the threads.

Herb and Veggie Keepers. To make herbs and lettuces last longer, wash and store them wrapped in paper towels in big Ziploc bags in the fridge. The towel absorbs any excess moisture, helping them stay fresh. It's also a good idea to line the produce bins in your fridge with paper towels to keep veggies dry (and mold-free), and which makes the drawers from getting grimy too.

For Cooking Bacon. To spare yourself the mess that comes with pan frying bacon, try the paper towel/microwave method. Use two paper towels to create a bed for a layer of bacon in your microwave. Top the bacon with another couple sheets of paper towels. Cook on high for minute-long intervals and check for doneness-most likely they'll take 3-4 minutes to get crisp, and the towels do a great job of soaking up extra fat.

Can Opener Cleaner. In order to remove the clingy gunk that builds up on the wheel of your can opener, try clamping down on a paper towel and turning the wheel (basically as if you're trying to "open" a paper towel) to remove the crud.

Find more household tricks and inspiration at Make Home A Haven.