Home New Uses for Old Things at Home Fresh Ways to Reuse Things in Your Kitchen Made Rice Krispies treats? Use the cut-out cereal box to carry them. (Read on for more genius tips.) By Real Simple Editors Real Simple Editors Facebook Instagram Twitter An article attributed to "Real Simple Editors" indicates a collaborative effort from our in-house team. Sometimes, several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The REAL SIMPLE team strives to make life easier for you. They are experts in their fields who research, test and clearly explain the best recipes, strategies, trends and products. They have worked for some of the most prestigious brands in lifestyle journalism, including Apartment Therapy, Better Homes & Gardens, Food & Wine, the Food Network, Good Housekeeping, InStyle, Martha Stewart Living, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parents, POPSUGAR, Rachel Ray Every Day, and Vogue. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 1, 2019 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Getty Images From using ice cream cones as cupcake holders to re-purposing last night's to-go container as a paint palette, new uses for old kitchen items offer clever ways to reuse and upcycle—rather than throw out—kitchenware and kitchen gadgets sitting around the cookspace. Kitchens cabinets and cupboards can easily be cluttered with kitchen tools and equipment,cookbooks, and other miscellanea. This isn't a bad thing at all—many of these kitchen items make life so much simpler—but it can be a little frustrating when a one-trick kitchen tool takes up a lot of storage real estate while only serving a single purpose. That purpose or function may be important, but that doesn't mean it does anything to lessen frustrations, especially when kitchen storage spots are full to bursting. The 5 Cleverest Products Spotted in the 2021 Real Simple Home This is where new uses for old things in the kitchen come in handy. These upcycling ideas give a second (or even a third or a fourth) purpose to common kitchen items, so everything is an efficient multitasker. No more agonizing over how much space a muffin tin takes up or wondering if it's worth it to keep those to-go containers around. No more guilty feelings every time something gets tossed. With new uses for kitchen items, everything will have a second life serving another purpose, either while it's still in use for its original purpose or once its original usefulness is up. Put these clever new uses and upcycling ideas to work in the kitchen, and then give the upcycling philosophy a try in other areas—office supplies,school supplies, and more all have their own creative repurposing opportunities to help reduce waste and increase the usefulness of everything in the home. 9 Genius Ways to Use Olive Oil Around the House 01 of 100 Dish Towel as Wine Bag James Baigrie Place the bottle along one side of the fabric so that the bottle's top meets the top of the fabric. Fold the excess material at the bottom over the bottle, forming a pocket of sorts. Then roll the dish towel evenly and secure at the neck with ribbon. 02 of 100 Cocktail Shaker as Egg Scrambler John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Whip up fluffy omelets by adding eggs, milk, and seasonings together in a cocktail mixer. Give it a few shakes and it's ready for the skillet. Submitted by: suziegirl 03 of 100 Baby Food Jar as Easter Egg Decorating Aid Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran Design Rothkoesque Easter eggs. Fill a jar with dye, then dip half the egg in and let dry. Dip again, but only one-third of the egg. Repeat with both ends of the egg until you have stripes in varying shades. Need a quick refresher on how to dye Easter eggs? Watch this quick video to learn how to hard-boil an egg, then check out these homemade Easter egg dye recipes. 04 of 100 White Bread as Glass Magnet Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran The next time a tumbler takes a tumble, sponge up the shards with a slice of bread. Even tiny slivers will cling to it. 05 of 100 Cereal Box as Sweets Carrier Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran Attention, PTA members: Here's a practical Transport Alternative for the bake sale. Tape a cereal box closed, then cut away the front or back panel to create a tray for those top-selling brownies. Best of all, you can just "donate" the box. 06 of 100 Colander as Knitting Assistant Jamie Chung To prevent balls of yarn from tangling, string the end of each through a colander hole. 07 of 100 Wine Corks as Cabinet Silencers Gemma Comas and James Merrell Silence cabinet doors that slam by slicing a cork into thin disks and sticking them onto the inside corners of cabinets to muzzle the closing noise. 08 of 100 Chopsticks as Glue Stick Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran To get a tiny sequin in just the right spot during your next craft project, use the tip of a chopstick to nudge it into place without gumming up your fingers. 09 of 100 Gift Box as Sugar Holder Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino More lovely to look at than the branded box from the store, but it still slides easily into the pantry for storage. 10 of 100 Holiday Tags as Drink Labels Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino Merlot gone missing? A small, adhesive gift tag keeps each drink in the right hand. 11 of 100 Colander as Toy Scoop Erica McCartney; Styling: Kristine Trevino One of the most popular kitchen tools also happens to double as a clean-up aid. Before draining the tub, use a colander to make scooping up small toys fun and easy. 12 of 100 Colander as Splatter Blocker Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran When frying, top the pan with an upside-down metal colander to protect yourself from burns while still allowing heat to escape. 13 of 100 Wrapping Paper as Placemat Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino Turn rectangles of giftwrap into placemats you don't mind getting dirty. You can even write guests' names on the edges to designate seats. 14 of 100 Rubber Band as Jar Opener Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino Get a grip on a tricky top; wrap a rubber band around a slippery or sticky lid to give yourself some extra oomph. 15 of 100 To-Go Container as Paint Palette Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino Even a starving artist eats takeout sometimes. Use the plastic top from a to-go container as a palette for mixing colors; when you're finished, just toss. 16 of 100 Cupcake Liner as Mason Jar Lining Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino Secure a cupcake liner over the top of a jar with a rubber band. It can be a temporary fix if you've lost the lid, a pretty solution to keep flies out of the lemonade, or a cute topper for a gift-in-a-jar. 17 of 100 Tic Tac Box as Spice Holder Erica McCartney; Styling: Kristine Trevino Pack small amounts of your favorite spice (red pepper flakes, anyone?) in old Tic Tac boxes, to season food on-the-go. 18 of 100 Use a Wineglass as a Candleholder Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino Give some height to a candle display by perching a pillar on an upside-down wineglass. 19 of 100 Paper Towel Tube as Linen Organizer Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino Keep linen placemats and runners crease-free; roll them around a paper towel holder instead of folding. 20 of 100 Wrapping Paper as Tray Liner Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino Turn an old tray into a special serving piece with a single scrap of pretty paper. Use double-sided tape to keep it secure. 21 of 100 Holiday Lights as Night Light Levi Brown Fill a large Mason jar with a strand or two of battery-powered lights to add whimsy to a walkway or a nightstand. 22 of 100 Cereal Bag as Crumb Maker Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran These durable bags can take a beating. Fill one up and give it a whack with a rolling pin to make crumbs out of crackers, cornflakes, or candy. Remember to twist the top closed to prevent flyaways. 23 of 100 Ribbon as Utensil Holder Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino When utensils are wrapped together, guests can grab what they need in one go—great for a buffet table. 24 of 100 Cupcake Liners as Garland Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino Using a large sewing needle, thread a string through the alternating colorful cupcake liners to make a ruffled garland. 25 of 100 Cereal Box as Photo Saver Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran. Photo in box: Renee Keith/Getty Images Sending Grandpa a shot of the all-star soccer team but don't want the postal journey to bend it (like Beckham)? Sandwich the picture between the large panels of a flattened box. 26 of 100 Turkey Baster as Pancake Shaper Levi Brown Use a baster full of batter to squeeze custom pancakes onto the griddle. Start with easy letters and shapes, then work up to more complicated designs, like these leaves. (The trick is to draw the outlines and veins first, let them brown, then fill in the gaps with more batter.) 27 of 100 Muffin Tin as Large Ice Cube Tray Levi Brown The cold, hard truth: Small ice cubes melt fast, leaving a pitcher of lemonade watery. To make long-lasting jumbo cubes, use a muffin tin. Pop them out by running the back of the tin under hot water for 30 seconds. 28 of 100 Chopstick as Brewing Tool Levi Brown For mess-free tea, tie a bunch of bags to a chopstick and rest it across the pitcher's rim (use 2 bags per cup of boiling water). Brew for about 4 minutes, then lift and discard the bags. 29 of 100 Contact Lens Case as Travel Spice Holder Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran Pack small amounts of salt, pepper, and spices for a camping trip. 30 of 100 Binder Clip as Sponge Stand Levi Brown To prevent a smelly, waterlogged sponge, air-dry it in a binder clip away from the sink. 31 of 100 Rubber Bands as Sandwich Labels Levi Brown Distinguishing chicken salad from tuna is no picnic. Next time you're packing sandwiches, stretch a thick rubber band around each one and label it with a permanent marker. Divvying up lunch will be a snap. 32 of 100 Chopsticks as Lint Remover Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran Pluck the lint buildup from a clothes dryer's trap. 33 of 100 Cupcake Liners as Candleholders Levi Brown Nothing holds a candle to dining al fresco, unless it's so dark you can't see the food in front of you. Place tealights in foil cupcake liners for a little glow at your next outdoor party. They're cheap enough to use by the dozen, and cleanup is a piece of (cup)cake. 34 of 100 Bowl as Garlic Peeler Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran Peel garlic. Place cloves in a bowl, cover with another bowl to form a sphere, and shake. The peels will flake off. 35 of 100 Salt as Iron Cleaner Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran Eliminate sticky residue from an iron. Run the hot iron (no steam) over plain paper sprinkled with salt. 36 of 100 Colander as Laundry Aid Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran Hand-launder delicates. A colander shields them from any residue in the sink that can harm the fabric, such as peroxide from toothpaste or caustic agents from cleansers. 37 of 100 Sponge as Envelope Sealer Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran Safeguard your taste buds during holiday card season. Replace a dried out ink pad with a damp sponge and use it to seal envelopes and attach stamps—no licking required. 38 of 100 Salt as Homemade Drain Cleaner Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran Get a slow-moving drain flowing again and pour a solution of ½ cup of salt for every quart of hot water down the pipe. 39 of 100 Newspaper as Refrigerator Odor Absorber Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran Absorb odors in the refrigerator's vegetable drawer with a lining of newspaper. 40 of 100 Olive Oil as Sap Remover Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran If dragging and decking out fresh spruce leaves you with sticky digits, pour a tablespoon of oil onto a cloth, then rub until clean. Bonus: The oil is a great moisturizer for dry winter skin. 41 of 100 Aluminum Foil as Party Garland Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran Twist foil into links to make a sparkly garland for an almost-instant party decoration (or a rainy-day distraction for the kids). 42 of 100 How to Clean Stainless Steel Without Any Chemicals At All Getty Images Both durable and shiny, stainless steel is the ideal material for kitchens and bathroom. But as anyone who's owned stainless steel kitchen appliances knows, the name is somewhat of a misnomer. The material is prone to fingerprints, streaks, and water stains. The name "stainless" was originally used to describe the metal's ability to withstand heat and humidity without corroding. Although this material is tough, harsh abrasives can scratch it or make it rust, so it's important to learn how to clean stainless steel the right way. Follow the steps below to get your stainless steel shiny and have it live up to its name. Cleaning Kitchen Appliances Checklist Soft clothMild dish soap White vinegar Baking soda 1. Check the manual: Before you clean a stainless steel appliance, it's a smart idea to check the manufacturer's recommendations. Lost the manual? Don't worry, you may be able to find it online. It's important to check the directions for your specific appliance, because there are numerous grades of stainless steel that may be more or less durable, and some appliances are treated with a clear-coat finish, which can be stripped by certain cleaning products. 2. Go with the grain: Just like wood, stainless steel has a grain. Check out the striations on the surface of your appliance, and wipe in that direction, beginning at the top and working your way down. 3. The quick clean: In most cases, wiping down the stainless steel appliance with a clean cloth dipped in hot water should do the trick. But for more stubborn stains, add a drop of dish soap to the water and use the sudsy solution to wipe the surface. Rinse with water and dry thoroughly. 4. The steam clean: To sterilize stainless steel, you can also use a steam cleaner with a nozzle attachment. The steam will disinfect the surface, which can then be wiped dry with a soft cloth. Because stainless steel can scratch easily, avoid using a brush attachment or any stiff cleaning tools. 5. Try vinegar: For stubborn grease spots or water scaling, wet a soft cloth with a diluted solution of 2 parts water to 1 part vinegar. Wipe the entire surface from top to bottom, but never let vinegar sit on the surface. Follow with a complete rinse and dry. 6. Baking soda scrub: Burned or caked-on messes on stainless steel pots and pans or countertops typically need a bit more attention. Make a soft paste out of baking soda and water and apply to the stain, allowing it to sit for about 20 minutes. Then, scrub the area with a cloth dampened in a solution of water and dish soap. It's important to use a soft cloth and work parallel with the grain to avoid scratches. Be sure to fully rinse and dry. 43 of 100 Olive Oil as Cat Food Supplement Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran Prevent hair balls. Add ⅛ to 1¼ teaspoon to your cat's food for easy digestion. 44 of 100 Salt as Stain Remover Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran Remove coffee and tea stains from the insides of cups by rubbing with a salted citrus peel. 45 of 100 Parchment Paper as Musical Instrument Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran Make a kazoo by folding a piece of parchment or wax paper over a comb's teeth (the paper should hang over about an inch). 46 of 100 Cornstarch as Makeup Protector Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran Balance the oiliness of moisturizing makeup. Brush on a thin layer as a finishing touch. 47 of 100 Felt Pads as Cutting Board Anchor Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran Anchor a cutting board's corners to make prep work easier and safer. 48 of 100 Soda Bottle as Pasta Measurer James Wojcik Said good-bye to soda? Fill the mouth of a dry 20-ounce bottle with uncooked spaghetti; the opening holds enough for a hearty single serving. 49 of 100 Belt Hanger as Kitchen Towel Hooks John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Hook extra dish towels and pot holders on a belt hanger for easy retrieval. 50 of 100 Binder Clip as Chip Clip John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Secure half-eaten bags of potato chips with a binder clip for an easy way to keep your favorite snack fresh and crunchy. 51 of 100 Cake Stand as Soap Dish John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Glam up a bathroom or vanity. Stock soaps and washcloths on top, or showcase your prettiest perfume bottles. 52 of 100 Cereal Box as Drawer Organizer Levi Brown If you're the flaky type, cereal boxes (including the single-serving minis) can corral desk-drawer chaos. Slice off the tops and the bottoms and fill them with loose odds and ends. 53 of 100 Pipe Cleaners as Drink Labels John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Skip the fancy wine charms and use an array of brightly colored pipe cleaners to identify guests' drinks at your next get-together. Submitted by: LassieBV 54 of 100 Collapsible Laundry Bins as Garbage Bins John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran During seasonal cleaning binges, soft-sided, handled laundry bins can double as trash cans. Submitted by: HookemSuz 55 of 100 Chip Clip as Bookmark John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Attaching a chip clip to each side of your cookbook will not only keep your place while whipping up dinner, it will also help keep the book open. Submitted by: kriehl5 56 of 100 Silverware Holder as Bathroom Drawer Organizer John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Use a utensil tray in your bathroom drawer to keep small items like tweezers, nail clippers, and makeup brushes organized. Submitted by: Margaret2580 57 of 100 Melon Baller as Jar Scoop John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Scoop and strain from a narrow-mouth jar at the same time by using a melon baller. Works especially well for foods like capers and pimento. Submitted by: KimEH1 58 of 100 Sugar Dispenser as Kitchen Twine Holder John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Keep kitchen twine from tangling and jamming your drawers by using a glass sugar dispenser as a spool. Simply place the twine in the jar and thread through the open hole. 59 of 100 Cake Stand as Counter Organizer John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Curb countertop clutter. Drop keys and bills on the stand instead. 60 of 100 Plastic Easter Eggs as DIY Maracas John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Fill emptied plastic eggs with puffed rice cereal and silver-ball cake decorations to make impromptu maracas for kids. 61 of 100 Cupcake Liner as Decorative Snowflakes John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Create a winter wonderland in the entryway. Flatten white paper liners (foil ones will work, too), fold into halves or quarters, then snip out shapes along the folds. When you open them back up, voilà: snowflakes you can string from the ceiling. 62 of 100 Votive Candle Holders as Place Cards John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Arrange a luminous table setting. Write guests' names on strips of parchment paper and wrap them around votive holders, securing the ends with tape. As an alternative, remove the candles, cut snapshots of guests to match the height of a holder, and then curl around the inside wall. 63 of 100 Cupcake Liner as Halloween Decoration John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Show what a creative Halloween party "ghost-ess" you are. Turn white liners upside down, attach spooky googly eyes, and display them by a boo-fet of seasonally inspired treats. 64 of 100 Pastry Tip as Place Card John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Set a sweet table and use scalloped pastry tips in fun colors as place-card holders. 65 of 100 Gravy Boat as Unique Soap Dish John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Fill an antique gravy boat with a bar of soap to transform it into an elegant soap dish. 66 of 100 Cake Stand as Display Stand John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Show off. Display small photos and mementos, which look more important on a platform. 67 of 100 Drink Holder as Fruit Protector John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran Rough commute? Slide a drink cooler over an apple to keep it from bruising in your lunch tote. 68 of 100 Cupcake Carrier as Knickknack Organizer James Wojcik For the 359 days of the year when you're not hauling cupcakes, use the cups to store jewelry or craft supplies. 69 of 100 Straw as Ketchup Unclogger James Wojcik Insert a straw until it reaches the bottom of the glass bottle. Shake the bottle, then pour, leaving the straw inside. The airflow provided by the straw breaks the condiment-stopping vacuum. 70 of 100 Paper Doily as a Cake Decoration James Wojcik You baked the cake. Now you're expected to frost it, too? Take a break from the sticky stuff and use a doily to stencil on a pretty sugar topping. Press a doily flat on top of a round cake and, using a fine-mesh sieve, sprinkle confectioners' sugar liberally over the surface. Use two hands to carefully remove the doily post-dusting. 71 of 100 Beer Koozie as Shaving-Cream Holder James Wojcik Protect your bathtub rim from rust rings by slipping this foamy college relic over a can of Barbasol (rather than Budweiser). 72 of 100 Zippered Plastic Bag as Pencil Case James Wojcik Always have your pencils and PTA notes (or toddler's crayons and doodle paper) in the same spot: Just punch holes along the nonzippered edge of a sandwich bag, then click it into a three-ring binder. 73 of 100 Coffee Beans as Pie Weights James Wojcik When prebaking a piecrust, use beans to keep it from puffing up or shrinking into the pie plate: Line the bottom and sides of the cold dough with foil and fill to the brim with beans. 74 of 100 Ice Cream Scoop as Sand-Castle Tool James Wojcik An ice cream scoop deposits perfect domes for a Taj Mahal (or a yurt). 75 of 100 Clipboard as Place-Mat Holder James Wojcik Hang a clipboard on the wall (or inside a cabinet) to clamp down on place mats—and that old "I can't find them!" excuse from the person setting the table. 76 of 100 Aluminum Foil as Wrinkle Remover Quentin Bacon To get wrinkles out of silk, wool, and rayon clothes that can't take direct heat, place a piece of foil on your ironing board, then lay the garment flat over it. With the steam button down, pass the iron three to four inches over the fabric several times. Wet heat radiating from the foil helps smooth out wrinkles. 77 of 100 Aluminum Foil as Fixture Protector Quentin Bacon Protect doorknobs and hardware in the kitchen and bathroom when you're painting by wrapping foil around them to catch dribbles. The foil molds to the shape of whatever it's covering and stays firmly in place until the job is complete. 78 of 100 Aluminum Foil as Glassware Scrubber Quentin Bacon To get baked-on food off a glass pan or an oven rack, use dishwashing liquid and a ball of foil in place of a steel-wool soap pad, says Mary Findley, president of the cleaning-products developer Mary Moppins. It's one way to recycle those used but perfectly good pieces of foil you hate to throw out. 79 of 100 Aluminum Foil as a Funnel Aya Brackett Fashion a funnel of foil to neatly transfer salad dressings or condiments from tacky plastic bottles to pretty carafes or back again. Place it in the bottle and pour away. 80 of 100 Aluminum Foil as a Piecrust Protector Quentin Bacon To prevent a piecrust from burning while the filling cooks, make a foil collar to deflect heat. Take a piece of foil about 25 inches long, fold it into thirds lengthwise, and fasten the ends with a paper clip. Halfway into the baking, slip the collar over the crust (as shown). Leave it on until the pie is done. 81 of 100 Aluminum Foil as a Grilling Helper Quentin Bacon Really hot grill bars equal dramatic grill marks on your porterhouse. To concentrate the heat and keep it from escaping, lay a sheet of foil over the grill for 10 minutes. Peel the foil off just before cooking, scrunch it into a ball (it cools fast), and use it later to scrape any residue or ash from the bars. 82 of 100 Baking Sheet as a Memo Board Monica Buck Set the baking sheet inside a 16-inch plate hanger mounted to the wall. Make sure the sheet is magnetic—so good ideas will stick. 83 of 100 Baking Soda as Silver Polish Beatriz da Costa To polish silver: Wash items, then place on aluminum foil in the bottom of a pot. Add a baking-soda solution (¼ cup soda, a few teaspoons salt, 1 quart boiling water) and cover for a few seconds. The result? A chemical reaction that gets the black off the gravy boat. 84 of 100 Baking Soda as Hair Cleanser David Prince If daily use of mousse or gel is weighing down your locks, add a pinch or two of baking soda to your shampoo once a week to remove product buildup. Getting squeaky-clean strands is a piece of cake. 85 of 100 Bundt Pan as Corn Holder Aya Brackett Cut corn from the cob without the mess. Place an ear in the center of a Bundt pan. As you slide the knife down, the corn will fall right into the pan. 86 of 100 Mold Ice With a Bundt Pan John Lawton Give a punch bowl an elegant (and functional) touch with this floating ice sculpture. Simply fill the cake pan with water (or nonalcoholic punch), freeze, and pop out before serving. 87 of 100 Bundt Pan as Vertical Roaster Jim Cooper For a juicy bird that's crispy all the way around, first layer potatoes, carrots, and onions on the bottom of the pan. Then season the chicken and place in the pan with the cavity over the center hole. Set the dish on a cookie sheet to collect any drippings and roast as usual. 88 of 100 Cake Stand as Candle Holder James Merrell Create a candle centerpiece to light up your wedding (or you dinner table) by using cake stands as platforms for votive and pillar candles in assorted sizes. 89 of 100 Cake Stand as Appetizer Server Thayer Allyson Gowdy To cut down on waiting time for hors d'oeuvres, stack a small cake stand on top of a larger one to increase your surface area for canapés or crudités and free up precious table space. 90 of 100 Can as Biscuit Cutter Antonis Achilleos Most biscuit cutters make overly wide biscuits, anyway―more beret than top hat. Use a tomato-paste can to achieve the proper size. First, scoop out the paste and freeze it in Tupperware or a storage bag. Then remove both the top and the bottom with a can opener and wash the interior. To prevent sticking, dip the can in flour before each cut. 91 of 100 Cast-Iron Pan as Recipe Board John Lawton Hang a skillet on a kitchen wall and you'll have a convenient magnetic spot to display recipes, important reminders, and anything else your brain is too, well, fried to remember. 92 of 100 Chalk as Tarnish Prevention Monica Buck Slow the tarnish on your good silver by tying up a few moisture-absorbing pieces in cheesecloth and store them with your cutlery for shinier flatware that reflects well on you in no time flat. 93 of 100 Champagne Flutes as Candle Stands Monica Buck If you find yourself with a mismatched collection―or without bubbly―flip thick-walled Champagne flutes upside down to create a beautiful grouping of candle stands for a shelf or a mantel. Use heavy wineglasses for table centerpieces, as the wider mouths will provide more stability to withstand bumping. 94 of 100 Chip Clips as Clothes Hangers Aimee Herring Hold small coats in place on adult-size hangers. Use clips with rubberized grips to help items stay put. Not only will you have an organized coat closet, but you'll save money by not having to buy special kids' hangers. 95 of 100 Chopsticks as Flour Leveler Mark Lund Use a chop stick to easily level flour in a measuring cup. Leave it in the flour canister and you won't have to rummage for a clean knife. 96 of 100 Coffee Filter as Wine Strainer Mark Weiss When the cork crumbles, salvage a bottle of wine by slowly pouring it through a filter into a pitcher or carafe. That way your $25 Fume Blanc won't go down the drain. 97 of 100 Coffee Filter as Yogurt Strainer Rick Lew For a dip that doesn't taste watered down, strain your yogurt before using it. Secure a paper coffee filter over the mouth of a deep cup or jar with a rubber band then pour in some yogurt. Any liquid in the yogurt will drain through the filter. 98 of 100 Colander as Ice Bucket Aya Brackett Make ice cubes last longer at your next cocktail party: Put them in a colander set into a bowl. As they melt, the water will drain through the holes instead of sitting and turning the ice to slush. 99 of 100 Cookie Cutters as Cake Decorating Stencils Beatriz da Costa To stencil designs on frosted or unfrosted cakes, place cookie cutters on top and fill with sprinkles, powdered sugar, or cocoa powder. (Warning: This technique may convince guests you've taken a master class in cake decorating.) 100 of 100 Cooking Spray as Candlestick Cleaner James Baigrie Celebrating by candlelight? Spray the inside of a votive holder with a thin coating before dropping in a tea light. After the candle has burned down, the remaining wax will slip out. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit