Simple Paper Towel Hacks You Need To Try Around The Home
Whether you're drying your hands after washing dishes or cleaning germs off a kitchen counter during chicken prep, paper towels are an indispensable kitchen tool. In addition to their absorbency, paper towels are extremely convenient, making them the ideal choice for a wide variety of tasks, many of which you may not have even thought of before. Because about 90% of paper towel manufacturers create their rolls with recycled fibers, you can feel good about finding a whole host of uses for this product.
Paper towels are so versatile and inexpensive that you can utilize them around the home to make a host of typical daily chores easier. They work brilliantly to prevent grease splatter and can keep fruits and vegetables fresh longer. Additionally, you can transform paper towels into mini–ice packs or use them to quickly remove stains from storage containers. So, if you're looking for new ways to save time and energy, give these paper towel hacks a try!
To pour paint without the mess
Whether you're giving the living room walls a new vibe or transforming the look of an old dresser, pouring paint to begin the process can result in quite a mess. Paint often rolls down the side of the paint can, no matter how quickly and efficiently you try to stop it. It also gets down in the rim, which can cause the lid to stick later on. One way to avoid this and keep your workstation clean is to wrap a few paper towel sheets around the rim of the paint can.
Grab a few paper towel sheets and fold them in half. Tuck the sheets into the rim of the paint can. You'll want to cover halfway around the rim on the side of the can where you plan to pour. Then, pour the paint into your paint tray. When you're done, remove and toss the paper towels. This method isn't foolproof, however, so make sure you always set your painting supplies over a drop cloth or a piece of plastic to protect your flooring.
To quicken drying times after cleaning white tennis shoes
White tennis shoes are comfortable and match just about every outfit, making them an essential part of many a wardrobe. Unfortunately, however, their bright white color reveals every scuff mark and speck of dirt, making it necessary to clean the shoes often. After you've cleaned them, you'll need to wait for them to dry completely before wearing them again. If you're in a hurry, there is a paper towel hack you can use to speed up the drying time.
Take your wet tennis shoes and wrap each of them in a paper towel. You'll most likely need a few sheets to fit all the way around each shoe. Set the sneakers in the sun so that the absorbency of the paper towels can work in tandem with the sun's natural drying power to hasten their drying times. Paper towel sheets may also help to keep dust from adhering to the shoes during the drying process.
Note: If you're worried that your sneakers might lose their shape as they dry, you can stuff a few paper towel sheets down inside the sneakers.
To keep your microwave clean when cooking bacon
Because bacon can take quite a while to cook on a stovetop or in an oven, many hungry individuals resort to preparing the delicious breakfast staple in the microwave. When bacon is heated, however, the grease releases with a splatter. This leaves the microwave a mess from top to bottom. To avoid the hassle of cleaning the greasy microwave, all you need to do is implement a simple paper towel hack.
Grab a microwave-safe plate and set two paper towel sheets over it. If you have paper plates, you can use them as long as you double them up. Add the slices of bacon, making sure the pieces aren't overlapping. Cover the bacon with one paper towel sheet and go ahead and cook the bacon in the microwave. Afterward, simply toss the paper towel sheets and enjoy your breakfast. The microwave will be just as clean as it was before you prepared your dish.
To clean an electric grill
Electric grills are super convenient, allowing for families to create a host of grilled foods indoors when the weather isn't ideal for outdoor barbecuing. The downside to electric grills is the time it takes to clean them when food particles have adhered to their grease runoff channels. One TikToker revealed that a few paper towel sheets can simplify the cleaning process, so you can spend more time enjoying your meal and less time washing up.
Allow your electric grill to cool so that it is still warm but not hot enough to burn you. Place a paper towel sheet over the grill's interior and then pour a little water over the sheet. Close the lid and wait 10 minutes. After 10 minutes have passed, you can quickly wipe away all the grease and remaining food particles with the paper towel. Add a little hot water and a drip of dish soap to a sponge and wipe down the grill again. This will lift away any remaining grease residue. Wipe the grill with a clean, damp paper towel one final time and rinse away the soap.
To start the coals in a charcoal grill
Whether you love camping or simply enjoy cooking hot dogs in the backyard with the kids, you'll want to start the coals in your charcoal grill using a natural method. Lighter fluid is extremely effective, but it's made using harsh chemicals that are not only harmful to humans, but also add an unpleasant taste to the food. To ignite the coals without lighter fluid, all you need are a few paper towel sheets, some olive oil, and a flame.
Take two paper towel sheets and cover them in olive oil. Lay the paper towels over the base of the grill and then set your coals directly in the center. Use a flame to ignite each of the four corners of the paper towel. Pour a little extra olive oil over the top of the coals and wait 15 minutes. The coals will then be hot enough to cook your favorite foods.
To quickly clean and dispose of grease and oil
The worst thing about frying foods with oil or preparing a pan of bacon is the grease it leaves behind. Pouring the grease down the drain isn't safe because it can cause clogs. You also can't toss the grease right away because the scalding temperatures will burn through the trash bag. One hack that allows for quickly cleaning and disposing of grease involves the use of the all-important paper towel.
After cooking, wait for the grease in the pan to cool to a safe temperature. You want the grease to still be hot, but not hot enough to burn you. Place several paper towel sheets inside the pan. How many sheets you use depends on how much grease you need to soak up. Wait a few minutes for the grease to transfer from the pan to the paper towels. Afterward, simply toss the greasy paper towels in the trash. Your pan is now ready for cleaning.
To keep fruits and vegetables fresh longer
Fresh fruits and veggies often don't last as long as we need them to. One thing that causes produce to wilt and go bad is excess moisture. To combat this, all you need are a few paper towel sheets. Paper towels can absorb the extra moisture, keeping your fruits and vegetables dry and fresh until you're ready to serve them.
As soon as you return from the grocery store with your produce, grab a paper towel sheet and fold it to fit inside each produce container. You can put the sheet at the bottom of a container of blueberries, for example, or toss one into a bag of chopped lettuce. You can also use paper towel sheets to wrap freshly picked herbs or to line the bottom of your crisper drawer.
Note: Some produce containers come with absorbent pads already in them. It's a good idea to replace those with a few paper towel sheets when you get home from the grocery store, as they are likely already filled with moisture.
To germinate seeds
Seed germination can be quite tricky. You need to keep the seeds moist and ensure you maintain the proper temperature. If you're looking to start your own seeds at home instead of purchasing starter plants, you'll want to grab a roll of paper towels and a sealable sandwich bag. The paper towels work to surround the seeds with moisture, while the plastic bag creates the humid environment needed for the seeds to grow. It's sort of like a mini-greenhouse.
To begin, fold a large paper towel sheet in half and get it nice and damp. Add the seeds to the top half of the paper towel sheet and then fold the bottom half up over the top half. Spray the top of the paper towel with a little bit more water before setting it inside the plastic sandwich bag. While most seeds can germinate when kept in temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, you'll need to check the temperature requirements for your specific plant and make sure you meet them. Within two weeks, the seeds should be ready for planting.
Note: If you don't have any paper towels on hand, you can also use toilet paper to germinate seeds.
To make your own mini-ice packs
Buying lunch while at work instead of packing one doesn't work for most budgets. On the other hand, bringing a lunch that tastes best cold when you have no work fridge to store the food in results in an unpleasant dining experience. Fortunately, there's a solution for this dilemma, which involves turning paper towel sheets into mini-ice packs.
Grab one paper towel sheet for each of your food storage container's compartments. Fold the sheets to fit the space and then moisten them with water. Set the container in the freezer the night before you need to pack your lunch. In the morning, the paper towel sheets will be frozen. Place the components of your lunch over the ice packs and you're good to go. The ice packs will keep your meal cool until you're ready for your lunch break.
Warning: The ice packs will eventually melt, so make sure you only use them with containers that have a solid seal.
To clean your can opener
Several small kitchen appliances have spaces within them that are hard to clean with just a washcloth and dish soap. A can opener is one of them. This handy device has a space behind the blade that is difficult to reach. When you open a can of crushed tomatoes, for example, you're left with a bit of red sauce that you need to remove. To clean the blade properly, you'll need to grab a paper towel sheet and get it nice and wet.
Then, fold it over and stick it in the can opener as if it were a can. Twist the can opener so that it pulls the paper towel sheet through the blade. Keep going until the blade has completed a few revolutions. Remove the paper towel sheet and you'll see that you've successfully released all the gunk. If you prefer, you can add a drop of a liquid dish soap to the moistened paper towel sheet before you begin. Just make sure you rinse the tool afterward with a new wet sheet.
To keep your plants watered while you're away
Going on a business trip or vacation takes a lot of preparation, including finding someone to come and water your plants every day. In the case of last minute trips, this isn't always possible. However, there's a really neat paper towel hack you can use to create an automated watering system and ensure that when you return home, your plants are as healthy as they were when you left.
This paper towel hack combines osmosis and capillary action to consistently deliver water to your plants while you are away. Simply lay the paper towels at the bottom of your tray, making sure to keep the roll intact (don't tear off any sheets). Place the perforated tray containing your plants over the paper towels. Take the paper towels hanging outside the tray and set them in a large bowl. Add water to top of the bowl and then secure it with a lid. The lid keeps the water from evaporating into the air. That's it!
Note: While home gardeners have proved the automatic watering system effective, it only works if you're also meeting all of the plant's other needs. For example, if the plant isn't getting the correct temperature for germination, it won't matter that it's been watered the entire time you were away.
To clean flooring with a Swiffer
Swiffer Sweepers are super convenient, eliminating the need for a separate dustpan. Unfortunately, having to continuously buy disposable pads isn't budget friendly. One way to take advantage of the Swiffer's ease of use while avoiding the high cost of pads is to substitute paper towel sheets. Paper towels are absorbent and do an excellent job of picking up dust and dirt. They are also soft and won't harm your flooring.
Tear off a section of paper towels that consists of either two large or three small sheets. Fold them in half and set them on the floor. Place the Swiffer base in the center of the paper towels. Fold up each side and press the ends into the base's grippers. You're good to go! It's important to note that this won't work on a WetJet because the paper towel sheets won't stick to the base; however, you can apply floor cleaner separately and still use the paper towels in the Swiffer Sweeper to mop.
To remove stains from storage containers
Plastic storage containers are excellent for keeping leftovers fresh, but certain foods, like red pasta sauce, leave behind unsightly stains. These stains can be difficult to remove and may require a great deal of scrubbing. Thankfully, many TikTokers have discovered and reported on a simple paper towel hack you can use to get those stubborn stains removed with little physical effort.
Take your soiled storage container and place a few drops of a grease-fighting liquid dish soap inside it. Add enough warm water to cover approximately one-quarter of the container. Rip up two paper towel sheets and toss them over the water. Place the lid on the storage container and make sure it is secure. Shake the container vigorously for a minute or two. Remove the lid and rinse out the container. It should now be free of any stains.
Note: Some users report that this trick even works on set-in stains, although that has not been verified. It's always best to address any type of stain as soon as possible for successful removal.
To get rid of spiders
Whether you have arachnophobia or experience a bit of anxiety when spotting a spider on the ceiling, you'll need a clever way to remove the creature that doesn't require you to get too close. Spraying chemicals isn't ideal indoors because the spray will get all over your ceiling and walls and enter your airspace. Instead, you can use a wet paper towel hack to capture the arachnid.
Grab a few paper towel sheets and get them nice and wet. Wring out any excess liquid and then take aim at the spider. When the wet paper towel makes contact with the spider, it will trap the spider as it sticks to the wall. You can then get a stool or step ladder and safely scoop up the spider. The only caveat to this hack is that you need to have good aim. If you miss, the spider may become startled and begin to move to a new location.