Save That Old Muffin Tin And Use It To Level Up Your Garage Organization

If you've ever put away a baking dish before it's completely dry, you're probably familiar with the signs of rust, or you're at least used to spotting wear and tear on the surface. This is especially true for muffin tins, which have a lot more nooks and crannies to worry about drying than most standard baking sheets. Although you can certainly learn how to clean muffin tins so they look brand new, it'll be easier to upgrade your current baking dishes to avoid possible contamination from rust.

But that doesn't mean you have to toss the old set into the trash. In fact, muffin tins are just one of the many kitchen items you can reuse in your home to reduce waste, and they can be repurposed in several ways, like inside your garage to level up toolbox organization. Inside the cups, place small items like nails, screws, nuts, and bolts – all the things that tend to get lost in the clutter of a workspace. It'll now be easier to access the next time you're making repairs or planning out a home renovation project.

Although a little rust certainly won't do any harm inside a garage, where there's likely already plenty of it to go around, a shabby-looking tin isn't great for adding aesthetic value... To upgrade your muffin tin storage, give it a fresh coat of paint. Since you'll no longer be using the dish in food prep, you don't need to worry too much about using dishwasher or oven-safe materials.

Alkyd Paint has lots of uses when it comes to home decor, and it'll also ensure that your tin stands up to all the wear and tear that comes with life in a garage. Plus, it bonds to metal more easily than most kinds of paint. To get started, thoroughly clean the surface of your muffin tin to remove all leftover baking residue, and sand it with a wire brush. Next, prime your dish with something like ROCPrime Water-Based Hybrid, if you have it on hand, and paint over the primer with your desired color.

For more colorful possibilities — albeit ones that might not last as long — you can always get crafty with things like papier-mâché, or pick up multiple muffin tins from your local thrift store to try out a few different designs. Beyond the garage, keep in mind that there are all sorts of innovative ways to repurpose muffin tins inside and outside the house, from your garden to your bathroom vanity.