Who doesn’t love a creative alternative use for an everyday household item? I didn’t even know coffee filters could be this useful until I looked into it. Did you know they’re not just for coffee? It turns out these filters I’ve been taking for granted all these years are actually super handy to have around…
1. Clean screens and polish glass
Did you know that coffee filters are lint-free? That means they’re ideal for cleaning screens – anything from laptops, to TVs, mobile phones and tablets. No more dried streaks across your screens, or any lint left behind. For the same reason, coffee filters are ideal for cleaning glass – and your glasses. The filters absorb the cleaning liquid, and don’t leave behind any residue. Move aside newspaper: this is a job for coffee filters.
2. Strain your wine
We’ve all had corks accidentally break and come apart when opening a bottle of wine, but never fear … Rather than trying to fish out the floating cork pieces, just strain the wine through the coffee filter into a decanter or carafe. The filter catches all the pieces of cork, and you’re spared the experience of a slightly chewy wine. The coffee filter also works just as well for wine with a heavy sediment.
3. Keep shoes smelling fresh
Fill a coffee filter with baking soda and a few drops of your favourite essential oil, twist it closed, and secure with a cable tie or elastic band to make a small sachet. The baking soda absorbs and neutralises unpleasant odours, and the essential oil leaves a lingering scent other than stinky feet. Pop the sachets into recently worn shoes, and even cupboards if you want a general air freshener.
4. Prevent soil from escaping plant pots
To prevent losing soil from potted plants, place a coffee filter at the bottom of your pot before you fill it with soil. The filter allows water to drain away, but keeps the soil in place.
5. Ease those tired eyes
Cut a coffee filter in half, and soak both pieces in some brewed tea – chamomile or rooibos will do the trick. Chill the tea and filters in the fridge for a bit and voilà, a cold compress for your eyes! Just fold the pieces in half and let the coffee filter work its magic.
6. Keep greens fresh
It’s not just shoes that coffee filters keep fresh – you can also prevent your green veggies from wilting. Keep your greens crisp by wrapping them in a coffee filter, which will absorb excess moisture and give you a few more days of grace to eat your greens before they go off. You can also put the filter in the bag with the greens to keep them in good condition.
7. Soften
Coffee filters make great homemade dryer sheets because they’re so absorbent. Dampen a filter with a few drops of white vinegar and your favourite essential oil (lemongrass is my go-to for laundry). Chuck the filter into the tumble dryer with your wet clothes, and they’ll come out smelling fresh and feeling super soft.
Do you have any other tips for alternative coffee filter uses? We’d love to hear them!
