16 Brilliant Uses for Pantyhose That Are Guaranteed to Make Your Life Easier

You always pull your hair back when you apply a face mask, but the pieces of hair that frame your face end up getting in the mix, and you don’t want to risk getting any of the product on your headbands. A better idea: Cut the waistband off an old pair of panty-hose and use it as a headband. If it gets dirty, replace it with another.

If your little one’s plush pal needs a good cleaning, slip it into the leg of an old pair of pantyhose, toss it in the washer, add detergent and run on gentle. Explains Sara McDaniel, an interior designer, home renovation expert and owner of Simply Southern Cottage, "it will easily protect stuffed animals from tears and snags."Plus it keeps the toy from losing its shape while allowing the soapy water to clean it. When the cycle ends, pull the toy out of the pantyhose and air-dry.

It seems like every time you try to sweep up the dust bunnies in your house, they slip away. The solution: Stretch the leg of an old pair of panty-hose over your broom’s bristles, then sweep as usual. The pantyhose’s mesh fabric will trap the dust so you can pull it right off the broom.

The quick way to remove the layer of dust and debris coating the  candles that have been in storage: Place each candle in the leg of a pair of panty-hose and roll it back and forth with your hands. Fibers in the nylon will lift the grime off the wax.

If your suede heels are looking worse for the wear, try this: Rub a balled-up pair of pantyhose in one direction over the suede. The nylon will pick up any dirt, and the motion will “lift” the suede, restoring its texture. (This trick works on suede purses and coats too!)

You made your own spray cleaner, but clumps in the solution make it hard to spritz. The fix: Cover the bottom of the plastic tube that’s attached to the bottle’s nozzle with a small square cut from pantyhose; secure with a rubber band. The nylon will filter out clumps.

Next time you’re sanding a piece of furniture, use pantyhose to check if it’s smooth. To do: Wrap a pair of pantyhose around your palm and rub it over the sanded wood. If the nylon snags in any spot, a little more sanding is required. Once the pantyhose glides smoothly over the wood, your furniture is ready to paint.

Guests are due in less than an hour, your couch is covered in dog hair and you can’t find your lint roller to clean it up! To the rescue: Pantyhose. Simply slip your hand inside the leg of an old pair of hose and rub any surfaces where you see hair. The static electricity created by rubbing the nylon on the fabric will quickly lift all of the fur. 

There was a sale on onions at the super-market, so you picked up more than usual. To ensure they stay fresh until you can use them, cut the leg off an old pair of pantyhose and slip the onions inside, tying a knot between each one. Hang in your pantry. Each time you need an onion, cut the knot below the bottom onion. Storing them in this way allows air to circulate around each of the onions so they don’t get moldy and spoil.

Before you repot the gorgeous house-plant you picked up at the garden center, cover the drainage hole inside the planter with a piece of balled-up pantyhose, then add soil and the plant. The nylon will act as a stopper, so if you accidentally overwater the plant, the soil (and its nutrients) will stay put and only a small amount of water will escape. No more messes!

Oops! You dropped your tiny gold-stud earring and can’t find it on the floor. The simple solution? Pull the leg of an old pair of panty hose over your vacuum’s hose and run it over the floor. The vacuum will draw up the earring, but the panty hose will act as a net, preventing the jewelry from getting sucked into the vacuum.

Between winter’s snowstorms and spring’s rain, your boots have gotten a lot of use lately, and they’re starting to smell a bit less than fresh. The fix: Pour ½  cup of dry oatmeal into each leg of a pair of panty hose, then tie and cut above the ankles. Toss one odor-absorbing­ oatmeal “sachet” into each boot — they’ll be smelling fresh by morning!

Rolling clothes frees up so much space in your suitcase — until the rolls come undone. No need to splurge on packing cubes! To keep them in place, stuff rolled-up items into the leg of a pair of old panty hose. The firm nylon material will keep your clothes compact, says McDaniel. "This will also save ironing time once you arrive at your location." 

If your garbage bag is forever sliding inside the can, use panty hose to keep it secure. To do: Cut the waistband off a pair of old hose and stretch it around the folded-over bag, under the lip of the can. Problem solved!

You’re walking out the door when you notice a streak of deodorant on your black dress. To wipe it away in seconds, scrunch up a pair of panty hose and gently rub the mark. The nylon’s slightly abrasive netting dislodges stains without leaving behind debris like toilet paper or paper towels do.

Why does it always take so much effort to pull the hair out of your brush? Prevent the problem by stretching a pair of panty hose over the bristles of a clean hairbrush, pushing down so the nylons lay flat against the bed of the brush; trim to fit. Then next time your brush is covered in built-up hairs, just lift off the piece of panty hose, throw it away and replace with a new piece.