15 Clever Ways to Use Wax Paper For More Than Wrapping Food

You don’t need to invest in a fancy shield for your food before zapping leftovers if you have wax paper nearby. Since it doesn't stay in the microwave as long as it would in an oven, you can lay it over splatter-prone foods to keep them from getting everywhere. It also won’t stick to your food like paper towels do.

Give items like wooden spatulas and bowls a good rub with a ball of wax paper to seal them off from moisture that can damage them over time.

The flexible and non-stick material is great for funneling things like beans or lentils into jars or other containers. It’s also great for spices that need to be transferred to different bottles or mixed with other spices. 

This also works really well while crafting with glitter — lay the wax paper down under a project you’re working on, then let any excess glitter fall onto the wax paper, and pour it right back where it came from.

Things like thin embroidered handkerchiefs that get passed down from family members and other sensitive linens will stay strong longer if you use wax paper to protect them in storage. Just fold them and wrap the wax paper around them — the barrier keeps moisture and light from ruining the fabric.

If you’re packing away colorful, festive candles after holidays, wrap them in wax paper to make sure the colors don’t bleed together while they’re in storage. 

Whether you’re out camping or enjoying a cozy night at home, wax paper can work as a great kindling to get things going. This can save you time and energy looking for dry twigs outdoors to do the job.

Wrap a small piece of wax paper around your cork before popping it back in an unfinished bottle. This can help both the cork stay snug, which will keep your wine fresher, while also making it easier to pop back out again when you’re ready to pour.

Kneading dough for things like pizza or bread usually comes with a big pile of flour to keep it from sticking to the counter. Roll out wax paper on the counter to minimize the surface area that's being dusted with flour and make it easier to clean up. You might even be able to just use wax paper without flour, but you'll have to base that on how sticky your dough is.

Don't you just hate when you open your fridge to find something’s fallen over and created a huge mess? Good news: Lining those shelves with wax paper will make cleaning up a lot easier and prevent any spills from staining the shelving. Just take it out (carefully avoiding any new spills) and replace it!

Like wood products, wiping down a chrome sink faucet or other items around the house with wax paper will build a thin barrier. This can help you win the never-ending battle against smudges, fingerprints, and stains.

Rub the paper along the sides of a door that is constantly getting jammed inside the frame to smooth things out. You can also run it along any squeaky hinges for help with that, too.

This is probably only applicable for anyone still riding around in older or classic cars, but antennas have a bad habit of getting gunked up with dirt and grime while you drive around. Over time, that can make your reception worse and make retractable antennas unable to function properly. Luckily, wiping them down with a little wax paper can add a barrier for dirt to keep both issues at bay.

The wax will keep things running smoothly and prevent it from getting busted. Just run the paper along the gear where it connects with the blade. (Psst: If it’s already too late for your can opener, click here to find out how to open a can without one!)

Instead of dusting the top of your cabinets the old fashioned way, you can line them with wax paper to collect any debris and then easily remove all at once on your next cleaning session. This is especially helpful on top cabinets that no one can see anyway (but still collect a lot of icky dust). 

Wax paper can help make a cake for any occasion even more beautiful. If you want to write or draw something on top, pipe the words or designs onto the wax paper and then pop them in the refrigerator to harden before placing them on the cake. This keeps you from ruining the whole thing if you make a mistake on the actual cake. 

You can also get fancy by cutting out sections of the wax paper to use as stencils for sprinkles or powdered sugar to fill on top. Just make sure you wait for the icing to be cool on the cake before you try so it’s less likely the wax will stick when you lay it down.