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Life Hacks

16 Brilliant Uses for Wax Paper

We're using it for everything from keeping wine fresh to preventing dust bunnies!

If you’re anything like us, you have a roll of wax paper in your kitchen that you rarely use, other than for wrapping up food or when a recipe calls for it. But it turns out these slick sheets of paper can solve a multitude of problems around the house, from shining up bathroom fixtures to calming a dog during a storm. Below you’ll find 16 uses for wax paper that will save you time, money and hassle!

1. Uses for wax paper: Salvage wet photographs

Eek! While sorting old photos into new albums, you accidentally spill some of the water you were drinking onto one of the snapshots. To the rescue: wax paper! Simply lay the photo face-up on wax paper and let dry. Wet photo paper sticks to most surfaces, which means it’s likely to tear when you try and remove it later. But it won’t stick to wax paper, which means the picture will dry damage-free.

2. Quiet a shower curtain rod

If you’re stuck listening to an ear-piercing squeak every time someone in your family need to move the curtain to get in and out of the shower, enlist the help of wax paper! Just rub the rod with a sheet of wax paper. The waxy coating helps to lubricate the rod so the curtain can glide quietly and smoothly every time.

3. Uses for wax paper: Cut down on crafting mess

Uses for wax paper: protect tabletops from crafts and paint
Sue Barr/Getty

Whenever the little ones in your life do arts and crafts, you end up with a mess on your tabletop. What can help: “Lay sheets of wax paper down to catch spills, drips or glitter, making cleanup a breeze,” says Stephanie Edenburgh, CEO of Bizzie Mommy. “It’s a game-changer for keeping surfaces clean and encouraging creativity without the mess.”

4. Protect keepsakes in storage

You offered to store your grandma’s gorgeous linens in your basement, but you want to ensure the items stay in good condition. To protect them from moisture and light (the two elements that most commonly break down fragile fabrics) simply wrap them loosely in wax paper before packing away. This will shield the keepsakes from elements that could otherwise harm them.

5. Uses for wax paper: Spot-proof metal faucets

If your bathroom and kitchen faucets are looking dull, you can use was paper to get them sparkling again. Just wipe down fixtures with a piece of wax paper. The wax coats the metal with a water-repelling layer, so your fixtures will look spotless for days.

Related: Hate Those Chalky Spots That Kill The Shine on Your Faucets? Us Too! *This* Lemon Juice Solution Works Better Than Pricey Cleaners

6. Lift stuck-on candle wax

The taper candles you used for your romantic dinner at home created a nice ambience, but some of the wax dripped on your tablecloth. Try this to remove it: Place a piece of wax paper (coated side down) over the spill and rub it with a warm iron set to low. The combination of the iron’s heat and the paper’s waxy coating will cause the two waxes to stick together, which means the candle residue comes up with the paper. (Need to remove wax from another surface? Cleaning experts share how!)

Related: 6 Expert Tips to Make Candles Burn Longer — And the Hack That Can Backfire

7. Uses for wax paper: Preserve beautiful flowers

Flower arrangements are fleeting, but the memories they hold don’t have to be. “Fresh blooms can last for years,” says organizing expert Judy Granlee-Gates. Simply cut a big piece of wax paper, fold it in half, then place flowers between the folds and iron them on medium until the paper fuses — the petals will be pressed and preserved. 

8. De-grime a can opener

Lately it seems like your trusty can opener is having difficulty gripping cans. The likely culprit? Food particles that are clogging the tool. To get it clean in a flash, use the opener to “open” a sheet of wax paper, just as you would open a can. The sticky wax will collect the debris and clean the blade while also lubricating the parts so they can turn with ease.

9. Uses for wax paper: Re-cork a bottle

Uses for wax paper: Easily re-corking bottles

After your dinner party, you find that you’re struggling to re-cork a half-empty bottle of wine you have left. To make it easier, cut out a 3″ square of wax paper and place over the bottle opening, then push the cork into the bottle. The wax lubricates the cork so it effortlessly slides back into the bottle. Bonus: If the cork breaks apart when you go to pull it out again, the wax paper will catch any cork bits.

Related: 18 Brilliant Uses for Wine Corks — You’ll Be Surprised at Everything They Can Do!

10. Erase scuff marks from the floor

Your home’s entryway hallway has been getting marks on the floor from extra foot traffic. The solution: Rub the marks with a piece of wax paper. Oils in the wax help break down the scuffs without leaving behind any scratches on the floor’s surface. (Tip: You can use wax paper with a wet/dry mop like a Swiffer. Just tape the wax paper to the bottom and run over the marks.)

Related: How To Deep Clean Hardwood Floors (Hint: Never Use a Steam Cleaner)

11. Uses for wax paper: Roll out cookie dough with ease

Sugar cookies are one of your go-to’s when you offer to bake for the bake sale, but every time you make a batch, the dough sticks to everything. Talk about frustrating! What can help avoid this nuisance: Cover the dough with a piece of wax paper before rolling it out. The roller will glide smoothly over the wax paper, making it easy to flatten the dough. Then you can remove the paper and shape and decorate your cookies as usual.

12. Soothe a dog’s storm anxiety

Your poor pup always gets distressed during thunderstorms and nothing calms him down. He may be experiencing uncomfortable static electricity that builds up in his fur when there’s a storm. To ease his discomfort, rub a bit of wax paper over his body. This will lightly coat his fur with wax and eliminate the stress-inducing static.

Related: Do Dogs Dream? Vets Reveal What All That Twitching in Their Sleep Really Means

13. Uses for wax paper: Dust-proof hard-to-reach surfaces

The top of your fridge isn’t in your weekly cleaning schedule since it can be tough to access. To cut down on dust and grime when you are able to clean it, cover the surface with nonstick wax paper. The paper won’t be noticeable to anyone in the kitchen, and when it gets dirty, you can just swap it out for a clean sheet. (Note: This trick works great on shelves and in cabinet drawers too.)

14. Help cheese stay fresh longer

Uses for wax paper: Help cheese last
Bloomberg Creative/Getty

“Cheese needs to breathe,” says chef Devan Cameron, owner of Braised And Deglazed. “Otherwise, moisture builds up between the wrapper and the cheese, causing mold. Just remove the wrapper and place the cheese in wax paper. This lets air in, plus the wax pulls excess moisture away from the cheese, keeping it fresh.”

15. Uses for wax paper: Shovel snow in half the time

Whenever you need to clear snow from your walkway or driveway, make the process a bit easier with the help of wax paper. To do: Rub a piece of the paper over the bottom edge of the shovel before you start the task. The wax coating prevents snow from freezing to the cold shovel, so it’s much easier to scoop up the white stuff and get your outdoor surfaces clear again.

16. Splatter-proof your mixer

It’s such a hassle to clean splattered batter off your counters and walls after whipping up your homemade muffins. To minimize clean-up, tear off a sheet of wax paper so it extends a few inches over the mixing bowl. Then poke the beaters through the paper and mix the batter as normal. The paper shields against splatters, ensuring the batter stays in the bowl and doesn’t make a mess.


For more helpful life hacks, keep reading!

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