ARTICLE: "11 HELPFUL USES FOR WAX PAPER YOU NEVER THOUGHT OF BEFORE"

11 Helpful Uses for Wax Paper You Never Thought of Before

from the TIP HERO website

http://tiphero.com/11-uses-for-wax-paper/

You’ve probably used wax paper as a liner on your counter when rolling out dough for cookies, or wrapping food to store in the fridge. But what most people don’t know is that there are way more innovative uses for wax paper than just the basics.  

If you have a roll of wax paper, you basically have a goldmine. From cleaning hacks to helping you garden, here are some of the most  unexpected ways to use this kitchen essential outside the kitchen.

1. Unstick a door  

   You know that door that’s hard to shut because it sticks into the frame? Run a piece of wax paper over the edge and it’ll ease that issue in no time.

2. Make decorating a cake easier 

   If you’re not a baker, writing “Happy birthday” on a cake the first time with frosting is pretty tough. Instead of taking your chances, pipe it a few times onto wax paper and pop the sheet into the freezer for a half hour. It’ll freeze so you can easily peel it off and place it on your cake (and have a heck of a lot more tries!).

3. Shine up stainless steel 

   Fingerprints all over your fridge, dishwasher, or sink? Forget all of those expensive stainless steel cleaners. Run a piece of wax paper over the surface or faucet and it’ll sparkle like new.

4. Make old wood new again 

   In the same way wax paper shines stainless steel, it also works for most wood surfaces like that wooden bowl or salad tongs that are going dull. Just rub a piece of wax paper on the surfaces after you wash and dry them, and they’ll shine right up.

5. Cleans (and protects) garden tools 

   Scrunch up a sheet of wax paper and rub it over your dirty spades or other gardening hand tools. Not only will it loosen the grime on the metal, but the wax on the paper will provide a barrier that will prolong the life of the tools and keep them from rusting.

6. …And your floors 

   Out of Swiffer pads? Just attach a piece of wax paper to the end of any wet/dry mop and get to it. The wax on the sheet picks up dirt, dust, and grime on wood floors almost as well as your cleaning pad will.

7. Get rid of bacteria in wooden cutting boards 

   Wood cutting boards are great, but ever wonder how much bacteria has seeped into it after cutting all that raw chicken or steak? Try placing a sheet of wax paper on top of the surface before cutting up your meat, which can limit the amount of bacteria that gets on your cutting board (which isn’t always easy to clean!).

8. Deflect dust 

   Place some wax paper wherever you find dust collects most—on top of your kitchen cabinets, on window sills, on your dresser, etc. Replace the sheet every few weeks or months as it gets dirty. You’ll never have to use a duster again!

9. Fix a stuck zipper 

   Zipper jammed in a backpack or purse? Grab a sheet of wax paper and lightly run it over the teeth of the zipper. It’ll help the zipper glide along its track much more easily.

10. Prevent color bleeding 

    Ever put your candles away for the season, only to unwrap them the next year and find out the dye bled all over everything you stored it with? Wrap them in a sheet of wax paper before you store them, and the wax will keep the colors from bleeding. (This will work for most objects that have dye in them.)

11. Dries a wet book 

    Drop a book in the tub as you were relaxing? (Been there!) There’s nothing worse than wet pages. Place a few pieces of wax paper into the pages. The water will absorb into the wax, and the wax will help prevent the pages from sticking to each other.