15 Uses for Leftover Newspaper

Most people throw out yesterday’s newspaper; some people even bother to recycle them. Courtesy of generations past, I have been blessed with the knowledge of how to get my money’s worth out of each and every newspaper brought into my household. Some of these ideas are relatively common and known to many, some of the ideas may be new to you, but all of them are useful in stretching a dollar.

1. Fire Starter

Most people are familiar with using newspapers to start a fire. They crumple up the pages and throw them in the fireplace or pit followed shortly by a match. For a heartier fire starter that will burn longer allowing stubborn logs to catch fire try taking two or three sheets of newspaper and forming a tight roll. Then make a knot from the roll; six or seven of these knots will burn long enough to set flame to even the greenest of woods.

2. Oven Cleaner

Crumpled newspapers will absorb heavy grease and sticky substances from the inside of ovens. Rub the inside of the oven with a wadded sheet of newspaper then follow up with a damp cloth for a shiny oven.

3. Glass Cleaner

Wash windows with plain soap and water then use crumpled newspaper to dry windows. The windows will be sparkly and streak free.

4. Duster

Roll several sheets of newspaper into a tube and fringe one end. This will give you a two to three foot reach for hard to mange places that need dusting.

5. Cat Litter

In a pinch, shredded newspaper can be substituted for cat litter. An added bonus is the newspaper’s natural tendency to absorb odors.

6. Draft Blocker

You can stop drafts from seeping in through doors and windows by stuffing newspaper in the cracks at the bottom of doors and around windows that do not close properly.

7. Boot Dryer

Stuff crumples sheets of newspaper into wet boots overnight to dry them. This also works with almost all other shoes and offers the additional bonus of deodorizing the footwear.

8. Window Repair

Glue sheets of newspaper to both sides of the broken glass and let dry. Then chip away the putty holding the glass in place and the pane can be removed without splintering or shattering. You can then replace glass as would normally be done.

9. Plastic Container Refresher

Wads of newspaper without color, straight black and white prints, placed in plastic containers overnight will remove foul odors.

10. Luggage Refresher

Wads of crumpled newspaper placed in luggage and trunks that have been unused for a while will remove moisture and staleness. Three of four balls of newspaper per luggage piece or trunk left over the course of a couple of weeks will absorb undesirable interior climates.

11. Moplets

For those that work with their hands in workshops, garages, and greenhouse; cut squares of newspaper are handy to have on hand to quickly clean up grease and chemical spills. Pile the newspapers about an inch thick and cut into quarters with a knife. Stack the quarters together and punch a hole through one corner. Run a scrap piece of wire through the hole and hang in an accessible place, this will make for an easy cleanup of spills.

12. Tablecloth

Use sheets of newspaper for a table cloth when enjoying messy meals like bar-b-que ribs or crab legs. After the meal the roll up the “tablecloth” and throw the mess away.

13. Raccoon Deterrent

To keep raccoons out of the garden place crumpled up newspapers between the rows. I don’t know why it works, it just does.

14. Moth Deterrent

For whatever reason, moths do not care for the taste of newsprint. When packing away linens, blankets, or seasonal clothes add layers of newspaper between material items to keep them moth free.

15. Mulch

Spread newspapers flat and lay around plant then water heavily. The newspaper can be shredded to fit into tight areas needing mulch. The newspaper will degrade naturally providing the same substance as store bought mulch. After watering, rocks can be used to secure newspaper in windy conditions without alter the effect.

Surprising how many different uses there are for the Sunday paper. With a little thought and effort more creative uses can be found for those leftover newspapers. For you recyclers, just a note: reusing the newspapers isn’t any less of a form of recycling; it is just recycling for your home’s benefit as opposed to someone else benefiting from your recycling efforts.