7 Genius Ways to Use Aluminum Foil to Tackle Household Chores Outside of the Kitchen

Aluminum foil is likely already a staple in your kitchen. However, this basic household essential, often used for preserving leftovers and baked goods, isn't just useful when it comes to storing food. Rather, as experts point out, you can utilize aluminum foil in a number of different ways throughout the home, as it pertains to cleaning, gardening, painting, and more.

Below, pros share seven unexpected uses for aluminum foil, all of which are easy to try out on your own.

Wash Pots Like a Pro

Dealing with dirty pots and pans that need a good scrubbing? Put some aluminum foil to the test, Petya Holevich, domestic cleaning expert and supervisor at Fantastic Services, instructs.

She recommends using a thin piece of foil crumpled into a ball as a scrubber—just add some dish soap and water to your pot and pan and then use the foil the way you would a sponge. This system can work well on grills and ovens, too, Holevich adds.

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Sharpen Scissors

If you own a pair of scissors that are getting a bit dull, don't part ways with them just yet—aluminum foil may do the trick in restoring them.

Holevich recommends folding a sheet of foil three or four times and then using your dull scissors to cut through it, which actually will help sharpen the blades.

"Keep in mind that this method can’t sharpen them as well as a designated sharpening tool, but it will certainly improve their performance for the time being by cleaning the blades," she says.

Polish Silver

Whether you've thrifted some new-to-you silver pieces or have been meaning to clean up those heirloom platters and forks, note that aluminum foil may be all you need to get a great shine.

First, Holevich instructs, line a container with aluminum foil, add boiling hot water and a few tablespoons of salt or baking soda, and place your silver (utensils, jewelry, and more) inside.

"The tarnish will transfer to the foil," Holevich says.

Keep Pests Out of the Garden

No gardener wants to deal with critters getting into their plants. Aluminum foil can protect your garden in several different ways, Petar Ivanov, gardening and plant expert at Fantastic Gardeners, explains.

First, he suggests hanging a few strips of the foil in your garden.

"It’ll deter birds from eating at your produce because the shine and movement will scare them away," Ivanov says.

Another hack is to wrap the bases of your trees with two layers of foil, he adds.

"It can also deter rodents in the winter because they’re scared of the metal’s texture and also they’re unable to get through it," Ivanov explains.

Keep Gardening Tools Rust-Free

No one wants to deal with rusty gardening tools. However, aluminum foil serves as a quick fix—you can wrap it around the handles of your tools when they're not in use.

"It’ll prevent them from splintering, getting rusty and keep them in good condition because it’ll keep moisture from reaching their metal parts," Ivanov says.

Use Foil Instead of Painter's Tape

The next time you're tackling a home painting project, reach for the aluminum foil. Myles Robinson, the founder of UK Composite Doors, uses foil to wrap door handles when he is painting.

"It’s so much quicker than dealing with tape, and it molds right around all the weird angles, keeping them paint-free," he says.

Keep Air From Coming Inside

Robinson also uses aluminum foil to prevent a draft from coming into the home via a door with a gap. Crumble up some foil and stuff it in the gap, Robinson recommends. It's a quick and easy fix that will work well until you can sort out a real solution.