I’ve written dozens of posts over the years sharing creative ways to use everyday household items. It’s a topic that I’m really passionate about! More often than not, those “single-use” items you have around the house can actually be used in a ton of different ways. And every once in a while, I learn about so many useful things I can do with an item that I end up keeping it on hand—even when I don’t use the item for its intended purpose! And that’s exactly the case with the subject of today’s post: coffee filters.
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Even though no one in our house actually drinks coffee, I always keep a package of coffee filters in my pantry. That’s because a few years ago, I came across so many brilliant uses for coffee filters that I simply had to have some at home! Normally I won’t go out of my way to buy something I don’t technically need, but coffee filters are one of the exceptions I make to that rule. (It helps that in addition to being useful, they’re also really cheap!) So what exactly makes coffee filters so dang useful? Well I’m glad you asked, because I have 11 clever uses for coffee filters to share with you, starting right now! :-)
11 Brilliant Uses For Coffee Filters
1. Soothe Puffy Eyes
Use a couple of coffee filters to help soothe puffy and itchy eyes. Soak the coffee filters in brewed tea (chamomile works well) or just plain water, then chill them in the fridge. Then fold the filters up and place them over your eyes as a soothing cold compress. Ahh!
Related: 15 Quick & Easy Home Remedies For Red, Itchy Eyes
2. Grease Pans
Coffee filters are the perfect tool for spreading oil or butter into your cooking and baking pans, because they don’t leave behind any fibers or residues. Just dip the filter into a bit of oil or softened butter, and rub it around the inside of your pan!
3. Protect Dishes
You can shield your nice dishes from scratches and nicks by stacking them with coffee filters between each dish. Coffee filters are strong enough to stand up to the movement of the dishes, but soft enough to prevent additional damage.
4. Control Odors
Scoop a few tablespoons of baking soda into a coffee filter, twist it closed, and secure it with a rubber band. Place your baking soda sachet inside shoes, gym bags, closets, your fridge, or anywhere else that needs a little deodorizing. You can also add a few drops of essential oils to the sachet to leave behind a favorite scent!
Related: Surprising Uses For Baking Soda (That Have Nothing To Do With Baking!
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5. Clean Up
Coffee filters make great cleaning rags for all kinds of cleaning jobs! They’re lint-free, which makes them great for cleaning computer monitors, televisions, and windows. Even the most reflective surfaces will turn out squeaky clean and free of streaks!
6. Soften Clothes
This is one of my favorite coffee filter tips—use one as a makeshift dryer sheet! Dampen a coffee filter with a bit of white vinegar, and add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. (I like to use lavender!) Toss the “dryer sheet” into the dryer with your clothes, and they’ll come out free of static and smelling fresh and clean!
7. Snack Time
A coffee filter can be used as a disposable bowl when you’re feeling snack-y. Use one to divvy up popcorn, chips, pretzels, and more!
8. Add Flavor To Soups
Some soups call for ingredients that need to be “fished” out of the soup before serving, like bay leaves, herbs with tough stems, or whole spices. You can make this process super easy with the help of a coffee filter! Just place those ingredients in the center of a coffee filter, then twist it up and tie it off with a piece of twine. Drop the sachet into your simmering soup, and you’ll be a able to easily pluck it out when your soup is ready to serve!
9. Keep Celery Crisp
Wrap celery stalks in a coffee filter, then place the wrapped stalks in a plastic storage bag. Store the celery in your fridge, and the coffee filter will help absorb excess moisture and keep your celery crisp for longer.
Related: 37 Tips For Keeping Food Fresh Longer
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10. Sprout Seeds
Use a coffee filter to sprout seeds and get a jump start on your spring planting! Dampen a coffee filter with water, then place a few seeds inside. Fold the filter up and place it into a ziplock bag. Place the bag somewhere warm, and in a few days your little seeds will be sprouting like crazy!
11. Keep Them In Your Car
Keep a stack of coffee filters in your car’s glove box. They’re really handy for keeping dust off of your console and dashboard! You can also use them as napkins in a pinch, or to clean up spills. And the next time you check your oil, you can use one to wipe off the dipstick!
Keep in mind that for some of these uses, the filter can be re-used again and again! They’re a lot tougher and versatile than you might think!
I use them as face blotters for oil!! They are amazing for that! I cut them I half and put some in my purse as well :-) I’m pretty sure I got that idea from another post of Jillees.
Is great I use it inside the car to put cups now I use it other things. Thanks.
Great post, Jillee! I LOVE coffee filters. I even used them to make peonies for my son’s wedding rehearsal dinner. Thank you for sharing. :-)
How cute!
Can you use a coffee filter to clean/oil your cast iron skillet?
Definitely!
I use coffee filters to cover the hole in pots when planting so the soil doesn’t spill out but lets the water go through.
Great idea!
I lay them over the dish in the microwave. Cuts down on splatters a bit.
Our favorite is to cover food we put in the microwave — mostly individual portions and leftovers. Really helps to keep our microwave cleaner. :)
I should have read farther!
I started reading this article on coffee filters and thought I would see the use I’ve had for them…and it wasn’t there! Use a filter as a splatter guard for the microwave. I’ve used them as a flavor tea bag for spices in stews, but I made some ginger tea the same way! I used a wire tie to gather the opening! I will be keeping them in the car for wiping the inside of the windows etc. I like to dust the surfaces near me when stopped in traffic! Great article!
Great tips! Thanks Leanne :-)
Who would of thought that you could use coffee filters for! I love all these ideas, I honestly am going to be trying all of these out!
Adding to #4. Control Odors: instead of buying the expensive box of baking soda designed to absorb refrigerator odors, fill a jar with bulk baking soda, top with a coffee filter and secure with a rubber band. Replace the baking soda and filter every 1-3 months. So inexpensive – put one to your freezer too.