Wax paper can be found in most household kitchens. It's very useful for use in food preparation and storage. However, it can also be helpful with crafts and other things around the house. This is a guide about uses for wax paper.
Lubricate craft punches before using them by punching wax paper first.
By duckie-do from Cortez, CO
If you are a card maker, you can save money on envelopes. Grab a roll of wax paper and make your own. You will need an envelope template or just cut it out free-handed.
You can put glitter, stickers, dried flowers, or anything you like between the sheets of waxed paper. Just be careful when you melt the sheets together. You could heat the paper with a high powered hair dryer, embossing gun, or your iron. They make beautiful and cheap envelopes.
By Tricia from Ridgeway, VA
Before you begin to iron, run the iron over a sheet of waxed paper. It will help the iron glide more easily. Also, always keep the plate of the iron clean.
By fossil1955 from Cortez, CO
I have many uses for wax paper. I use it as a spoon rest because I can just throw it away when I'm done cooking. I use wax paper to divide a new batch of cookies so that they don't stick together in the container. After I make a batch of rice cereal treats and have added them to the casserole dish, I use a piece of wax paper to help flatten and spread out the treats into the casserole dish so that they don't stick to my hands.
By JillyD from Sacramento, CA
With just a few sheets of waxed paper, the kind that one usually uses to wrap sandwiches in, or to line a baking tin with, one can give a personal touch to presents and make them look quite exceptional, without spending much money on gift wrap.
Adding stencilled images to the wax paper works well when making gift-wrap for a present such as a bath treat.
Cut the waxed paper to the desired size. Lay it flat onto a table. You may want to stick the corners lightly to the table with sticky tape, so that the paper doesn't roll up while you are busy.
Now use the white paint and the stencil. For this example, I used the design of a rose for the stencil, but any other design will be suitable. One could even use two different designs, or four different ones, if so desired.
Decide if you would like to print stenciled designs onto the paper in rows, or at random. Then, place the stencil on the appropriate place. Hold it down with one hand while painting, so that it will not move while applying the paint.
Dip the sponge into the white paint and remove excess paint from the sponge by dabbing it on the sheet of newspaper. Then paint the stencil design onto the paper by repeatedly dabbing all over the design.
Carefully, lift up the stencil and move it to the next appropriate place. Continue until the page has been filled with the stenciled design. Leave to dry thoroughly.
Cover the present with the waxed stenciled paper. Tie a decorative silver string around it. Add the finishing touches by adding small beads to the ends of the silver string. Remember to tie a small knot once you've strung the beads, so that the beads won't come off again.
By BessieBessie from Pretoria, Gauteng
Use wax paper to line your kitchen shelves instead of buying expensive shelf liner paper. It's easy and cheap!
By Lisa M.
Wipe your curtain rod with a piece of wax paper. Your hangers will slide more easily.
To remove surface fats from soup and other liquids, I float pieces of wax paper on top and lift out. The fats adhere to the paper. Repeat until all fat is removed. You can do this when hot but it is best done when warm or at room temperature.
By Barbara C. from Park Ridge, IL
I have a cute tip now I admit I have a small kitchen because we live in a small trailer so on my counter are things I use a lot. You guys had an e-mail about paper towels. Well, I have a tip for you!
When you use the microwave a lot, use wax paper to put on top of the food in your microwave, it helps with the splatter and mess. You can also use it when you want to roll out your dough and make sandwiches too. Also I stopped buying paper plates too because my daughter used to tear them apart. Hey, dishes are dishes to me.
For the people who might have a lot of clutter, try this great web site (you do not have to buy any thing). It is great way to help with your clutter. The website is www.flylady.com and she is great. I have used her stuff a lot. It's been a couple of years now but it is still in my head and it helps out a lot.
By Barbara from Shoemakersville, PA
To keep your sink faucets shiny, rub them with a piece of wax paper after cleaning them. This will keep them shiny for about a week.
By Pam from Ft. Mitchell, KY
When trying to keep the Western sun window cooler in the summer, how does one use the wax paper method? The shiny-side in?
Thanks,
MP
By Deeli
06/26/2009
This is such a great question! I am about to move to a floor level apartment in my building and the bedroom window is going to be on the public walkway side. I hate having to keep the blinds closed for privacy and not be able to get light in the room :-( I was dreading having to spend the money for the special window treatment (that gives privacy and still blocks the worst heating rays of the sun) you can buy at home stores where you place slightly soapy water on the window, apply the coverings, use a squeegee to smooth out bubbles and cut edges with an exacto knife.
Anyway, wax paper will most likely work just as well so I am going to try it using the same process! If that process won't work I'll just use clear two sided sticky tape. The only difference in applying is there will be a little more work because it won't be one large, wide sheet like the store application but it will have the same effect as the store bought ;-)
If you did mean foil, please don't do it unless you have no immediate neighbors. It's tacky and they have to look at it. As a matter of fact, it's against the law in some city's, towns, counties. If you don't have neighbors who have to look at it and not against your local codes, put it non-shiny side out ;-)
I have a question for our cake decorators. I went to Jo-Ann Fabrics, ETC and looked at what they charged for a roll of parchment paper. OUCH! Can I use waxed paper instead of paying the big price for parchment paper? Thank you for your answers!
Marjorie from Sanborn, NY
By K (Guest Post)
10/04/2007
You can get a free sample of Reynold's parchment paper here. Dont know how big it is but may tide you over until you can find some.
http://www.alcoa.com/reynoldskitche ... chment_paper/en/parchment_sample.asp
Reynolds is the brand most grocery stores here sell for parchment and it appears to be less expensive than Wilton's. Most grocery stores nowadays will put in an order for something at their store that you aren't finding.
At any Lowe's or hardware store, you can purchase tinted window film to help prevent sun from entering into your house and running the air conditioner constantly OR you can do as we have and save money.
When your paper punches don't seem to spring back as quick as when new, use wax paper to punch designs and lubricate the paper punch.
By Syd
Like ThriftyFun on Facebook
