When's the last time you thought about plastic wrap? Probably not recently. Plastic wrap can be found in almost every home, although people rarely use it outside of food storage and baking. But there are many other uses for plastic wrap that can save you time and money. From cleaning your stove to warming your home, plastic wrap has numerous uses if you know how to apply it. Learn how to use cling wrap for photography, fruit preservation, and more with these plastic wrap hacks.
Stop Bottle Cap Leaks
In an ideal world, bottle caps would prevent all liquids from seeping out. But shampoos, conditioners, and soaps still find a way to slip through their containers. Prevent sticky hands by screwing the bottle on over plastic wrap.
Before you screw the cap closed, cover the top of the bottle with plastic wrap. The plastic will block any liquid that threatens to sneak around the cap. If you're traveling, this hack will prevent your bottles from leaking and filling your luggage or bags.
Keep Bananas Ripe
If you want to keep bananas fresh for longer, get some plastic wrap. Separate your bananas and cover each stem with plastic wrap. The bananas will still ripen, but they will stay fresh for longer. And one rotten banana won't infect the rest.
There's a biological reason for why this works. As bananas ripen, they release ethylene gas through the stem. By covering the stem with plastic wrap, you prevent the gas from affecting the rest of the banana.
Save Money On Your Heating Bill
Why does your home feeler colder only an hour after turning off the heater? Cracks in windows let in a small breeze that can lower the temperature in your house. Seal these cracks with plastic wrap.
Cover the edges of your window with cling wrap. Then, grab your hairdryer and blow the wrap. The hot air will shrink wrinkles in the film, helping it to cover the window cracks tightly. Just don't open your windows during the colder months.
Unclog The Toilet (Without A Plunger)
Imagine your toilet is clogged. The water continues to rise, your plunger isn't cutting it, and you're running out of options. What do you do? The easiest answer is to grab some plastic wrap.
Cover the toilet seat tightly with plastic wrap, and flush the toilet. As the toilet flushes, the plastic wrap should bubble up. Force the bubble down with your hands. This force should create enough pressure to dislodge whatever is clogging your toilet.
Make Any Pair Of Pants Snow-Proof
High-quality snow clothes often have strings near the wrists and ankles, so you can "close" the clothing shut can keep your arms and legs dry. With plastic wrap, you can add this feature to any clothing item (although it may look a bit silly).
Coil plastic wrap around the ends of your sleeves or pant legs. The extra seal will keep out water and keep your limbs toasty. If you're worried about the look, cover the wrap with gloves or socks.
Clean Stove Stains
If you have stains on your stove that you can't get rid of, listen up! You need ammonia, paper towels, and plastic wrap. You only need a little bit of ammonia, so limit it to one-fourth cup per stovetop.
Soak the paper towels in ammonia, and lay them over the stove. Then seal the entire area with plastic wrap. After it soaks overnight, you should be able to easily clean off the stains in the morning.
Create A Hazy Effect On A Photo Without Photoshop
Have you ever seen photos with a light haze around the edges? If you want to achieve that look without editing, use some plastic wrap. Strip the wrap around the camera lens, but don't cover it. The wrap will reflect the light to give you a hazy rim.
You can also do this with a plastic sandwich bag. Cut a hole in the middle of the bag, and then push it around your camera lens. While it may look silly, the resulting photos won't.
Keep Your Ice Cream Creamy
Whenever you leave ice cream in the freezer for a while, tiny ice crystals form on the top layer. Those not only give you a harsh freezer burn, but they also make the ice cream way harder to scoop! Prevent this from happening with plastic wrap.
Before you put your ice cream tub away, spread a sheet of plastic over the open container. Then put the lid on. The plastic wrap will guard the top layer against cold air, while still keeping the ice cream chilled.
No Need For Tangled Jewelry
If you've ever traveled with jewelry, you know how easily they can tangle. A car ride is all it takes for necklaces and bracelets to become one giant knot. Make your life easier by packaging each piece in plastic wrap.
Spread out a layer of plastic wrap, and lay your necklaces down at least one inch apart from each other. Then, press another layer of plastic wrap on top. Gently roll or fold the plastic wrap to keep your jewelry safe and separated.
Reconnect Shattered Makeup
While makeup palettes are useful, they aren't exactly foolproof. Dropping the palette once or even sending it through the mail can shatter the powdered makeup. With rubbing alcohol and plastic wrap, you can rebuild your makeup.
Pour a few drops of 70% rubbing alcohol to your makeup. After it soaks in, cover the makeup tightly with plastic wrap. Using your fingers or a spoon, reshape the broken makeup. The oils will bind the makeup together, according to cosmetic chemist Randy Schueller.
Poach Eggs Like A Pro
Usually, poaching eggs is difficult. But if you use plastic wrap, it can be easy! To start, press plastic wrap into a small bowl. Crack an egg into it, making sure not to break the yolk. Pick up the plastic wrap, and keep the egg inside by twisting the wrap and clipping it. Then, dangle it above boiling water until it's cooked.
With most plastic wraps, this method is safe. The melting point of plastic wrap is between 220°F and 240°F, while water boils at 212°F. Check the label of the plastic wrap first to ensure that it won't leech into your food.
Protect Your Fridge Shelves
Cleaning refrigerator shelves can get annoying. After you clean your fridge shelves and let them dry, cover them with plastic wrap. Any crumbs or food pieces can easily be picked up and tossed with the wrap.
Speaking of the fridge, you may want to keep all of your plastic wrap in there. The cooler temperatures will prevent the wrap from sticking to itself, making it easier to pull off the sheets. Plus, it won't feel as tacky.
Trap Fruit Flies
Usually, people can't get too close to fruit flies. The little bugs speed off way before the fly swatter lands. The most efficient method to get rid of flies is by trapping them, and plastic wrap can help.
Here's what you do: leave out a cup of apple cider vinegar or fruit. Poke a hole in the wrap so that the flies can enter, but not escape. When a fly lands inside, carry the cup outside to release it.
Briefly Protect Your Phone
You may have heard the hack of sealing your phone in a ziplock bag to protect it from water. There's a similar hack that uses plastic wrap and lets you hold your phone without a ziplock, though. Cover it in plastic wrap!
Cut a long piece of plastic wrap and swathe it around your phone tightly. As long the phone doesn't overheat, you can still use the touch screen. The wrap will help shield your phone against sand and water droplets, but still, keep it out of the water.
Make Removable Labels
Some objects can become damaged by regular sticky labels. If you want a quick temporary label, try a plastic wrap alternative. You only need a sharpie. Make sure that you stretch out the plastic wrap so that you can write on it smoothly.
Tape the plastic wrap to stretch it out, or have someone else hold it while you write on the wrap. Then, pick up the wrap from its farthest sides to ensure that it won't stick to itself. Wrap it around any antique, electronic, or other fragile items.
Remove Sticky Adhesive Residue
Saving your pasta sauce jars is a convenient and environmentally friendly move. But when you remove the label, a sticky glue residue remains. To get rid of this pesky residue, use dish soap, warm water, and plastic wrap.
Lather the jar with warm water and dish soap. Then, wrap the container entirely in plastic wrap and leave it on for three to five minutes. When you take off the wrap, some glue residue should come off with it.
Preserve Your Paint
If you plan to paint for multiple days in a row, you'll want to keep the paint as fresh as possible. Plastic wrap prevents fresh paint from drying out, and you won't have to clean your tools every day, either.
When you end a day of painting, cover your paint cans with leftover plastic before you put the lid on. You can also wrap your paintbrush in plastic with the paint still on it. Since the paint won't dry out, it won't damage your brush.
Help Your Flowers Survive
If you've ever bought cut flowers, you're likely familiar with the plastic covering that it comes in. This plastic helps the flower stay fresh for longer. After you unwrap your flowers, you can recreate the cover with plastic wrap, a paper towel, and water.
Dampen the paper towel and wrap it around the bottom of the stems. Then, envelop the paper towel in plastic wrap. You can also layer the wet paper towel on top of the plastic and wrap them together.
Make Any Cup Spill-Proof
It can take a while for children to learn how to use cups. Parents who are tired of cleaning up spills should try this hack. Cover the top of the cup in plastic wrap. With a pair of scissors, poke a hole in the plastic to stick a straw through.
If you're teaching kids to hold glasses, don't cover the entire cup. You'll want them to learn how to handle a (potentially slippery) glass.
Don't Let Your Lettuce Go Limp
To prevent your lettuce from going bad quickly, try this hack. First, wash and dry your lettuce. Then place it in a bowl with a dry paper towel on top. Finally, cover the bowl with plastic wrap. You can also stuff the lettuce and paper towel into a plastic ziplock bag.
This setup will protect the lettuce it from spoiling. Every one or two days, check the paper towel and replace it if it becomes too wet. Remove any wilted leaves, too.
