You've got a few wine bottle corks tucked in your junk drawer, right? Perfect. Today we're going to pull them out and put them to good use. Here are five household helpers using corks:
1 Don't know what to do with your leftover corks? You can reuse them!
2 Let's transform these corks into household helpers.
3 Craft blades are sharp, and can be dangerous when left uncovered.
4 Protect yourself with a cork as a blade guard.
5 Carefully cut corks using a serrated knife.
6 You want to cut thin cork circles.
7 Wood or basic craft glues work with cork.
8 Use your cork as a cabinet bumper.
9 Organize your sewing kit.
10 Stick pins and needles in the cork.
11 Some chair legs can scratch the floor or wobble.
12 Add a cork circle to avoid scrapes and keep furniture flat on the ground!
13 Corks are like sponges, soaking up melting snow on boot trays.
Boot Tray Sponge
Prevent melting snow from overflowing the boot tray edge by tossing a cork or two onto the tray. The cork acts as a sponge and soaks up the excess water, keeping it off your floor.
Cabinet Bumper Pad
Stop cabinet doors from slamming shut with a small cork circle. Using a serrated knife cut a sliver of cork from one end. Adhere the cork circle to the top corner of the interior cabinet door where the cabinet and cabinet door meet—your noisy problem will be gone for good.
Exacto Knife Sheath
Not every crafting knife comes with a protective shield or if yours did and now it is missing so try this—gently slide the sharp end of the knife into the soft top of the cork. No more unprotected sharp blades.
Furniture Leg Protector
Keep your hardwood floors safe from scratches by gluing a thin, cork circle to furniture legs. This is also a perfect solution for wobbly tables and chairs.
Push Pin Keeper
When you use a cork as a pin holder you'll never misplace a pin again. Stick needles and pins directly into the cork then toss it in your sewing basket. Another great idea is to glue a half a cork to the wall near your sewing machine as an easy place to stick pins as you work.
If you have more corks then you could ever re-use, donate them to the Cork ReHarvest! Whole Foods recently became a drop off center.
GOT ITEMS YOU HATE TOSSING? TRY ME!
What other household items do you hate throwing away but aren't sure how to put to good use? I take requests!
Until next time keep it simple and clutter-free!
Jamie Novak, The World’s Most Relatable Organizer, is author of "Stop Throwing Money Away: Turn Clutter to Cash, Trash to Treasure—And Save the Planet While You're at It." Please visit her website at JamieNovak.com.
From: STC Weekly Digs. | something to chase | 2/7/11 at 11:17 am
[...] Don’t toss them! What to do with wine corks. [...]
From: Jamie Novak | 2/7/11 at 5:02 pm
I need to know what you do with your wine bottle corks?
From: Cathywren | 2/8/11 at 12:47 am
I wedge used corks (but not the plastic ones) in the handle of my copper pan lids. Instead of needing a hot pad to lift the lid on a hot pot, I just lift it by the edges of the cork and haven't burned myself yet.
From: Ann Penhallow | 2/8/11 at 5:30 am
Thanks for this useful post. I have a bag of corks in a kitchen cupboard, which I've been saving for that perfect use. Looking forward to saving scratch proofing my kitchen floor now!
From: Jamie Novak | 2/8/11 at 1:12 pm
Glad to help Ann, let us know how it works out. And I take requests in case you have anything else around that you hate to toss let me know and I'll try to find a clever re-use!
From: Jamie Novak | 2/8/11 at 1:13 pm
Cathywren that's clever!
From: lou | 2/12/11 at 9:47 pm
i use mine by gluing them on a piece of tile and use for hot pad or coaster