Plastic wrap: Is there actually a more annoying kitchen device? Seriously, it clings to everything you don’t want it to cling to (your prying fingers, the dirt on the counter tops…) and falls off the things you actually need covered. What good are you, plastic wrap?!
Well, actually, despite my distain for the see-through sticky stuff, there are some surprising, innovative uses for it. Plastic wrap might have been made to wrap and store leftovers, but we all know it doesn’t really work well for that.
These new uses for plastic wrap have totally blown my mind. They’re so simple yet so complex. We bet you didn’t know plastic wrap could do any of these things.
Plastic wrap can act as a…
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Sticky-hands barrier.
You know when you’re cooking a meal that requires you to get down and dirty with your hands—rolling cookie dough or meatballs into balls, perhaps? How many times have you had to check the recipe on your phone for what to do next—right after you dig in to the bowl? Next time you’re on the messy-hands struggle bus, put a sheet of plastic wrap over your phone before you start cooking. You’ll still be able to scroll through your recipe, but completely mess free!
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Makeshift vase.
If you’ve ever bought a bouquet of flowers for someone, you know they don’t always come together in a bunch. But instead of paying extra for all the extra amenities, just dampen a paper towel, wrap it around the stems, and then secure it with plastic wrap. They’ll hold together great! Note: This is also a good trick if you ever receive a flowers from someone, and then embarrassingly stumble around the house trying to find a vase to put them in. The water will temporarily moisten the stems so the flowers don’t die before you find the vase! Brilliant.
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Sippy cup.
Whether you use this method for your toddler or just yourself while you’re multitasking with 18 other things (the struggle), it works pretty well. Pour yourself your normal drink in your normal cup, and then cover it with a layer of plastic wrap. Poke a hole in the top, and voila!
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Spill protectant.
I thought it was just me who always packed her contact lens solution in my luggage and am shocked each time I pull it out after it completely soaked everything. Whenever packing something with liquid, there’s always that chance it’ll spill amid all the movement. Enter: Plastic wrap. Open the top of the liquid, put a layer of plastic wrap down, and then secure the cap back on. It’ll no longer spill and your clothes will arrive dry!
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Banana freshener.
Personally, I hate the taste of a an overripe banana; I much prefer bananas when they’re perfectly yellow without a speck of brown. If you have similar taste, this next trick is for you: Just wrap some plastic wrap around the tips of the ripe banana stem’s bunch. The plastic wrap helps contain ethylene gas, which bananas produce naturally as they begin to ripen.
How cool are these ways to use plastic wrap? We can’t wait to try some of these!
For visual tutorials on how to make each of these tricks work, be sure to check out the video below!