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Encase your glassware for moving Are you relocating or packing up items for long-term storage? Use several sheets of soaking-wet newspapers to wrap up your glass dishes, bowls, drinking glasses, and other fragile items, and then let them thoroughly dry before packing. The newspaper will harden and form a protective cast around the glass that will dramatically improve its chances of surviving the move without breaking.
Store sweaters and blankets Don't treat moths to a fine meal of your homemade or store-bought woolen sweaters and blankets. When putting them into storage, wrap your woolens in a few sheets of newspaper (be sure to tape up the corners). It will keep away the moths, and keep out dust and dirt.
Clean and polish your windows If you're like most folks, you probably use a lot of absorbent paper towels for drying off your just-washed windows. Did you know that crumpled-up newspaper dries and polishes windows even better than paper towels? And it's a lot cheaper too.
Deodorize luggage and containers Do you have a plastic container or wooden box with a persistent, unpleasant odor? Stuff in a few sheets of crumpled newspaper and seal it closed for three or four days. You can also use this technique to deodorize trunks and suitcases (using more newspaper, of course).
Dry wet shoes If your shoes get soaked after walking through the rain or slogging through the snow, stuff them with dry, balled-up newspaper to prevent any long-term damage. Place the shoes on their sides at room temperature so the moisture can be thoroughly absorbed. For severe sogginess, you may need to replace the stuffing a few times.
Make an impromptu ironing board If you always take along a travel iron -- just in case you end up in a motel that doesn't provide irons and ironing boards -- it's a cinch to make your own on-the-road ironing board. Simply fill a pillowcase with a short stack of newspapers, keeping it as level as possible. Then place it on a countertop or the floor and get pressing.
Create an emergency splint If someone you're with takes a nasty fall -- and you suspect there may be a bone injury to an arm or leg -- it's important to immobilize the limb to prevent pain and additional damage. Fashion a makeshift splint by folding up several sheets of newspaper until stiff and attach it beneath the limb using a few pieces of adhesive tape. You may need to overlap a couple of folded sheets to make a splint long enough for a leg injury.
Remove oven residue They may call it a self-cleaning oven, but when it's done cleaning, you always have to contend with mopping off that ashlike residue. Don't waste a roll of paper towels on the flaky stuff; clean it up with a few sheets of moistened, crumpled newspaper.
Pick up broken glass shards Okay, so everyone breaks a big glass bowl at least once in a lifetime. It's no big thing. A safe way to get up the small shards of glass that remain after you remove the large pieces is to blot the area with wet newspapers. The tiny fragments will stick to the paper, which makes for easy disposal. Just carefully drop the newspaper in your garbage can.
Unscrew a broken lightbulb To remove a broken lightbulb, wad up several sheets of newspaper, press the paper over the bulb, and turn it counterclockwise. (Make sure you're wearing protective gloves and that the power is off.) The bulb should loosen up enough to remove from the socket. Wrap it in the paper and toss it into the garbage.
Slow-ripen tomatoes in late fall Is there an early frost predicted and you still have a bunch of tomatoes on the vine? Relax. Pick your tomatoes and wrap each one in a couple of sheets of newspaper. Store them in airtight containers inside a dark cabinet or closet at room temperature. Check each one every three to four days; they will all eventually ripen to perfection.
Line your trash compactor Putting a few layers of newspapers at the bottom of your trash compactor will not only soak up the nasty odors caused by rotting foods, it will also protect the unit against damage caused by any sharp objects that manage to squeeze through.
Use as mulch Newspaper makes terrific mulch for veggies and flowers. It's excellent at retaining moisture and does an equally fine job at fighting off and suffocating weeds. Just lay down several sheets of newspaper. Then cover the paper with about 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) of wood mulch so it doesn't blow away. Warning: Avoid using glossy stock and colored newsprint for mulching (or composting); color inks may contain lead or harmful dyes that can leach into the ground. To check your newsprint, contact your local paper and ask about the inks they use; many papers now use only safe vegetable-based inks.
Add to compost Adding moderate amounts of wet, shredded newsprint -- printed in black ink only -- to your compost heap is a good and relatively safe way to reduce odor and to give earthworms a tasty treat.
Adios, earwigs If your garden is under siege by earwigs -- those creepy-looking insects with the sharp pincers on their hindquarters -- get rid of them by making your own environmentally friendly traps. Tightly roll up a wet newspaper, and put a rubber band around it to keep it from unraveling. Place it in the area you've seen the insects, and leave it overnight. By morning, it will be standing room only for the bugs. Place the newspaper in a plastic grocery bag, tie a knot at the top of the bag, and toss it into the trash. Repeat until your traps are free of earwigs.
Winterize outdoor faucets If you live in an older home without frost-free outdoor spigots, it's a good idea to insulate the outdoor faucets. To prevent damage from ice and cold temperatures, make sure you shut off the valve to each faucet, and drain off any excess water from the spigots. Then insulate each faucet by wrapping it with a few sheets of newspaper covered with a plastic bag (keep the bag in place by wrapping it with duct tape or a few rubber bands).
Protect windows when painting Don't bother buying thick masking or carpenter tape when painting around the windows of your home. Simply wet several long strips of newspaper and place them on the glass alongside the wood you're painting. The newspaper will easily adhere to the surface and keep the paint off the glass or frames, and it is much easier to remove than tape.
Roll your own fireplace logs Bad winter on the way? Bolster your supply of fireplace logs by making a few of your own out of old newspapers. Just lay out a bunch of sheets end to end, roll them up as tightly as you can, tie up the ends with twine or wire, and wet them in a solution of slightly soapy water. Although it will take a while, let them dry thoroughly, standing on end, before using. Note: Do not use newspaper logs in a woodstove unless the manufacturer specifies that it is okay.
Put traction under your wheels Unless your vehicle has four-wheel drive, it's always a good idea to keep a small stack of newspapers in the trunk of your car during the winter months to prevent getting stranded on a patch of ice or slush. Placing a dozen or two sheets of newspaper under each rear wheel will often provide just the traction you need to get your car back on the road.
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