Multiple Uses for Newspaper Pages
A few summers back, I was standing on a neighbor’s front lawn with a few friends, enjoying the host’s outdoor party.
At one point, one of the neighborhood kids walked up to me and said, “There’s an old man sitting on your front lawn.”
My house was about five or six doors down, and when I squinted I could barely make out the person to whom she was referring. I said, “Wow, you must really have good eyesight to know that’s an old man sitting there. All I can tell is that it’s someone reading a newspaper.”
She then replied, “That’s how I know he’s old. I can’t see his face, but if he’s reading a newspaper, he must be an old man.”
Ouch. That really hurt. I still read newspapers, and to be honest, I have been around the block a few times. But up until that moment, I had never really associated reading newspapers with being an old man.
I realize there are plenty of other ways to acquire your news these days, but one of the things I like about newspapers is that you can get so many other uses out of them once you’re finished reading them.
Here are seven you might want to consider:
- Packing fragile items. Newspaper pages are great for wrapping dishware and other breakables prior to storage or moving.
- Removing smudges. It seems strange to use something for cleaning that leaves ink on your hands, but it really does work on cleaning glass such as mirrors and windows.
- Drying shoe and boot bottoms. When you enter your home with wet shoes or boots, remove them and place them on newspapers, which will absorb the moisture.
- Ripen tomatoes. Wrap each tomato individually in newspaper and leave them on a counter, where they will ripen nicely.
- Deodorize containers. Wad up a newspaper page or two and place it in a sealed food container overnight.
- Dry the vegetable crisper. Refrigerator draws can collect moisture and start to smell, but lining them with newspaper can solve the problem.
- Add to the compost pile. Newspapers make for good composting material, but don’t just toss them in the pile. Shred them first so that oxygen can flow through better.
And next time you see an old man sitting on your front lawn reading a newspaper, ask him if you can have the paper when he’s finished with it.
Also a must if you have birds as pets. I did parrot rescue for many years and usually had 25-30 parrots at a time. They are very messy. They always kept the jungle very productive growing their favorite foods by dropping it on the ground, nest year there it would be for them! People say parrots are “dirty”. they are not, but since they are reseeding the surroundings do get very messy. If we have them we have to supply the food that they would regrow themselves in the wild – therefore newspapers are essentials.
We always used the “funnies” for wrapping for birthday and Christmas gifts. Those were the only gifts that very carefully unwrapped by the kids so they could read them later.
In days of old, when folks went to the outhouse for the toilet hadn’t been invented, newspaper was the thing to carry with them.
Tear off a piece, crumple and roll it in your hands to soften it and you have the equivalent of tissue.
Fact: In Bosnia during the war, ANYTHING that would work as tissue was a premium bartering item and newspaper held the top spot.
Besides, it takes a lot less room to store newspaper than rolls of tissue. Just make sure to put it in good plastic trash bags to protect if from drying out and becoming brittle.
Haven’t seen this ,but it goes along with the refrigerator drawers take several pages and loosely crumple them and place in side of your ice chest / coolers to keep the dry and fresh while stored till needed.
I know this sounds a bit strange, but, it works and it is better than a paper towel. Use newspaper to clean your windows or glass any where in the house or car. You spray your ammonia/water solution on the glass and use the newspaper to wipe the widow clean.
Roll up newspapers as tight as possible about 1-2″ in daiameter. Tie string every inch or two. Saw the roll into pieces. Soak rolls in a tin parrifin wax. Use low heat for safety. These little fire starters will burn a long time and even start a fire during rain. This tip from a survival book published in the 1920’s.
I have used them for 50 years without a single failure. A fun project to make with your grandkids.
Teach them a livesaving skill.
You can sprinkle a little sulphur powder before you start to roll your paper and tie it down with string. The follow through with what Mr. Stewart has stated above. Then you can put your “little fire started” in the fire place or on your camp fire and watch the pretty colours as the newspaper burns. Ole trick from an old Boy Scout.
I forgot to mention you can make a fire log doing the same thing. Just roll your newspaper into a log ( the size of the log is up to you and the sulphur powder is optional too, but very pretty to watch), You won’t need to soak it in paraffin wax. As the paper burns, it will do so at a slow rate and burn cleanly. It is a great way to start a fire on a wet day or environment. Of course you can cut your log in half and have two instead of just one log to keep you warm and toasty.
What a great idea, thanks Duncan!
My garden is made of raised beds. I put down a layer of newspaper between the beds and cover it with lawn clippings. It makes a super mulch, and keeps the weeds down and the water in. it also lets the worms work their wonders in the soil.
Now That’s a good idea. I’ll give it a try.
I use Newspaper in the raised beds as well as between the beds to control weeds and aid in moisture retention. The ink is soy based so shouldn’t be a problem. Just don’t use the glossy paper in the raised beds.
If you are stuck in the cold without proper warm clothing crumpled newspaper stuffed inside what you have on, pants shirt light jacket etc. could save your life.
Critical to stay dry.
I have used newspapers for years to dry and deodorize shoes, boots and sneakers. Just crumple the sheets up and stuff them inside. This also helps to prevent athletes foot.
I use them and a old rolled up magazine to keep my boots standing tall and straight without the wrinkles.
You place some newspaper in the toe of your boot, all balled up of course, then roll your magazine and place it inside the boot and allow it to unwind. Then place several balled up newspapers inside the boot to keep the magazine in place and snugly against the side of your boot.
I have fixed a pan of hot stew before leaving on a camping trip. I placed the covered pan in a box and sourounded it with crumpled paper. and closed the flaps. After traveling several hours, and setting up camp. I opened the box took out a hot steaming pan and enjoyed a hot meal. All with out having to get a fire going to cook supper.
You forgot to mention that you can use them as mulch in your veggie garden. Seven layers with straw on top and it will help keep the weeds down and the moisture in the dirt.
I like the “Funnies”, never seen those on any smart phones!! And yes, I am old!! Don’t mess with us old folks!! LOL
My favorite pages too, especially on Sunday. Listen and learn younguns’, don’t mess with us old folks (we fight dirty).
Here is another use, along the same line as composting. Lay newspapers flat, several pages deep,on the ground between your vegetable plants, and weight them down with a few stones so they won’t blow away. They are good for keeping the soil moist and the weeds from sprouting.
My grandpa would wrap frozen items they would bring to my parents house in newspaper to keep them insulated during their drive to keep the items from thawing My mom would then put the items in our freezer for storage.
Sounds like a breath of fresh air…. can’t wait to start reading. By the way, I must be REALLY old because I still prefer hardbound “paper” books to read, though I do have an electronic reader, computer, smart phone, etc.
Amen, Juliana: In addition, a ‘paper’ book doesn’t have to be turned off when you travel by plane… and doesn’t require a wi-fi connection.