14 Clever Uses Of Coffee Filters

C offee-lover?

Modern capsule coffee machines may produce great drinks , but there's one thing they don't provide us with - an abundance of coffee filters.

There are so many great uses for coffee filters that they're definitely worth having around the home - whether you use them for actual coffee or not!

The beauty with coffee filters is they can generally be reused more times than a paper towel and they leave no lint at all. I try not to use paper when cloth will do, but there are some jobs where a cloth just won’t work.

You use coffee filters every day to make your favorite morning brew , but they have lots of other uses around the house.

Let’s find out how coffee filters are used beyond coffee brewing:

REMOVE SEDIMENT FROM WINE <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BQbljfDgEL-/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> View this post on Instagram Redneck Decanter! #coffeefilter #FINEASWINE 🍷

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Older bottles of wine may collect sediment, including dead yeast cells , bits of grape, and phenolic molecules . You can remove sediment and rid the wine of any grittiness by filtering it out through an unbleached coffee filter.

Don’t let cork crumbs ruin your enjoyment of a good glass of wine. If your attempt at opening the bottles results in floating cork crumbs, just decant the wine through a coffee filter.

SERVE UP SNACK CUPS <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-version="12" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/8OpoWJAsiI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-captioned=""> View this post on Instagram Tuesday tart prep , that's a thing right? #tart #coffeefilters #beans #blindbake

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Coffee filters can make practical and disposable snack cups . Fill them with perfect portions of popcorn, pretzels, and other munchies. Additionally, u can also keep a small stack in the glovebox of your car to portion out large orders of fast-food French fries for your very own portable snack bowl.

If you’ve got a ton of coffee filters, you can use them as inexpensive, disposable snack dishes .

WHIP UP YUMMY YOGURT DIP

With any regular jar, place a coffee filter on top and use a rubber band to secure it. Slowly pour eight ounces of yogurt onto the filter and let drain for about an hour. In a bowl, mix the thickened yogurt with the garlic and parsley, and add salt and pepper to taste. Grab your favorite crackers and enjoy!

STEEP LOOSE LEAF TEA <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BA-ZTAqHpes/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> View this post on Instagram Out of #teabags? No worries! Just grab a coffee filter #coffeefilterteabag #diy

A post shared by Sophia Briones/ Healthy Living (@sophiabriones1) on Jan 25, 2016 at 12:10pm PST

Coffee filters are the perfect makeshift tea bag for your loose leaf tea collections. This trick works even better than normal teabags, especially if you use good-quality coffee filters.

If you've got no tea strainer to hand for whatever reason, a coffee filter could be just what you need. Fill the center with tea leaves , tie with string, and hang into hot water to brew. This one is particularly good for large batches - perfect for fancy tea parties!

GET CRAFTY <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BXBFLpclskC/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> View this post on Instagram #SharkWeek #VerseOfTheWeek #TotSchool #Preschool #HomeSchool #MomOfBoys #BoyMom #2YearOld #ToddlerArt #GlueFun #CoffeeFilter #ConstructionPaper #GoogleEyes #Scissors #CuttingPractice #LearningThroughPlay #2Timothy17

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Hook your kids up with a stack of coffee filters and watch their imaginations run wild. These versatile white papers are the perfect base for crafts like coffee filter snowflakes, wreaths, painted roses, and more. It's so much better than looking at television screens for days.

POLISH GLASS

Crafted from virgin paper, coffee filters will polish glasses, mirrors, and computer screens without leaving behind lint. They're more effective than paper towels and are a necessity for clean windows.

Luckily, coffee filters are made from 100% virgin paper, so they shine glass without leaving any lint behind.

Now, your office's coffee filters will come in handy for more than just caffeine alone!

PROTECT CHINA PLATES, BOWLS, AND CUPS <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BXIsygplM06/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> View this post on Instagram ☀️ saturday morning at the #lnmbungalow ☀️

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Worried about your fine china getting scuffs and scratches?

Take a couple filters, flattened them out, and use them when stacking the dishes. They're often the perfect size to cover full dinner plates.

Slightly thicker than a normal piece of paper, coffee filters have a circular construction to match that of a normal plate . If you have fine, delicate china that you need to store, a coffee filter is a perfect way to stack pieces on top of each other without causing damage.

MAINTAIN A DEWY COMPLEXION

Coffee filters make excellent face blotters and absorb excess oils wonderfully without leaving residue on your face. Without tricky ingredients like essential oils or the like, it's a great alternative to those with sensitive skin that can be easily agitated, even by simple items like cotton balls.

PREVENT STICKY FINGERS FROM POPSICLES <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BXLjrZogHL_/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> View this post on Instagram 🍦❄☉ #icecream#popsicle#stick#juice#fruits#fruitjuice#chocolate#fusée#space#spaceship#pink#yellow#green#brown#darkchocolate#refreshing#ice#iced#cold#freeze#hot#summer#sun#glace#food#foodislife#foodaddict#foodlover

A post shared by Valentine Nguyen 💕🎀 (@valentine_ng84) on Jul 30, 2017 at 11:21am PDT

Next time you dig a popsicle or ice pop out of the freezer , grab a coffee filter. By poking the popsicle stick through the hole , you can catch drips and keep your fingers from getting sticky.

This same trick works for extra-large ice cream cones with more scoops than you can reasonably eat before the dripping begins. Some people think there’s real pleasure in licking up the drippings, but if you disagree, these are better than napkins.

PROTECT FRAGILE ITEMS DURING SHIPPING

Coffee filters can double as shipping material for fragile items. Fold a stack of filters accordion-style, cut the paper into strips, and pack up your box. They also work well when stacked between cast iron pots and pans to prevent scraping.

FRESHEN YOUR CLOTHES

They're so absorbent and filtering, that coffee filters can be turned into homemade dryer sheets. Simply grab your favourite liquid fabric softener and rub about 1 to 2 teaspoons all over the filter. Smooth it out, and toss it in for fresh, soft fabrics.

CATCH SOIL

When repotting a plant, use a coffee filter to cover the drainage hole in the pot, and then add soil. This will prevent soil from falling through, while still allowing the water to drain.

The coffee filter stops the dirt while still allowing the water to flow through and not waterlog the plant.

MAKE AN AIR FRESHENER

Fill a coffee filter with baking soda, twist-tie it shut and you have just made an air freshener. Make several and tuck them into shoes, wardrobes, the fridge or wherever else they may be needed.

Air fresheners make the home smell lovely, but they aren't half expensive! Add your favourite herbs/dried petals along with some essential oils into the centre of the filter, then bunch into a ball and tie with string.

Hide around the home for beautiful freshness wherever you go.

FACE OIL BLOTTING SHEETS

Coffee filters are great for using on your face to remove oil or for use on your skin. Coffee filters are way cheaper than blotting sheets and will work just as well because they made from nearly the same material.

You can get extra crafty and cut up some coffee filters into squares to carry around in a tin so you have some in stock anywhere you go.

Coffee filters are actually a really versatile purchase for your home. Their specialized construction makes them ideal for use in a whole host of cleaning jobs. If you run out of them, there are endless alternatives, like paper towels and even (clean) underwear , that you can use as an emergency replacement.