10 Simple Aluminum Foil Life Hacks You Can Try Right Now
Aluminum foil is so versatile. We use it for anything from baking to making lovely hats. But why limit it to these mundane everyday things? Here are 10 awesome aluminum foil life hacks for you to use right away.
You're welcome, as always.
[Image Source: Pixabay]
1. Make a funnel
Well, this one is pretty obvious when you think about it. Having problems decanting some wine or perhaps you need to pour off some oil from a large drum. But where is the funnel? Why do those things keep getting misplaced?
Fear not, utilizing the incredible power of aluminum foil you can craft your own "rustic" funnel instead. Brilliant stuff, now you can pour away to your heart's content.
[Image Source: TheCreekLineHouse]
2. 50% time saving on ironing
Who doesn't like ironing things? Well, we don't. Anything that can help us speed up this mind numbing process would be a "god send".
Step up aluminum foil once again. Aluminum is a great conductor of heat, as it turns out. This can be used to your advantage.
Simply iron over a layer of Aluminum foil and you can simultaneously iron the top and bottom of the item in question. Neat right? Here's a handy guide.
[Image Source: WikiHow]
3. Boost your Wi-Fi signal
Do you have an older wireless router? Perhaps you live in a castle with feet thick walls. We can't help with the latter, but you can give your Wi-Fi a minor boost using aluminum foil.
Wi-Fi routers tend to have a range of around 20 meters. And you should think about where you site it or perhaps consider other boosting devices.
But why use an off the shelf solution, DIY is so much more satisfying right? Firstly, take some aluminum foil, fold it several times and make a crude concave reflector. Finally, place that behind your router's antenna. This not only looks awesome (ahem) but also helps boost your signal, at least in one direction. Nice.
4. Boost battery life
Ah man batteries, the bane of everyone, but most especially parents. If you find your batteries have run down (what a surprise) you'll be needing some fresh ones.
But what to do if you only have AAA, when you need some AA? Ah man, how annoying. No problem, Good ol' aluminum foil is here to save the day once again.
Jam some foil between the + tips of the battery and the battery holder and hey presto, battery power restored! This is a perfect solution. Thanks, aluminum!
[Image Source: Top Trending/YouTube]
5. Firestarter
Wait, we haven't finished with batteries and foil just yet. If you find yourself in need of starting a fire but only have batteries and aluminum foil what can you do?
Well, as it turns out you have the perfect combination of items to do just that. Just throw in something flammable too, of course.
Cut a strip of foil, fold it in half and cut out a small section. Wrap the flammable material around the thin connecting strip between the larger sections and connect to either end of the battery.
Oh yeah, "burny" goodness!
6. Sharpen your scissors
Do you suffer from continuously blunting scissors? Perhaps you just love to make crafty things or writing ransom notes? Who knows, who are we to judge?
In any case, aluminum foil is a life saver once again. What a versatile material it is. But how? We hear you ask. It's very simple indeed, as it turns out.
Just cut into some foil with those deviously blunt scissors and they'll sharpen like no one's business. Nice.
[Image Source: SoSewEasy]
7. Save on the washing up
Love frying things? Get annoyed when cooked food decides to stick to the bottom of the pan? Yeah, we all do at the end of the day.
Perhaps you've run short on cooking oil too? No problem, Aluminum Foil has got you covered. Simply line the bottom of the pan in a layer of this stuff and cook away to your heart's content.
The foil provides a protective layer that stops the food from sticking to the pan. Brilliant and it saves you a ton of time cleaning the damn thing afterward. Sweet. This'll work whilst camping too.
[Image Source: BrightSide]
8. Homemade cell phone stylus
Do you need to draw or handwrite something on your cell phone? Are your "fat fingers" making it look like an ant crawled across your screen? Yeah, we've all been there.
Fear no more, aluminum foil can help you there too. Take a pen, or pencil, wrap it in foil, tighten the end (so no ink or screen scratching surfaces are exposed) and boom! Your very own homemade stylus.
Yeah up yours overly priced, off the shelf stylus accessories! Who needs you.
9. Smoke bombs!!!
Need to get out of a tight spot? Pinned down by snipers on your way to the shops? It's a good thing you came prepared. Dig out those ping pong balls and foil, you remembered to bring those right?
Cut a hole as wide as your finger in the ball. For better results chop up the second ball and fill the first with the bits. Now stick a pen in the hole (you brought that too yeah?) and cover everything in foil. Once complete, remove the pen to leave a foil tube sticking out the ball.
You can also do this without cutting the ball, see the video below.
Now light her up and sneak away without anyone noticing. Be careful this may produce some toxic gases.
10. Make a little missile
OK, we could have chosen resealing bags or cleaning silverware and iron for our last entry, but those are lame.
Why not make your own little rocket using aluminum foil? Yeah, we thought you'd like that. All you need is some foil, a few matches and some wooden skewers.
They look cool and have quite a range really.
So there you go. 10 awesome aluminum foil life hacks for your consideration. Have you got any suggestions? Feel free to comment below.
Sources: BrightSide, EasyHacker