11 Clever Uses for Wax Paper Around the House (That Don't Involve Cooking)

Clean and Polish Faucets

Make your kitchen faucet sparkle by cleaning and polishing it with wax paper. "The wax paper's subtle abrasion not only buffs away unsightly marks, but also leaves a protective layer that repels future smudges," says Eli Cohen, co-founder of The ADU Guide.

Line Drawers and Shelves

Using wax paper to line your drawers, particularly kitchen and bathroom drawers, protects them from spills, stains, and anything else that falls to the bottom, and makes it much easier to wipe up and clean. "You can also use it to line your refrigerator shelves and prevent any food leaks all over them," says Petya Holevich, domestic cleaning expert from Fantastic Services.

Protect Silverware

If you have real silverware, you know that it's susceptible to tarnishing, which is what happens when the silver oxidizes, but using wax paper to store your precious silverware can help. "If you place a sheet of wax paper on top of your silverware before storing it, it’ll help prevent tarnishing because the wax coating helps to slow down the oxidation process," says Holevich.

Prevent Items From Sticking Together

From cups and bowls to book pages, inserting wax paper in between items can prevent them from damaging each other in the process. "If you place a sheet of wax paper between stacked items, such as plates or bowls, it’ll prevent them from sticking together and getting scratched," Holevich says.

Likewise, consider placing sheets of wax paper in between your stack of metal cookware, too. "Place a sheet of wax paper between stacked metal items like pots and pans to prevent rusting," says James King, operations manager at DeluxeMaid.

Protect Clothes While Ironing

Wax paper can help protect delicate clothes from the heat of an iron. "If you place a sheet of wax paper between the iron and delicate fabrics to prevent sticking and any shine transfer, it’ll act as a protective barrier while still allowing heat to pass through and iron the item," Holevich says.

Preserve Cheese

Put down the plastic wrap. Instead, wrap leftover cheese in wax paper to preserve freshness. "I’d recommend wrapping cheese in wax paper instead of plastic wrap to help it breathe and prevent it from sweating, which will help maintain its flavor and texture for longer," says Holevich.

Protect Wood Cooking Items

The waxy residue from wax paper is the perfect protector for wooden cutting boards, wooden spoons, and wooden serveware like bowls. It naturally repels water and moisture (wood's worst enemy) as well as protects from scratches. "Also, for cutting boards on which you cut raw meat, you can prevent the meat juices from soaking the cutting board by putting a few sheets over it while performing the task," Holevich says. "This is especially useful because meat juices are hard to clean and sanitize later on."

Clean an Iron

Your iron will be as good as new with this salt-wax paper cleaning tip. "You can clean your iron with wax paper by placing salt on it, plugging in the appliance, and ironing over the salty wax paper," says Holevich.

Protect Surfaces During Craft Projects

Wax paper can be extremely useful for protecting your work surfaces as you work on various craft projects. "In the studio, we sometimes use wax paper to protect surfaces when doing craft projects or while packaging products, since it repels liquids and can easily be thrown away after a messy job," says Roxie Lubanovic, co-founder of Frostbeard Studio.

Remove Water Rings

You might think it's impossible to remove water rings from your wood furniture, but it's not—all you need is some wax paper and an iron. "Place a piece of wax paper over water rings on wooden surfaces and run a warm iron over it to remove the moisture," says King.

Smooth Wooden Drawer Tracks

Are your drawers getting stuck? An easy solution is to use wax paper on the tracks. "Rub wax paper along wooden drawer tracks for smoother opening and closing," King says.