8 Creative Ways To Reuse Aluminum Foil Boxes Instead Of Trashing Them

When you commit to making your household a bit more eco-friendly, recycling is the typical way to deal with cardboard without simply throwing it away. However, it can be way more useful (and fun) to repurpose this material into handy organizers and other household gadgets. The dispenser boxes that hold your aluminum foil are some of the most underrated examples, as there are many ways to transform these boxes from trash to treasure.

Clever aluminum foil hacks for the kitchen will help you use up every bit of the roll, but you may have never thought to save the box it comes in. These boxes are not only compatible with almost any cardboard upcycling idea, but the sharp cutter on the edge makes them uniquely suited for certain tasks. We've trawled the internet to find eight ingenious ideas for aluminum foil boxes, all of which are simple to pull off.

These hacks can work no matter which brand of aluminum foil you purchase, and can also be applied to plastic wrap, parchment paper, or wax paper boxes, for that matter. You can even customize the look of your DIY projects with paint, decoupage, stickers, and more. You'll be surprised by how pretty and useful these leftover boxes can really be.

One of the most popular upcycling ideas for aluminum foil boxes turns them into holders for decorative washi tape, as the little rolls fit neatly inside. For a cute makeover, paint the outside of the box, apply a design using decals or stencils, or cover it in patterned wallpaper. If you keep the cutter on the lip of the box, you can use that to cut the tape, too. This hack is a must-try for journalers and scrapbookers alike.

Need to bring kitchen knives on the go? Throwing them in a box and hoping for the best is a disaster waiting to happen. For an easy recycled sheath, flatten an aluminum foil box and cut off a piece slightly longer than your knife blade and about twice as wide. Lay the blade on one half of the piece, fold the other half over, and secure it with tape or a rubber band. This clever knife storage hack can also work with paper towel tubes.

Nothing is more frustrating than the blade on a tape dispenser dulling over time, forcing you to yank extra hard whenever you need a piece. A foil box can come to the rescue — as demonstrated in this YouTube video, you can carefully remove the blade from the box, cut it into a fragment that fits your dispenser, and use tape to affix it above the old, dull blade. Bam! Suddenly, your tape dispenser is like new again.

An advantage of flexible silicone baking mats is that you can roll them up to save space, but they can easily unravel and get dusty out in the open. Empty aluminum foil boxes make a clever storage solution for silicone mats — simply remove the blade, roll up a mat, and tuck into the box just like a roll of foil. Try stacking a few mats and rolling them up into one to save even more space.

Keeping spice bottles organized is a must for easier cooking, but you may not have the space or money for a big spice rack. For an upcycled substitute, simply remove the blade from an aluminum foil box and line up your spice shakers inside. The long, slim shape is perfect for organizing an array of small bottles. If you keep spices on the counter, try dressing up the box with your favorite DIY decor methods.

When you want to treat someone, reusing cardboard boxes from around the house is cheaper and less wasteful than buying gift boxes. They can also look just as nice with the help of wrapping paper and a bow. Foil boxes are great for small things that can be arranged in a row, such as homemade cookies, boxes of candy and snacks, or a soap or lotion set. Just make sure to remove the blade beforehand.

While you can buy organizers that divide your drawers into nice, neat compartments, leftover cardboard boxes provide a free alternative. To use an aluminum foil box, remove the blade, cut off the top lid, then use the main body as is or cut lengthwise into cubes to create several smaller compartments. Arrange them in your drawer as you like, place different items into each section, and say goodbye to those messy tangles of disorganized junk.

Don't throw away all the blades you've removed from your aluminum foil boxes. You can use them as miniature hacksaws for other DIY projects, and they can also double as letter openers. Just make sure to store them in a protective bag, sleeve, or container in a place you'll remember, so you won't go digging for them and cut yourself by accident. As with all sharp objects, keep them out of the reach of children and pets.