42 Unbelievable Coffee Filter Hacks with Video

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Coffee filters are for more than just making wonderful coffee. Here are several coffee filter hacks and unexpected uses for them in your home.

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Coffee Filter Hacks and Uses for Coffee Filters Video

Coffee Filter Hacks for the Kitchen

Use coffee filters as dish protectors

Keep your dishes and fine china safe from scuff marks by placing a disposable paper filter between each dish. Consider even using cone coffee filters, by cutting them in half along their seams.

Stacking pans with coffee filters

Protect pots and pans

Place coffee. filters between your pots and pans to protect them from being scratched and compromising the surfaces.

placing coffee filter in a cast iron pan

Stop rust on cast iron pans

Wipe excess moisture off of your cast iron pans to prevent rusting. You can even leave a coffee filter on top of the pan to soak up anything that might be sitting on or in the pan that you missed, and protect the surface when stacking.

Grease a pan with a coffee filter

Place some oil or butter in a pan and smear it around with a coffee filter.

straining liquid with a coffee filter

Strain liquids with a coffee filter

Some liquids can go right through a strainer or sieve, you can add a coffee filter to make sure to stop those fine particles and pulp from coming through. Place the coffee filter into the strainer or sieve, and pour the liquid into the center of a coffee filter. When it comes out on the other side, it’ll be free of the fine particles and pulp.

Make a seasoning pouch

Sometimes you don’t want the seasonings all over your food but you want the flavor. Add your seasonings to a coffee filter and close it up. (I use a staple) Place it in your soups, roasts and more to infuse the flavor.

Use a coffee filter like a paper towel for quick spill clean up

Use a coffee filter to quickly soak up spills.

Use coffee filters to soak up grease

Place a coffee filter under items that are greasy to soak up that grease. They are a great absorbent paper for these grease clean ups!

Prevent splatters in your microwave

Cover with another coffee filter to protect your microwave from splatters. You can also use it as an oil blotter to dab up extra grease off things like bacon, and hashbrowns or french fries.

Use a filter for Eco Friendly Lunch Wrap

Pack your sandwich in a couple coffee filters and close with a rubber band. This will prevent your bread from getting soggy. You can also pack other items in coffee filters and close with a rubber band. This is eco friendly and if you’re like my son… you won’t have to worry about losing your storage containers.

Use filters for Quick Snack Bowl

Place a variety of snacks in coffee filters for serving. Add things like chips, cheese, nuts, popcorn, fruit, and more to the basket.

Create a tea bag with a filter or Use it as a strainer

You can use a coffee filter as a strainer. For this one I placed loose tea into a coffee filter, stapled it closed, and steeped it in my hot water.

ice cream wrapped with a coffee filter

Stop drippy messes with a coffee filter

Keep messy foods at bay. Wrap a filter around the base of ice cream treats and popsicles to stop the mess when things start to melt and drip. This will help prevent sticky fingers and make for easy clean up.

spinach wrapped with a damp coffee filter

Dry your produce, and keep it hydrated

Once you rinse your lettuce you can dry it quickly with a coffee filter before eating. This prevents the drippy mess or watering down the dressing.

When storing your produce, place it between two damp coffee filters and place in an air tight container. This will keep your produce hydrated and keep it crisp instead of getting dehydrated and wilty.

Use it as a hot dog or taco holder

You can keep your hands clean and stop losing those toppings by placing your food into a filter. This will keep all of those tacos toppings together. When you’re done, simply toss and there’s no clean up.

Use a coffee filter as a spoon rest

Use a coffee filter as a spoonrest

When doing your cooking, keep a coffee filter near by. It will help clean up quick spills, and it can serve as a spoon rest. This will contain your drips to one space, and you can throw it away when you’re finished.

Dry your glassware with a coffee filter

Dry glassware

If you don’t like streaks on your glassware, try drying it with a coffee filter. Coffee filters are lint-free, and they help keep all of that stemware streak free.

Dry Herbs

When gardening is close to an end but you want to save all you have grown, place your herbs on some coffee filters to air dry. Once they are dry, you can close the filter up with a rubber band and then pull out the herbs and seasonings as needed.

Cleaning Coffee Filter Hacks

Shine your shoes with a coffee filter

Shine your shoes

You can clean your shoes when their dirty with a damp coffee filter, simply wipe and then throw away. You can also use a little coconut oil and a filter to shine the shoes up as well.

Make an Odor Eater

Place some baking soda in a coffee filter, close it up with a rubber band and place it where you want to get rid of odors.

Deodorize your bathroom with a coffee filter filled with baking soda

Deodorize your bathroom

Use that same sachet and place it in your trashcans or bathrooms behind the toilet to help deodorize your space.

DIY Dryer Sheets

Skip the fabric softeners. Place a few drops of essential oil onto a coffee filter and place in your dryer with the laundry to use as a makeshift dryer sheet.

Use a coffee filter as a disposable cleaning rag

Use a coffee filter as a disposable cleaning rag

Use a coffee filter with your favorite household cleaner and wipe down all of your surfaces like tables and counters. Once your finished throw it away.

Use coffee filters to clean your sinks, faucets, toilets, and more. What’s great is they are lint free.

Clean your windows and mirrors

Clean your windows and mirrors

Since the coffee filter is lint free, it does a great job of cleaning not only your glassware like mentioned earlier but also your windows and mirrors for a streak-free finish.

Clean your electronics

Clean your electronics

Use a coffee filter to clean your electronics like your TV, computers, etc. These are soft on screens and lint free.

Clean your stainless appliances

Clean your stainless appliances

I use a coffee filter with a little coconut oil or olive oil to clean my stainless steel appliances (dishwasher, oven, refrigerator, etc) It moisturizes them and leaves them streak free.

Clean your blinds

Clean your blinds

Get your coffee filter damp with water and wipe the blinds back and forth. The coffee filters grab that dirt and then you can throw them away when you’re finished.

More Coffee Filter Hacks

DIY Bath Tea using a filter

Place Epsom salt, essential oil, and some lavender flowers (or flowers of your choice) in a coffee filter. Close with a rubber band and toss into your bubble bath. It’ll release the salts but keep the flowers inside for a no mess clean up.

DIY Fragrant Sachet with a filter

Place baking soda, essential oils, and flowers of your choice in a coffee filter. Close with a rubber band and place in your drawers and closets.

Use coffee filters in flower pots

Place a coffee filter in the bottom of your flower pot. Fill with dirt and place a plant of your choice in the flower pot. The filter will let the moisture out but keep the dirt in.

Save seeds and make a seed starter

You can dry and save your vegetable and flower garden seeds for next year by placing them in a coffee filter and closing them with a rubber band.

You can make a seed starter by getting a filter damp, placing seeds in it, and folding it up. Let it dry, and next year you plant the entire thing into the ground. It’s a great gift idea too.

Press and preserve flowers

Cut your flowers and place them between 2 coffee filters. Lay a heavy book on top and let it sit for about a week or until the flowers are dry. Once they are dry you can make a fun craft with pressed flowers

Coffee Filter Hacks for Your Car

I like to keep coffee filters in my car because they can help with so many things!

I like to keep coffee filters in my car because they can help with so many things!

Use in your car for quick clean up

Use in your car for quick clean up

Use them to wipe up a quick mess on your seats and floors.

Clean your car

Clean your car

Use coffee filters to clean your car. I like to wipe my dash with them. I have also placed them in my cup holders to keep them cleaner.

Check Car Fluids

Check Car Fluids

Use a coffee filter to check the fluids in your car. I like to use it when checking my oil. I can wipe the dip stick off easily, then check the oil level.

Craft Coffee Filter Hacks

I kept the original hanging tag on it so I could hang it from that.

Coffee Filter Wreath

You can make a wreath out of coffee filters by twisting them and gluing them onto a wreath form.

I cut the letters "J" and "Y" out of cardboard. I hot glued on some twisted coffee filters onto the letters until I had the look I wanted. I added my wreath from before to the center to be the letter "O" and created the word Joy. I used gaffers tape to hold up the letters and wreath onto my mirror.

Coffee Filter Sign

I used the wreath from above in the center for this, and the other 2 letters I cut out of cardboard and then glued the filters to them.

I added a scarf, hot glued on button eyes and nose, a yarn mouth, and a top hat I found at Dollar Tree. I put a piece of fish line on back so I could hang him.

Coffee Filter Snowman

I stapled 2 paper plates together and then glued a bunch of coffee filters to them to make this snowman. I added the embellishments for the final touches.

I cut out a tinfoil start and glued it to the "cork" on/off switch, and I also added some Krylon Glitter Blast spray paint to the filters to give it some shimmer.

Coffee Filter Christmas Tree

I use a wine bottle with lights in the center for the base. I cut different sized holes in the center of the filters and glued them onto the wine bottle to create this fun tree.

I hot glued on a candle holder from Dollar Tree to be the base. I then filled in any holes left with more coffee filters until I got it to be as full as I liked.

Coffee Filter Topiary

I glued a bunch of coffee filters to a styrofoam ball, and then attached it to this candle holder for the base.

You can find all of these tutorials at 5 Beautiful Dollar Tree Christmas Crafts For Under $1

Open up the folded coffee filter to unveil the intricate snowflake pattern you've created. Notice the translucent quality of the coffee filter, adding a unique texture to the snowflake.

Coffee Filter Snowflake

I made a ton of snowflakes out of a variety of things, and make them out of coffee filters has to be one of my favorites. You can find the full tutorial at Creative DIY Snowflakes: Step-by-Step Tutorials with Video

Coffee Filter Hacks and Uses for Coffee Filters Video

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As you can see, coffee filters are great substitutes for many tasks in your home. When you are unable to get out to purchase others items, your paper coffee filters act as a great filter paper. They are a great value and great for many things besides using in your coffee brewer to make the best coffee. If you do use them for coffee, would you like to know what to do with the coffee grounds? Check out my post Helpful Ways To Use Coffee Grounds & Coffee Beans

Do you like coffee? Check out my post How Do You Make a Perfect Coffee at Home

13 Coffee Filter Hacks Video with Hometalk

Here is the video I made with Hometalk on Coffee Filter Hacks

Paper Coffee filters are for more than just making wonderful coffee. Here are a few other ways to use them in your home.

Learn more about “Why to Deep Clean and Organize Your Home” to save money, function better, and keep your sanity. 

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36 Comments

  1. jodie filogomo says:

    This is such great information (as always). Especially now that we use a pour over now for our coffee so we don’t need the filters!! But I don’t want to throw them away…
    XOXO
    Jodie
    #senisal

    1. Thank you so very much Jodie, and love that you don’t need filters. It’s a great and quick way to use them for so many things and they’re inexpensive.

  2. I Love the new Logo!!! The next time I’m re-potting a plant I will use the coffee filter on the bottom idea. Sending Good Vibes on your health journey ??‍♀️??‍♀️??‍♂️. Kathy

    1. Thank you so much Kathy and I’m thrilled you found a useful idea in this post to help you. Thank you for the good vibes – I appreciate it, and sending hugs back to you.

  3. You have the best hacks! I use coffee filters to strain things other than coffee. Not very creative like your ideas.

    1. Thank you so much Terri and I love that you use your coffee filters for strainers – that’s fantastic!

  4. I never thought to use the old ones that we can’t use for microwave bacon. We normally use paper towels, but I’ll bet old coffee filters would work fine. Thanks for the idea.

    1. Thanks Linda, I use paper towels too and I am glad to have this as a quick grab option. Fun to come up with all the ways you can use them.

  5. Great ideas for the filters! Pinned ♥ If you haven’t already, why not bring this post over to my #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 2 (going on now) and my #WednesdayAIMLinkParty (starting Wednesday evening).

    1. Thank you very much Dee and I’ll be sure to drop by for the next party – thanks for the reminder.

  6. Lots of great ideas for coffee filters, but I love the dryer sheets the best! I am going to definitely try that! Thanks for sharing your tips!

    1. Thanks Sylvia, and I’m thrilled there is one here that you can utilize. Let me know what you think of the drier sheets 🙂

  7. Mother of 3 says:

    Lots of great ideas! I always used them with my boys to make perfectly round snowflakes in the wintertime for our windows.. but that’s about it. I’m going to have to try a few of these.

    1. Thanks Joanne and we make round snowflakes too 🙂 I started crafting with them as well and made a few things for the holidays. One of my favorites was a wreath.

  8. wow most of these I would never have thought of. thanks for the wonderful tips. #sensal

    1. Thank you so much Bree,and I hope some of them might help you 🙂

  9. Yes, these are great uses for coffee filters. I used to use them to clean mirrors and they worked well. #trafficjamweekend

    1. Thanks Antionette, and thanks for sharing your experience with the mirror cleaning. I’m so glad to hear it works well for you too.

  10. Great ideas! I especially liked the idea regarding Epsom salts and lavender (or other herbs /flowers).

    1. Thank you Michelle and thanks for sharing your favorite. That one has been really fun to play with.

  11. Great ideas here! I remember my mom always put them between her china dishes! Thanks for sharing with us at The Blogger’s Pit Stop!

    1. Thank you Roseann and thank you for sharing that memory with me. It made my day 🙂

  12. Thanks for sharing on the Classy Flamingos. blog.poinsettiadr.com

    1. Thanks for a great party Linda and I’ll see you at the next one

  13. So would you say that a Coffee Filter works kind of like a paper towel– only sturdier, and because of its shape, can be closed and contain items easier than a paper towel? I like seeing all of these ideas and will be featuring you at Best of the Weekend. Thanks for sharing!!

    Liberty @ B4andAfters.com

    1. Thank you so much Liberty for the feature. To answer your question – yes you are right on, it does act as a sturdier paper towel, and I love that it is lint free while cleaning too.

  14. Marilyn Lesniak says:

    Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared.

    1. Thanks Marilyn, so sweet of you to Pin and share. Hope you’re having a wonderful day.

  15. Thank you for sharing. These are some great ideas.

    1. Thank you Amy, I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

    1. You are just so sweet Kim, thank you so much

  16. Chas, this is such a GREAT post! Who knew you could do so much with a coffee filter?? I love the thought of putting essential oils on it and throwing it in the dryer. Brilliant. Thanks for sharing. You continue to amaze me.

    1. You are so very sweet Mary, thank you SO much 🙂

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