7 Handy Aluminum Foil Hacks

If you're only using aluminum foil to line your cookie sheets, you're tapping just a fraction of its potential. These genius aluminum foil hacks can save you time, money and effort.

1. Toast your own cheese sandwich
The next time you pack for a trip, take a few cheese sandwiches wrapped in aluminium foil. That way, you won't have to resort to the cold, overpriced snacks from the minibar if you book into a hotel after the kitchen has closed. Instead, use the iron in your hotel room to iron both sides of the wrapped sandwich and you'll have a delicious, hot snack.

2. Keep steel wool pads
It's maddening. You use a steel wool pad once, put it in a bowl next to the sink, and the next day you find a rusty mess that just belongs in the trash can. To prevent rust and get the most out of a pad, wrap it in foil and put it in the freezer. You can also extend the life of your steel wool soap pads by crumpling a sheet of aluminium foil and placing it under the steel wool in the dish or container. (Don't forget to periodically drain the water that collects at the bottom)

3. Improve the efficiency of radiators
There's an easy way to get more heat out of old cast-iron radiators without spending more money on heating: Craft a heat reflector to put behind the radiators. To do this, tape heavy-duty aluminium foil to a cardboard box with the shiny side facing out. Radiant heat will be reflected back into the room by the foil instead of being absorbed by the wall behind the radiator. If your radiators have covers, it also helps to put a piece of foil under the top of the cover.

4. Protect a child's mattress
As any parent of toddlers who goes to the bathroom knows, accidents happen. However, when they do happen in bed, you can protect the mattress - even if you don't have a plastic protector handy. First, lay out several sheets of aluminium foil across the width of the mattress. Then cover it with a large beach towel. Finally, attach the mattress topper and the bottom sheet.

5. Cleaning jewellery
To clean your jewellery, simply line a small bowl with aluminium foil. Fill the bowl with hot water and mix in 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of bleach-free powder detergent (not liquid). Place the jewellery in the solution and let it soak for one minute. Rinse well and allow to air dry. This process uses the chemical process of ion exchange, which can also be used to clean silverware.

6. Move furniture with ease
To move large pieces of furniture across a smooth floor, place small pieces of aluminium foil under the legs of the furniture. Make sure the matte side of the foil is facing down, as the matte side is more slippery than the shiny side.

7. Fix loose batteries
Is your flashlight, game console or child's toy working sporadically? Check the battery compartment. The springs that hold the batteries in place can lose their tension after a while, causing them to come loose. Fold a small piece of aluminium foil until you have a cushion thick enough to fill the gap. Place the cushion between the battery and the spring.