10 brilliant uses for pantyhose

Safely wash stuffed animals

If your little one’s plush pal needs a good cleaning, slip it into the leg of an old pair of pantyhose, toss it in the washer, add detergent and run on gentle. The hose will protect the toy from snags and keep it from losing its shape while allowing the soapy water to clean it. When the cycle ends, pull the toy out of the pantyhose and air-dry.

Sweep floors in half the time

It seems like every time you try to sweep up the dust bunnies in your house, they slip away. The solution: Stretch the leg of an old pair of pantyhose over your broom’s bristles, then sweep as usual. The pantyhose’s mesh fabric will trap the dust so you can pull it right off the broom.

Create a makeshift headband

You always pull your hair back when you apply a face mask, but the pieces of hair that frame your face end up getting in the mix, and you don’t want to risk getting any of the product on your headbands. A better idea: Cut the waistband off an old pair of pantyhose and use it as a headband. If it gets dirty, replace it with another.

Clean dusty candles

The quick way to remove the layer of dust and debris coating the pumpkinscented candles that have been in storage since last winter: Place each candle in the leg of a pair of pantyhose and roll it back and forth with your hands. Fibers in the nylon will lift the grime off the wax.

Spiff up worn suede shoes

If your suede heels are looking worse for the wear, try this: Rub a balled-up pair of pantyhose in one direction over the suede. The nylon will pick up any dirt, and the motion will “lift” the suede, restoring its texture. (This trick works on suede purses and coats too!)

Keep a spray bottle clog-free

You made your own spray cleaner, but clumps in the solution make it hard to spritz. The fix: Cover the bottom of the plastic tube that’s attached to the bottle’s nozzle with a small square cut from pantyhose; secure with a rubber band. The nylon will filter out clumps.

Test a wooden surface for snags

Next time you’re sanding a piece of furniture, use pantyhose to check if it’s smooth. To do: Wrap a pair of pantyhose around your palm and rub it over the sanded wood. If the nylon snags in any spot, a little more sanding is required. Once the pantyhose glides smoothly over the wood, your furniture is ready to paint.

Remove Buster’s hair from furniture

Guests are due in less than an hour, your couch is covered in dog hair and you can’t find your lint roller to clean it up! To the rescue: pantyhose. Simply slip your hand inside the leg of an old pair of hose and rub any surfaces where you see hair. The static electricity created by rubbing the nylon on the fabric will quickly lift all of the fur. Much better!

Mold-proof onions in the pantry

There was a sale on onions at the supermarket, so you picked up more than usual. To ensure they stay fresh until you can use them, cut the leg off an old pair of pantyhose and slip the onions inside, tying a knot between each one. Hang in your pantry. Each time you need an onion, cut the knot below the bottom onion. Storing them in this way allows air to circulate around each of the onions so they don’t get moldy and spoil.

Outsmart houseplant messes

Before you repot the gorgeous houseplant you picked up at the garden center, cover the drainage hole inside the planter with a piece of balled-up pantyhose, then add soil and the plant. The nylon will act as a stopper, so if you accidentally overwater the plant, the soil (and its nutrients) will stay put and only a small amount of water will escape. No more messes!