23 creative ideas for reusing old newspaper

If you subscribe to or have a habit of buying newspapers often, it may be that a large stack of old newspapers has already formed in your home. Before simply throwing them in the trash, however, consider that using a newspaper goes far beyond reading the information!

Anyone who has a pet at home may consider the old newspaper as a great friend. You can use it to cover walkways, line cages and show the pet the right place to do their needs. Newsprint is a potent odor and moisture absorber, which helps keep these places always dry and smelly free.

These properties also help solve a good variety of everyday household problems, such as the smell of food coming out of a plastic pot or the shoe you need to dry faster.


Can the newspaper also be used to add an extra decorative touch to various objects and refresh the look of your home? from whole walls and notebook covers to simple, even more personal things like your nails.

In addition, reusing the old newspaper is economically advantageous and yet environmentally friendly, as it is a way to slow down waste production and replace items that would need to be purchased.

Also read: 10 Ways to Reuse Old Frames


Here are 23 ways to use old newspapers in your daily life:

1. Wallpaper

The effect of a newspaper-covered wall is very cool and is a simple and inexpensive alternative to changing the decoration of a room. To apply the newspaper to the wall, you can use wallpaper glue.

2. Cover notebooks

Another good way to apply the newspaper as decorative! It's a great chance to customize and change the look of school supplies, for example, without having to spend on new items. Simpler notebooks can add extra charm when wrapped in newspaper.


3. Eliminate bad smell

The newspaper is a great weapon against stench: both paper and ink have the ability to absorb odors. So you can use old newspapers to line trash cans, put in shoes and pots that smell like food, for example. Letting the paper do its work for a few days, the odor will be softened.

4. Dry shoes

In addition to absorbing odors, newsprint is also a good moisture absorber. Using it inside shoes, you can speed up drying after washing or get rid of moisture on rainy days.

Also read: 9 creative ways to reuse paper rolls

5. Polish shoes

A quick and convenient alternative for those who need to restore the shine and good looks of black shoes and don't have immediate access to grease: just use a sheet of newspaper to polish the accessories. But, attention! Only use sheets that contain only black ink, no colored ink.

6. Plant seeds and seedlings

Is it possible to start a garden or a vegetable garden in? Vasinhos? Newspaper To make them, simply wrap the newspaper around a cup, folding the bottom well so that the shape does not crumble when the cup is removed. Then just fill the newspaper cup with soil and plant whatever you want. If the plants grow too much, you can transfer them to the ground or a larger pot without removing them from the newspaper.

7. In gardening

If you have tried to grow a garden or garden and have had problems growing weeds, be aware that the newspaper is a great solution! Just cover the soil with newspaper, water it with plenty of water and cover it with organic fertilizer. Thus, the newspaper will block the herbs and prevent them from growing while the compost helps the other plants to flourish.

8. Speed ​​up tomato ripening

Want your tomatoes to ripen faster? Wrap them up with newspaper! The paper will help speed up the process and the product will be on the spot at a faster speed than usual.

9. Conserve temperatures

Newsprint is a good temperature preservative. If you need to keep something warm or cold longer, wrap the item with several layers of newspaper.

10. Keep vegetables in the fridge

Again, the newspaper's absorbing properties can be very helpful in aiding in food preservation. Line the bottom of the refrigerator drawer or pack the vegetables themselves before storing them to keep the drawer free of moisture and odor free.

11. Preserve Fruits

Even out of the fridge, keeping newspaper-packed fruits will keep moisture away, helping to preserve products and prevent them from rotting easily.

12. Lining pet beds

The newspaper will make sure your pet's place to stay dry, odor-free, warm and still great for helping to fight bacterial buildup.

13. Teach pet to pee

A cheap and very practical alternative, especially for those who live in apartments or homes without a yard.Use the newspaper to demarcate the correct place for your pet to do the needs. Cleaning is practical and the newspaper even helps to reduce odors.

14. Cage Cages

One more business day for pets! Line bird cages, hamsters, rabbits and even dog and cat carrying houses with newspaper to keep them damp and absorb odors. In addition, the newspaper will make object cleaning faster and more practical.

15. Packing Gifts

Taking old newspapers as a wrapping paper is a cheap and environmentally friendly alternative, fulfills the expected function and even adds personality to the package.

16. Clean windows

Is using newspapers to clean windows a good choice to avoid any chance of scratching the glass? even more than using cloths! For this you can soak the newspaper cleaning solutions and products. Sheets without colored ink work best.

17. Sanitize grills and grills

The newspaper can facilitate cleaning after a day of barbecue. Wet the newspaper with water and place it on the grill or grill plate that needs cleaning. Let the paper act for at least an hour, then remove it and finish cleaning normally.

18. Protect rugs

Line the floor with newspapers and then place the rug over them. In addition to helping to protect the carpet by keeping it free of moisture, newspapers will make it slip less. Following a similar line, you can use newspaper to cover the carpet of the car.

19. Making Paper Bags

You can turn old newspapers into something useful again by making a paper bag. To do this, simply fold it into the right shape, carefully forming a reinforced bottom, and paste with white glue.

20. Maintain accessory format

Overcrowded cabinets usually end up resulting in crumpled pieces. While clothes can be quickly restored with an iron, bags and shoes do not always return to their original shape as easily. Storing upholstered accessories with newspaper helps to maintain shape and keep them beautiful and ready for use.

21. Protect surfaces

This is a popular tip, but one worth remembering. Covering surfaces with newspapers is a great way to protect furniture and floors from paint stains or dust, for example. If you are planning a renovation, old newspapers will be very useful!

22. Packing Glass Parts

The newspaper is a great ally for anyone who is undergoing a change or needs to mail a sensitive item. To reduce the risk of pieces of glass, porcelain or ceramics being broken when transported, pack them in the newspaper. Similarly, you can use the newspaper to avoid scratching and scratching on objects.

23. Throwing glass in the trash

If where you live there is no separate collection and glass is thrown in the trash along with other materials, packing it with newspaper may be a good alternative. This can prevent the glass from breaking or, if it is already broken, the pieces from tearing the garbage bag apart.

Did you like the tips? So, remember to think twice before simply throwing your old newspapers away! Having a few copies stored at home can be very helpful and serve as a wild card in everyday tasks.

5 DIY Creative Ideas with Newspapers - Newspaper DIYs & Hacks - Best from Waste (May 2024)


  • 1,230