by Tonjanita Johnson

Created on: August 07, 2008

Aluminum foil is, by far, one of the most versatile products used in the average household. There are literally dozens of very practical uses for foil, but the following are a few of the more creative ways that my friends and I have used it over the years:

1. Cleaning the Grill-If you can't seem to find your grill brush, use a crumpled piece of aluminum foil to clean your outdoor grill with ease. What's more, clean up is a breeze because you can throw the used foil away when you're done.

2. Covering Unsightly Flower Pots-A friend of mine recently rented 30 large ferns as decoration for a very large fund-raising event where the colors were black and silver. The plants arrived in those very unattractive black nursery pots with holes in the bottom. With the aid of several rolls of aluminum foil, she made a nice cover for each fern which molded perfectly to the pots. (And the silver foil fit right in with the colors that had been selected for the event.)

3. Wrapping Presents-Aluminum foil is an attractive alternative to that shiny (and expensive) wrapping paper that is often used to wrap holiday gifts. It is especially good for wrapping presents for older people or for those with arthritis since it's easy to tear.

4. Substituting for Hair rollers-If you are traveling and forget your hair rollers, aluminum foil is an excellent way to lock in your curls. Just tear several strips of foil from the roll. Roll the strips lengthwise as if you are making a cigar. Part your hair in sections. Start at the end of the sectioned hair and roll toward the scalp. Fold the ends of the foil to fasten the hair onto your make-shift rollers. If you can bear being the subject of a few corny jokes, you'll wake up to great curls.

5. Creating Party Games-If your kids are tired of the same old party games and activities year after year, introduce a few rolls of aluminum foil to the party scene. Have the partygoers use foil to create art sculptures, unique paintings or fashion jewelry and accessories. Set up a party art gallery to showcase their creations or rope off a runway for the newest models of "Foil Fashions". Prizes can be awarded in different categories of foil creations.

These are just a few of the more unique and fun ways that you can use aluminum foil. For other practical and creative ways to use foil, check out Reynoldskitchen.com under the "Tips & Timesavers" link.

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