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25 Clever Coffee Filter Uses That Go Beyond Brewing a Cup
Updated on Jul. 08, 2025
Dry glassware
Water spots can be a real annoyance. You clean your glassware and think it’s been dried properly, only to pull out a foggy, spotted glass that no one wants to drink out of. Enter the coffee filter. Because of the quality of paper used to make coffee filters (after all, who wants paper bits in their morning coffee?), coffee filters don’t leave any lint or smears behind. This makes them perfect for fully drying off your glassware without a trace.
Control odor
Sure, coffee filters are great for keeping coffee grounds out of your cup. But who knew they could filter out bad odors, too? A few teaspoons of baking soda and a coffee filter are all you need for a perfect deodorizing sachet! Put the baking soda in the coffee filter, and twist it closed using a rubber band or tight string. Put your sachet in smelly shoes, odorous drawers or a stinking refrigerator. Add a few drops of essential oils, and it will emit your favorite scent for a long time.
Makeshift dryer sheets
Ran out of your favorite dryer sheets? A few drops of your favorite essential oil on a coffee filter will do the trick. These makeshift dryer sheets will leave your laundry soft and smelling fresh.
Clean stainless steel
Because coffee filters won’t leave any lint or residue behind, one of our favorite uses for coffee filters in our cleaning repertoire is to use them to clean or polish stainless steel. Get a perfect streak-free finish every time!
Dust off your electronic screens
One of the best coffee filter uses is keeping your electronics dust-free. Whether you’re cleaning your television screen or your phone, coffee filters work better than almost any special screen-cleaning cloth out there, because they are surprisingly gentle on delicate screens.
Clean your glasses
Next time you clean your glasses, try using a coffee filter instead of a tissue. Good quality coffee filters are made from 100% virgin paper, so you can use them to clean your glasses without leaving lint. You can also use them to safely clean mirrors, TVs and monitor screens.
Cover food in the microwave
Cleaning microwave splatters can be a grimy affair. If you find yourself scrubbing the microwave each time you use it, coffee filters can come to your rescue. Since they are microwave-safe, you can use them to cover bowls or dishes to prevent splatter when cooking in your microwave oven.
Filter cork crumbs from wine
Don’t let cork droppings ruin your enjoyment of a good glass of wine. If your attempt at opening the bottle results in floating cork crumbs, just decant the wine through a coffee filter.
Catch ice cream drips
Next time the kids scream for ice cream bars or ice pops (or you want one!), serve it with a drip catcher made from basket-style coffee filters. Just poke the stick through the center of a filter, and the drips will fall into the paper. This way, the kids won’t make a mess and you don’t have to worry about cleaning your carpets.
Line plant pots
When you’re repotting a plant, line the pot with a coffee filter to keep the soil from leaking out through the drain hole. This trick will not only help you maintain the fertile soil, it keeps water in during watering.
Make an instant funnel
Cut the end off a cone-style coffee filter to make an instant funnel. Keep a few in your car and use them to avoid spillage when you add a quart of oil or two.
Treat a fever
Soak a few filters in brewed tea or cold water and chill in your freezer. Fold the filter up to make a cold compress to tame a headache or puffy eyes. These inventive and soothing coffee filter uses will melt the day away.
Spread oil or butter
Sturdy coffee filters won’t leave fibers behind on your baking pan. So, instead of using a paper towel, use up those extra coffee filters to evenly spread the oil on your pans and trays.
Corral small objects
Building an IKEA cabinet or a complicated Lego set? Set out a few coffee filters to hold all the small, easily lost pieces in one place. The filters will keep the nuts and bolts from rolling away.
Protect stacked plates
Looking for some cost-effective kitchen organization ideas? Yes, coffee filters can be used for that, too. When storing your fine china on the shelf or packing your everyday dishes for transport, layer some coffee filters between each plate to prevent nicks and scrapes.
Line cookie tins or food storage containers
A coffee filter laid on the bottom of a food container will absorb excess oils and catch crumbs, leaving you with an easy cleanup.
Make your own tea
One of the best coffee filter uses is, of course, to make your perfect morning coffee, but did you know you can use it to brew tea too? Sprinkle your favorite tea into a coffee filter and tie up the top with a string. Steep in hot water and you’ve got some custom-made tea.
Carry messy food
A cone coffee filter is the perfect size and shape for holding a pita, quesadilla or other hot pocket on the go. They will catch all the drips and crumbs while you eat, keeping your hands mess-free. This also reduces the use of paper plates or napkins.
Serve snacks dish-free
A basket filter becomes a handy makeshift bowl for popcorn, candy, chips and other movie night favorites. This coffee filter use is practical, and will leave you with zero hassle of dirty dishes.
Take the perfect low-light photo
Use a coffee filter to diffuse light sources when you’re taking a photo with your phone, or use one to mute the flash on a traditional camera. This will give you warmer and more natural-looking photos.
Make a colorful goodie bag
If you’re hosting a party, and are looking for fun ways to thank your guests for coming, you can use coffee filters to make a colorful goodie bag. Use some washable markers to draw a pattern on a coffee filter, then lightly mist it with water from a spray bottle. Fill the filter with candy or chocolate coins, and fold it into a pouch. Tie up the top with a ribbon and your thank-you note, and see how your guests’ faces light up!
Rest a dirty spoon
Here’s one of the simplest coffee filter uses for when you’re working in the kitchen. Leave a basket filter open on your counter and rest your dirty wooden spoon or spatula on it while cooking your favorite meal. This leaves your counter clean and saves you from washing an extra dish.
Polish without a mess
Out of cotton balls? Not to worry. Absorbent and durable, coffee filters are perfect for removing nail polish from your fingernails or spreading shoe polish on your boots.
Keep skillets rust free
Here’s another great coffee filter use that can help prolong the life of your good cast-iron cookware. Put a coffee filter in the skillet when it’s not in use. The filter will absorb moisture and prevent rusting.
Line a sieve
If you save your cooking oil for reuse after deep-fat frying, line your sieve with a basket-style coffee filter to remove smaller food remnants and impurities. This coffee filter hack will leave your oil cleaner for the next use.
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Sources:
- Tampere University of Applied Sciences: “Coffee Filter Paper”
- Melitta: “Why We Filter”
Originally Published in Reader's Digest
