The Different Re-Uses of Bubble Wrap
Take advantage of plastic bubble wrap’s durability and find ways to re-use it. There are actually quite a few uses for this entertaining wrap. Here are some ideas.
-Insulate potted plants against heat and cold. You can line the inside of the pot with bubble wrap before filling it with dirt to keep the pot from getting too hot. For winter, wrap the outside of the pot with bubble wrap. This is especially good for bonsai trees, which need to overwinter outside but their roots can get damaged by freezing temperatures.
-Use the springy wrap as a pad under your sleeping bag. You can tape small sheets together with duct tape if you don’t have a piece that large.
-Wrap your hot casserole or other food in bubble wrap to keep it hot. If you need to take the food to a gathering or party, the bubble wrap will also stabilize the container during transport.
-Cold foods can benefit from bubble wrap’s insulating properties, too. Wrap cold or frozen food in bubble wrap to keep it cold. You can put a layer of bubble wrap over the ice in your cooler as well. It will keep the ice frozen longer and the items inside colder.
-Bubble wrap is useful in the fridge and freezer. You can line your crisper drawer with it, protecting fruits and vegetables from damage. The freezer can benefit from bubble wrap too. When you open your freezer door, cold air pours out. But if you stuff bubble wrap in the empty spaces of your freezer, it will prevent this outpouring of cold air and make your freezer perform more efficiently.
-Insulate the windows in your home or greenhouse with bubble wrap. It’s clear, so light comes through but not cold. Generally, a bit of water sprayed on a clean window is sufficient to get the bubbles to adhere to the glass.
-Using bubble wrap and duct tape, insulate your water heater and pipes.
-Cover your car windshield at night to prevent frost on your windshield in the morning. The frost, snow and ice will be on the bubble wrap, not the glass. Just peel it off and your window will be clear.
-Clear glass vases look attractive with bubble wrap in the bottom. Use it instead of clear marbles or other material to keep flowers in place.
-If you have an outdoor swimming pool, lay sheet of bubble wrap on the water’s surface. The bubbles capture the sun’s heat and act as solar heaters for your pool water.
