{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Before You Toss That Old Newspaper, Try These 5 Clever Household Hacks",
  "summary": "Instead of throwing away old newspapers, here are five simple ways to reuse them at home, from stopping weeds in the garden to drying wet shoes and cleaning glass.",
  "content": "Most old newspapers end up in the recycling pile within days, but with a little planning they can be put to real use around the house, from keeping garden soil weed free to giving rain soaked shoes a fighting chance at drying out. Reusing that stack sitting in a corner can save money and simplify a handful of everyday chores.\n\nKeeping weeds out of pots and garden beds\nUnwanted weeds sprouting alongside garden plants or in pots is a common headache. Laying two or three sheets of newspaper directly over the soil and topping it with dry leaves or a thin layer of soil blocks sunlight from reaching the ground beneath, which slows down weed growth considerably.\n\nDrying out shoes soaked in the rain\nShoes that get drenched during the rains can take forever to dry naturally. Rolling up sheets of newspaper and stuffing them inside the shoes helps draw out the trapped moisture. Once the paper feels fully damp, it should be swapped for a fresh roll so the drying continues without a pause.\n\nAdding bulk to kitchen compost\nAnyone composting kitchen scraps at home can put old newspaper to good use as well. Tearing it into small pieces and mixing it in with wet waste such as vegetable and fruit peels adds dry material to the mix, which helps balance the compost pile.\n\nCutting down on dust in kitchen shelves and cupboards\nLining kitchen shelves, cupboards or storage racks with newspaper stops dust and grime from settling directly on the surface. Swapping out the sheet every few weeks makes cleaning far quicker and keeps the storage space looking tidy with almost no extra effort.\n\nSoaking up excess water from overwatered plants\nPlants sometimes end up getting more water than they need, which can put the roots at risk. Placing a sheet of newspaper over the topsoil of the pot for a while helps soak up that extra moisture. Once it turns wet, it can simply be lifted off and replaced with a new piece as needed.\n\nRestoring shine to windows and mirrors\nOld newspaper also works well for wiping away stains and fingerprints from windows and mirrors. Spraying on a bit of glass cleaner and wiping with newspaper instead of cloth leaves the glass streak free and noticeably shinier.\n\nWhat this means for you\nLearning to reuse old newspapers the right way can save both money and effort on everyday household chores.\n\n• Effect on the household budget: There is no need to separately buy garden mulch sheets, dry composting material or shelf liners. This can trim small recurring monthly expenses.\n• Good news for gardeners: Regularly pulling out weeds from pots and garden beds becomes less of a chore, since simply laying down newspaper helps keep weed growth in check.\n• Easier shoe care in the monsoon: Wet shoes during the rainy season often risk damage or odour. Stuffing them with newspaper dries out the moisture faster and helps the shoes last longer.\n• Helps with waste management: Anyone composting at home gets a cheap source of dry material in old newspaper, which speeds up and improves the composting process.\n• Saves cleaning time: Lining shelves and storage racks with newspaper cuts down on how often deep cleaning is needed, freeing up time in daily chores.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. How can old newspaper stop weeds from growing in pots?\nLaying a few layers of newspaper over the soil and topping it with dry leaves or a little soil blocks sunlight, which slows down weed growth.\n\n2. How should newspaper be used to dry shoes soaked in the rain?\nRoll up or fold newspaper and stuff it inside the shoes to absorb moisture, replacing it once it turns too wet.\n\n3. Can old newspaper be used while making compost?\nYes, tearing it into small pieces and mixing it with wet waste like vegetable and fruit peels adds dry material to the compost.\n\n4. What is the benefit of lining kitchen shelves with newspaper?\nIt keeps dust and grime from settling directly on the surface and makes cleaning easier since the sheet can simply be swapped out.\n\n5. What can be done if a plant gets overwatered?\nPlacing newspaper over the pot's topsoil for a while helps soak up the extra moisture; it should be removed once it gets wet.\n\n6. How can newspaper be used to clean windows and mirrors?\nWiping with newspaper along with a glass cleaner liquid removes stains and fingerprints and leaves the glass shining.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/rajasthan/raddi-samajhakara-phenkate-hain-purana-akhabara-to-jana-len-ye-5-kamala-ke-gharelu-istemala-28686",
  "category": "Rajasthan",
  "publishedAt": "2026-09-06",
  "tags": [
    "old newspaper",
    "home cleaning",
    "gardening tips",
    "making compost",
    "drying shoes",
    "kitchen tips"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}