Household Uses for Newspaper — 13 Tips | Simply Maid

If you've got a stack of old newspapers quietly collecting dust in the corner, you're not alone. Most of us read the paper and assume it's done its job. But that pile of newsprint is surprisingly useful around the house — from streak-free windows to keeping your boots in shape.

**Quick Answer:** Old newspapers are brilliant for cleaning glass, absorbing spills, protecting surfaces, ripening fruit, and dozens of other household tasks. The dense, lint-free cellulose fibres make newspaper more absorbent than you'd expect. Just stick to plain black-and-white newsprint (never glossy pages), and avoid direct contact with food.

Why Newspaper Works So Well for Cleaning

Before we dive into the tips, it helps to understand why newspaper is so effective.

According to the [Invisible Glass technical team](https://invisibleglass.com/blogs/news/can-newspapers-clean-glass), "the paper itself is coarse enough to act as a mild abrasive, helping to scrub away grime without scratching the glass, and the paper's absorbent nature helps to wick away the cleaning solution and dirt, reducing streaks."

Unlike paper towels, newsprint has very little sizing (the chemical coating that makes paper smooth). That makes it highly absorbent. And unlike cloth, it leaves no lint behind.

A Quick Note on Modern Newspapers

"Newspapers were once much thicker than they are now," [House Digest notes](https://www.housedigest.com/1342667/dont-clean-windows-newspaper/). "Today's newspapers can quickly deteriorate when wet and leave newsprint spots on your mirror frames and window sills."

The fix is simple: use multiple sheets and swap them out as they get damp. And always use plain black-and-white pages — **never glossy inserts or magazine pages**, which smear rather than absorb.

13 Household Uses for Old Newspaper

1. Clean Windows and Mirrors

This is the classic tip your mum probably swore by — and it genuinely works. Spray your glass cleaner (or a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water), scrunch up a sheet of newspaper, and wipe in circular motions.

The result? Streak-free glass without the lint that cloths and paper towels leave behind.

**Tip:** Use only soy-ink newspaper (most Australian papers qualify). [Under Australian Standard 1647](https://sciencing.com/test-ink-newspapers-see-toxic-7699090.html), no heavy metals are added to black or colour inks used in Australian newspapers, making them safe for household use.

2. Loosen Grease on a BBQ Grill

Wait until your barbecue grates are warm but not hot. Lay damp newspaper sheets over the grill, close the lid, and leave it for about an hour. The combination of warmth and moisture creates steam that softens baked-on grease and food debris.

When you come back, the gunk wipes off far more easily with a scrubber or damp cloth. This method is [widely endorsed by Australian BBQ cleaning experts](https://www.paulscleaningmelbourne.com.au/blog/11-secret-bbq-cleaning-tips/), though a wire brush is still better for heavy buildup.

3. Wipe Up Oven and Microwave Spills

Crumpled newspaper is excellent for mopping up greasy spills inside your oven or microwave. Unlike paper towels, it doesn't disintegrate on contact with grease.

For hardened splatters, spray a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar onto the surface, let it sit for a minute, then wipe with scrunched newspaper. You'll use fewer sheets than you would paper towels.

4. Line Shelves and Drawers

Skip the store-bought shelf liners. Newspaper does the same job — catches drips, protects surfaces, and is free to replace whenever it gets grubby.

Lay sheets along kitchen cabinets, pantry shelves, closet drawers, and dressers. **Place the printed side down** to reduce any chance of ink transfer onto light-coloured surfaces.

5. Help With Pet Training

Newspaper is a time-tested aid for house-training puppies and kittens. Layer several sheets in a litter tray or on the floor near the door, and swap them out frequently.

The cellulose fibres absorb moisture effectively via capillary action. However, newspaper **does not neutralise odour** on its own — for that, you'll need an enzymatic cleaner. Think of newspaper as the absorbent base layer, not the odour solution.

6. Protect Fragile Items When Packing

Moving house or storing Christmas decorations? Newspaper is a solid alternative to bubble wrap for wrapping glassware, ornaments, and other breakables.

It works best for **surface scratch protection and wrapping contoured shapes**. For items that truly need shock absorption (heavy ceramics, electronics), bubble wrap still outperforms newspaper because of its air-cushion structure, [as packing specialists at Enko Products explain](https://www.enkoproducts.com/articles/bubble-cushioning-wrap-vs-newsprint-paper/).

**Tip:** Wrap light-coloured or porous items in a layer of plain tissue paper first to prevent ink transfer.

7. Keep Boots and Bags in Shape

Stuff scrunched newspaper into tall boots and structured handbags before storing them. The paper provides gentle support that prevents those frustrating fold creases from forming.

Newspaper also wicks moisture from damp shoes. If your boots got caught in the rain, stuff them with newspaper and **replace the paper every 30 to 90 minutes** as it absorbs moisture. This dramatically speeds up drying without the risk of heat damage from a hairdryer.

**Tip:** Wrap newspaper in a thin sock or tissue paper first to avoid [ink transfer to the inside of shoes](https://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/threads/putting-newspaper-in-the-shoes.118634/).

8. Line Fridge Vegetable Drawers

A sheet of newspaper at the bottom of your crisper drawer absorbs excess moisture that causes fruit and vegetables to go soft and slimy. Some users report an [extra 5 to 10 days of crispness](https://www.menuthai-fleet.co.uk/food-cooking/the-old-newspaper-in-fridge-drawers-that-absorbs-moisture-how-it-keeps-veg-crisp-weeks-longer-4822/) from this simple trick.

**Safety note:** Keep newspaper away from direct contact with cut or moist produce. The ink can transfer to food surfaces, and newspaper is not certified for food contact under [FSANZ food packaging standards](https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/business/food-safety/food-packaging). Place a paper towel between the newspaper and your produce as a barrier.

9. Speed Up Fruit Ripening

Bought rock-hard avocados or green tomatoes? Wrap them loosely in newspaper and leave them in a cool, dry spot on your kitchen bench.

The science behind this is well established. According to the [University of Maryland Extension](https://extension.umd.edu/resource/ethylene-and-regulation-fruit-ripening), "ethylene is a gaseous plant hormone that plays an important role in inducing the ripening process." The newspaper traps ethylene gas around the fruit, concentrating it and speeding up the natural ripening process.

This works for all climacteric fruits: bananas, avocados, tomatoes, mangoes, pears, and stone fruit.

**Safety note:** Do not wrap cut, peeled, or oily food in newspaper. India's food safety authority (FSSAI) [has warned](https://fssai.gov.in/upload/media/FSSAI_News_Wrapping_ETimes_16_05_2019.pdf) that ink chemicals — including phthalates and heavy metal pigments — can migrate into food, particularly when it is hot, oily, or moist. For whole fruit with intact skin, the risk is minimal, but always wash produce before eating.

10. Protect Wooden Dining Tables

Hosting a dinner party? Lay newspaper sheets under your tablecloth for an extra layer of spill protection. If someone knocks over a glass of wine, the newspaper absorbs the liquid before it reaches the wood.

Place the **printed side facing up** (away from the table surface) to avoid any ink transfer onto the timber.

11. Start a Compost Pile

Shredded newspaper is an excellent "brown" material for compost bins. It balances the nitrogen-rich "green" scraps (veggie peels, coffee grounds) and helps with aeration.

Under Australian ink standards, [no heavy metals are added to standard printing inks](https://sciencing.com/test-ink-newspapers-see-toxic-7699090.html), making newspaper safe to compost. Tear it into strips rather than adding whole sheets — it breaks down much faster.

12. Create Kindling for the Fireplace

Tightly rolled or twisted newspaper makes effective kindling for wood fireplaces and fire pits. Roll several sheets into a tight tube and tuck the ends in to prevent unravelling.

This is a practical winter tip for Australian homes with fireplaces — you'll go through fewer firelighters from Bunnings.

13. Arts and Crafts with Kids

Got a rainy weekend ahead? Newspaper is the foundation for dozens of kids' craft projects. Papier-mache is the classic — all you need is newspaper strips, water, PVA glue, and a balloon.

It's also handy as a drop sheet for painting, play dough, and other messy activities. Lay it across the table or floor, let the kids go wild, then bundle it all up and bin it.

What About Cleaning Kitchen Counters?

You might have seen this tip floating around online: using newspaper to clean and buff kitchen benchtops. We investigated this one carefully and couldn't find authoritative support for it.

Professional cleaning guides consistently recommend **microfibre cloths** for countertop wiping and buffing. The risk of ink transfer onto light or porous surfaces (particularly stone, marble, or timber benchtops) makes newspaper a poor choice for surfaces where you prepare food.

**Our recommendation:** Save newspaper for glass, grills, and non-food surfaces. Use a damp microfibre cloth for your kitchen counters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can you clean windows with newspaper?

Yes. Newspaper's dense cellulose fibres and lack of sizing make it highly absorbent and lint-free — ideal for streak-free glass. Use plain black-and-white newsprint (not glossy pages), spray your cleaner, and wipe in circular motions. Most Australian newspapers use soy-based inks that are safe for household cleaning.

Q: Is newspaper ink toxic?

Modern Australian newspaper ink is largely soy-based and free from heavy metals under Australian Standard 1647. However, the American Soybean Association notes that soy ink "is not edible" because pigments and additives mixed with the oil are the same as those in petroleum-based inks. Avoid using newspaper in direct contact with food, especially hot or oily items.

Q: Is it safe to wrap food in newspaper?

For whole, uncut fruit with intact skin (like ripening avocados), the risk is minimal. But for direct food contact — wrapping hot chips, lining plates, or covering cut produce — it's best avoided. India's FSSAI has banned newspaper for food wrapping, and Australia's FSANZ requires food contact materials to be "fit for purpose." Newspaper is not food-grade packaging.

Q: Does newspaper really help fruit ripen faster?

Yes. Wrapping fruit in newspaper traps ethylene gas, a natural plant hormone that accelerates ripening in climacteric fruits like bananas, avocados, tomatoes, and mangoes. The University of Maryland Extension confirms this mechanism. Store wrapped fruit at room temperature and check daily.

Q: Why does newspaper leave ink on my hands and surfaces?

Newspaper ink — even soy-based — can transfer through friction, moisture, or pressure. Use gloves when cleaning with newspaper, avoid using it on white or porous surfaces, and always use plain newsprint rather than glossy or coloured pages. When stuffing shoes, wrap the newspaper in tissue paper first.

Sources & References

**Invisible Glass (technical team)** — [Can Newspapers Clean Glass?](https://invisibleglass.com/blogs/news/can-newspapers-clean-glass). Referenced for the science behind newspaper's streak-free glass cleaning properties.
**FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand)** — [Food Packaging](https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/business/food-safety/food-packaging). Referenced for Australian food contact material safety requirements.
**Australian Standard 1647 (Part 3, 1982)** — Referenced via [Sciencing](https://sciencing.com/test-ink-newspapers-see-toxic-7699090.html). Confirms no heavy metals are added to standard Australian printing inks.
**University of Maryland Extension** — [Ethylene and Regulation of Fruit Ripening](https://extension.umd.edu/resource/ethylene-and-regulation-fruit-ripening). Cited for the ethylene gas mechanism behind newspaper-wrapped fruit ripening.
**FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)** — [Warning on Newspaper Food Wrapping](https://fssai.gov.in/upload/media/FSSAI_News_Wrapping_ETimes_16_05_2019.pdf). Cited for ink chemical migration risks in food contact.
**American Soybean Association** — Referenced for soy ink composition and the clarification that soy ink is not edible despite being vegetable-oil-based.
**Paul's Cleaning Melbourne** — [BBQ Cleaning Tips](https://www.paulscleaningmelbourne.com.au/blog/11-secret-bbq-cleaning-tips/). Referenced for Australian-specific BBQ newspaper cleaning method.
**Enko Products** — [Bubble Wrap vs Newsprint](https://www.enkoproducts.com/articles/bubble-cushioning-wrap-vs-newsprint-paper/). Cited for the comparison between newspaper and bubble wrap for packing protection.
**House Digest** — [Don't Clean Windows With Newspaper](https://www.housedigest.com/1342667/dont-clean-windows-newspaper/). Referenced for modern newspaper thickness caveats.

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13 Clever Household Uses for Old Newspaper (That Actually Work)