Don’t toss those old clothes hangers just yet.
They may be a nuisance in the closet as they shift out of shape from heavy winter jackets and don’t hold onto spaghetti straps well enough, but don’t toss those flimsy metal hangers just yet. You’ll be amazed at all the ways you can repurpose these simple wire forms. From supporting plants in the garden to weeding out gunk in your drains, with a few bends and twists, you’ll have a handy tool for all types of household problems. And if you have a pile of plastic hangers in the back of your closet, there are uses beyond clothes for those too. We’ve rounded up these clever ways to use clothes hangers that will make you think twice about tossing them.
Clean Your Drains
Sink and shower drains can clog often and quickly, especially when several users are sharing a bathroom. Straighten a wire clothes hanger, keeping a small hook at one end, and put it in the drain to scoop out any accumulated gunk. It can also be used to unclog toilets.
Display Children’s Art
Use those pants and skirt hangers with built-in clips or add a few small clips or clothespins to a regular hanger, and attach your child’s artwork for display. Swap it out when they bring new drawings or paintings home. You can hang the display from a nail on a wall or a hook on a door. For a different look, bend a wire coat hanger into a square shape that’s similar to a plate hanger and attach art with small clips. If your kids (or you) make a lot of art, hang wet papers from hangers while you wait for the paint to dry.
Organize Table Linens
Instead of folding tablecloths and stacking them in a drawer, make it easy to find what you’re looking for by storing them on clothes hangers. Fold the tablecloth over the bottom of a standard hanger or use pants hangers to clip to the ends of the tablecloth, and hang them in a corner of a closet. This also works for table runners, placemats, and cloth napkin sets. Just like choosing an outfit for the day, you’ll be able to quickly find the table linens you need for the occasion.Â
Sort Craft Supplies
Keep your craft supplies together and within easy reach with a simple wire hanger. Use wire cutters to snip the bottom of the hanger near an end. Rolls of ribbon, washi tape, and tape can slide right on, and you can dispense your supplies right from the hanger.
Make Bubble Wands
Entertaining kids is easy with a wire hanger and some soapy water. Bend the hanger to expand it into any shape you choose. Dip it into a solution of 3 cups of water and ½ cup of dish soap, and impress your young audience with your bubble-making skills.Â
Keep Tabs On Hats And Gloves
Extra wire or plastic hangers may not match the aesthetic you’re going for in a closet full of matching wooden or flocked hangers, but they’re a great way to keep winter hats and mittens by the door. Use shower or curtain rings with clips to attach scarves and winter gear to the hanger and keep it on the back of a door or on a coat rack. In the summer, it’s a great way to keep sun visors and baseball hats handy.
Create A System For Totes And Purses
If you have a large handbag collection or a tote bag for every occasion, hang them on clothes hangers so you can easily find the bag that matches your outfit. Plus, the bags will maintain their shape better than if they are crammed on a shelf. Branch out and hang your lunchboxes and reusable shopping bags there too.Â
Form A Wreath
With a wire hanger, a seasonal wreath is only limited to your imagination. Shape one or more hangers into a standard form, or make bunny ears or other fun seasonal shapes. Use wooden beads, greenery, or tinsel garland to decorate.
Support Your Plants
Take extra wire hangers out to the garden shed. You can stretch them into stakes to support plants like tomatoes, bend them into trellises, or make a small fence to keep hungry bunnies away. For a crafty afternoon, use wire cutters to cut metal hangers into smaller pieces and bend them into small shepherd’s hook shapes to decorate as plant markers.
Group Seasonal Decorations
Take advantage of rods in any closets used for storage in your home. Use extra clothes hangers to store wreaths, baskets, seasonal decor like outdoor flags, and garland. Keep Christmas lights from getting tangled by wrapping them around a clothes hanger.Â
Put Them To Work In The Laundry Room
Hang any extra hangers in the laundry room. They’re great for drying clothes, and they don’t need to match your decor. Flocked and wooden hangers aren’t ideal for hanging wet clothes, so the laundry room is the perfect place for plastic and wire hangers. They’re also great for storing mesh laundry bags, extra clothespins, and empty plastic bags.
Pack Them For Trips
On family vacations, there never seems to be enough clothes hangers, especially at the beach where wet bathing suits and towels multiply every hour. Pack some extra hangers to keep wet towels off floors and help swim gear dry faster. If you forget to bring them home, it’s no loss, and maybe the next guests at your rental will appreciate the extras.
Corral Eyeglasses
If you’re always losing sunglasses and readers, hang them on the bottom of a clothes hanger. You’ll know where to find them and they won’t get scratched hiding in the back of a drawer.
Donate Them
Hangers can accumulate quickly, from visits to the dry cleaners to hangers that come with the clothes you buy at the store. If you just have too many hangers, donate them. While they shouldn’t go in your curbside recycling, some thrift and consignment stores will accept them if they are in good shape. You can also check with your dry cleaner to see if you can return them after use.
Read the original article on Southern Living
