7 surprising uses for old tights and stockings

Nov 01, 2019
A pair of old pantyhose can be used for a variety of things around the house. Source: Getty

Don’t throw old tights or stockings away! It turns out they can come in pretty handy, even if they’ve been snagged beyond repair and you can no longer wear them. From locating small objects to polishing your silverware, an old pair of pantyhose can be used for a variety of things around the house. Read on to learn more:

Pick up small objects

If you’re searching around your house for a lost earring, you’re in luck. Simply stretch your stocking over the end of a vacuum cleaner and start vacuuming – any object it reaches will be sucked into the stocking and won’t end up down the chute. This is a great way to find small, lost objects!

A convenient soap holder

If you’re down to the last few slithers of your bar of soap but don’t want them to go to waste, stuff them into the toe of an old pair of pantyhose. Not only will the soap work through the material, but the stocking will work as a body cloth at the same time.

Store onions

Extend the life of your onions and store them in a stocking leg. Why? Keeping individual onions tied up inside their own section of stocking will keep them dry and ventilated. Simply, drop an onion into the foot of an old pair of pantyhose, and tie a knot. Continue adding onions until both legs are full.

Polish your silverware

Make your silver sparkle again with an old pair of pantyhose – simply bunch the material into a scrubbing knot and polish away. Stockings are made from a very delicate material which makes them perfect tools for polishing and cleaning!

Keep your hair brush clean

Cleaning your hair brush is no easy task – hair and product build up can be a pain to get rid of, especially if you’ve left it for a little while – but a small strip of pantyhose can make all the difference. Simply cut a small strip of pantyhose and place it at the bottom of the hairbrush bristles (make sure it covers the whole brush). When your hairbrush starts getting dirty, remove the pantyhose and the hair and product build up will come straight off with it.

Replacement stuffing

You can fix toys that have lost their stuffing by putting some pantyhose inside and stitching up again. You’ll be the best grandma in the business! This works well with pillows and seat cushions too.

Protect your garden

If you’ve got even a slight green thumb you’ll know the joy of growing something in your garden. But it’s the natural predators that come in to enjoy your efforts that can be quite frustrating. Protect your garden vegetables and fruits from common garden pests by wrapping them in stockings – the material will work as a barrier against these predators.

Stories that matter
Emails delivered daily
Sign up