How to Use Foil Pans Around the House

If you are wondering what you can do with foil pans, other than dispose of them after cooking, you can recycle them for various uses around the house. Here are a few ways to use those foil pans around the house.

Paint Tray

Making use of foil pans as paint trays can not only save money but also create a simple way to clean up. When you are finished working with the paint, just throw out the foil pan. The first method uses a square or rectangular tray. To make use of a foil pan as a paint tray you would flatten one side to where it almost met the lip of that side. That would allow you to have a trough like a professional paint tray. If you are into use a smaller foil pan for artistic painting, you would create an indentation on opposite sides large enough for a finger to fit comfortably. You can hold the pan with paint while you paint.

Mixing Tray

Foil pans can also be used as mixing trays for many items. You can mix plaster or stains when working on home repairs. You can use a foil pan as a mixing tray for dry mixes such as

Catch Tray

One of the best uses of foil pans around the house is as a catch bin. Smaller foil pans, such as pot pie tins, can be used for coins or jewelry. Larger pans such as pie pans can be used as mail holders, key holders or even a place to put the remote controls.

Frames

This idea works well with pie pans or pot pie tins. Coat the foil pan with a shade of metallic paint for color; or you can use a non-metallic dark color and sprinkle metal shavings onto it before it dries for a sparkle effect. You can get the paints and sparkles at any arts and crafts supplier. You can also use foil pans as mirror frames. Crush down the sides of the tray first; then find an old pane of window glass and spray the back with silver paint. Then mount the glass onto the tray with heavy duty glue.

Bug Traps

This is a good way to get rid of fleas, ticks, bedbugs and ants. Fill a foil pan with hot water and soap. Place the foil pan at the base of a lit lamp. Preferably the lamp light should be close to the floor. The bugs will spot the light and head for the heat generated from the lamp. They will most likely try to cross the foil pan to get to the light. When they hit the water, the bugs will drown. Fleas, ticks, ants and bed bugs cannot swim and will suffocate from the soap.

Candle Holders

Foil pans, especially smaller pans, will work well as holders for the small squat candles. Tea candles, potpourri candles and any candle with a diameter larger than an inch can use a foil pan as a candle holder. If you want to use a smaller candle, or tapered candle, heat the base of the candle to where it is soft enough to spread when you force the candle down on the pan. This creates a wider base to hold the tapered candle and it will harden as it sits.