Chopsticks can be more than just eating utensils—they can also be repurposed for cooking, gardening, and DIY projects. Listed below are 10 innovative ways to use chopsticks around your home, beyond their traditional purpose.
In the Kitchen
Already located in the kitchen, chopsticks can be used as skewers for cooking. Here are a couple different ways this can be done.
1. Skewer Food for Grilling
If you are short on bamboo skewers for your next barbecue, chopsticks are a good substitute.
- Soak the chopsticks in water for 15 minutes.
- Thread meat, vegetables, or fruit onto the chopsticks.
- Place the loaded chopsticks on the grill.
This method works well for kebabs, satay, or any other skewered dishes you want to cook over an open flame.
2. Toast Marshmallows
For a fun twist on s’mores or a quick fireside treat, use chopsticks to toast marshmallows. Slide a marshmallow onto the end of a chopstick and carefully hold it over a low flame. The length of the chopstick provides a safe distance from a burner but is a little too short for an open fire.
For Home Improvement
Chopsticks have a slim profile and sturdy construction that make them perfect for certain household maintenance tasks.
3. Fill Stripped Screw Holes
When faced with a stripped screw hole, a chopstick can provide a quick fix.
- Apply a small amount of wood glue to the tip of the chopstick.
- Insert the glued end into the stripped screw hole.
- Allow the glue to dry completely.
- Break off the excess chopstick, leaving it flush with the surface.
- Drive the screw into the newly created wooden plug.
This method works well for wood and drywall surfaces, providing a sturdy base for reattaching hardware or fixtures.
4. Unclog Bottles and Tubes
Use the narrow end of a chopstick to unclog tubes of caulk, bottles of glue, or other dispensers with small openings. Gently insert the chopstick into the opening and twist or push to break up any dried material.
5. Miniature Paint Stirrers
Using chopsticks as paint stirrers is especially useful for crafters working on detailed projects that require small amounts of well-mixed colors.
In the Garden
Chopsticks can be valuable aids in the garden, offering support for plants and helping with various gardening tasks.
6. Support Plants
Young or spindly plants often need extra support as they grow. Chopsticks make excellent plant stakes for this purpose.
- Gently push a chopstick into the soil near the plant stem.
- Loosely tie the plant to the chopstick using soft garden twine or plant ties.
- Adjust the tie as the plant grows to ensure proper support.
7. Create Plant Markers
Keep track of what you’ve planted in your garden by using chopsticks as plant markers.
- Write the plant name on a small piece of paper or the seed packet.
- Staple or tape the label to the top of a chopstick.
- Insert the labeled chopstick into the soil next to the plant or in the seed row.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Chopsticks are effective tools for cleaning and scraping hard-to-reach places.
8. Clean Hard-to-Reach Spots
Wrap a cleaning cloth around the end of a chopstick to reach into narrow crevices, such as:
- The top groove of a paint can
- Between air conditioner vents
- Behind sink faucets
- Window tracks
9. Remove Dirt from Shoe Soles
Keep chopsticks by your door, and use them to loosen dried dirt or mud from the crevices of shoe soles before stepping inside.
10. Clean Grout Lines
When tiling, use the tip of a chopstick to help clean up excess mastic that escapes into grout voids.
