When pennies were around, people loathed carrying them in their pockets and wallets. They were heavy, dirty and not worth much. Pennies were such a small unit of currency that the amount of space they took up wasn’t even worth it! However, since being discontinued, pennies are making a comeback, proving their value can be stretched beyond a mere one cent.
Chances are though that you still have a ton of them sitting around somewhere – maybe in a piggy bank, a jar, or even a large plastic bag. Those, of course, need to be looked after, because really, what are you going to do with all those copper coins? Fresh out of idea? Then, here are 15 savvy ways to get the most out of your leftover, lying-around-the-house pennies. In fact, some of these ideas are so good, you might find yourself on the hunt to gather more.
15. Slow Fungus Growth
Blight fungus is every gardener’s nightmare. A bacterial or fungal infestation can wipe out an entire crop, throwing a season’s worth of tender loving care down the drain. Slow down bacterial blight with pre-1982 pennies (they are made of 95% copper) by slicing the affected branch one-quarter of the way through, close to where the branch meets the stalk, and sliding in the penny.
14. Commemorate Important Dates
Make this thoughtful frame for birthdays, anniversaries, special occasions and anything that deserves to be remembered. Perfect for a gift!
13. Rescue A Glass of Wine
Next time you open a bottle of wine and its odor is questionable, don’t fret. Clean a pre-1982 penny (clean it really, REALLY well) and plop it into your glass of wine. The copper penny reacts with the “thiols” in the wine (the stinky sulfur molecules that create an unpleasant rubbery/eggy smell). The copper helps counteract by releasing odorless copper sulfide, and voila! Your glass of wine should be rendered palatable.
12. Upgrade A Birdhouse
All you need is an assembled thick wood birdhouse, a bottle of crazy glue, and a couple of handfuls of pennies to make a sharp looking penny roof. Simply glue the pennies starting from the bottom of the roof, carefully overlapping them until you reach the top. Put it outside, and birds will be singing your praises!
11. Make A Quick Measurement
If you find yourself needing something to help you draw up a measurement in a pinch, here’s a rule of thumb: pennies have a 0.75-inch diameter. If you line 16 pennies side by side on a flat surface, they are exactly 1 ft. And if you pile the same 16 cents high, into a neat pile, you’re standing just shy of 1 inch at 0.96 inches.
The list doesn’t end here! Click on the next page to figure out more ways to reuse pennies around the house!
So, there is no way I knew that you could use pennies as a form of measurement; neither did I understand that those copper coins could be used to make a nifty birdhouse. But, that’s obviously not all. Keep reading to see how you can multi-purpose pennies to the best of their ability!
10. Weigh Down Curtains
Keep curtains hanging straight and from folding up at the bottoms with a few pennies and paperclips. Hot glue 5-6 pennies together then glue the paperclip on top. Secure the paperclip with pennies to the bottom of the curtain and tuck it in behind the fold for a perfect d***e.
9. Devise An Impromptu Screwdriver
Away from your toolkit? Don’t have a toolkit? Take a penny, and approach the screw from a 15-20-degree angle to get the right amount of torque to fit into the groove of a screw.
8. Create Original Buttons
Add a little pizazz with buttons made from pennies. Plus, they’re extra durable too! They won’t crack or break off. Simply clean them, grab a drill, make a few holes and you’ve got yourself a brand new look.
7. Test Tire Air Pressure
If you’re on a long trip without an appropriate place to check your tires, slide a penny with Lincoln’s head upside down between the ribs of the car’s tire. If ALL of Lincoln’s head is above the tread, the tire needs to be replaced. However, if his forehead disappears, the tire is still good to ride on!
6. Keep Flowers Fresh
Flowers are prone to bacterial and fungal infection. By using pennies, the copper acts as a fungicide helping to ward off signs of infection. Add one penny and a ¼ teaspoon of sugar to fresh water every day, and your bouquet that will last longer with fewer chemicals.
Is your mind blown yet? Mine is! But, there’s more, so click on the next page to continue.
We’re not quite through yet. Just when you thought that maybe that list can’t get any better, or that how many other practical uses can a penny REALLY have, we bring you another five tips and tricks, below. Now, these are super cool, handy, and nifty! You’ll thank us for giving you all the insider tips and tricks!
5. Make Washers
Make your own non-corroding washers with a hole punching tool. At 11 cents per washer, you could be saving 10 cents a pop with this method. Plus, the hole puncher is good for a lot of other things.
4. Win (Almost!) Every Coin Spin
Here’s a fact: A clean penny spun on its edge will land tails up 80% of the time because of the extra mass on the “heads” side. This minute amount of extra “coin weight” shifts the coin’s center off balance causing heads to usually come down first, revealing tails most of the time.
3. Line Up Perfectly Spaced Tiles
Forget buying spacers when laying down a tile. A stack of pennies will do the trick! A penny’s thickness is 0.0598 inches (1.52 mm), providing an ideal space between tiles, and is way more cost-effective. Pop in a few pennies on the side of the tile before putting in the adjacent one – just remember to remove them after setting.
2. Create Fashionable And Functional Door Stops
Take an old mason jar or something similar. Fill it with old pennies, and tie with a bow or decorate with stencils for a decorative doorstop that’ll save you from having to buy one.
1. Design An Eye-Popping Floor Or Wall Or Backsplash
If you’re looking for something unique to spruce up your humble abode or looking for a rewarding project that’ll keep you busy, this video says it all:
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