Cork stoppers are essential for wine or champagne bottles, but once the bottle is empty, you never quite know what to do with them. So if you're looking for inspiration, here are a few ideas for reusing them.
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1) As a trivet
A little creativity, some twine, a dozen stoppers, and you'll have a lovely trivet (or coaster) to bring out for your summer parties.
2) As firelighters
Cork stoppers are a great way to start a fire easily and sustainably!
It couldn't be easier: simply soak the stoppers in white vinegar or 90% alcohol. This will make it very easy to light your fireplace, insert or barbecue. To avoid burning yourself, you can pierce the stopper with a wooden skewer.
3) To combat bad odours in the fridge.
Give it a try! They absorb bad odours and keep your fridge smelling fresh. Feel free to add a drop of peppermint essential oil to enhance the clean scent. This tip is not a substitute for regularly cleaning your fridge to prevent bacteria from multiplying too quickly.
4) To keep your fruit fresh for longer
Cut it in half and place it in your fruit bowl. The stopper repels fruit flies and absorbs moisture.
5) To stop scratching your parquet flooring
Cut the stopper into strips and place them under the feet of your furniture! An eco-friendly, effective and quick way to protect your parquet flooring from scratches.
6) As a decorative item: stopper drawer pulls
A little imagination and you'll have unique, personalised and affordable furniture. You can also keep them in a basket in your kitchen or dining room.
7) To recork an opened bottle.
A surprising use, isn't it? But how many of us have been left completely helpless when we needed to put the stopper back in an opened bottle? Simply immerse the stopper in boiling water for 10 minutes. This will soften the stopper and allow you to put it back in the bottle without any problems.
8) As place cards
A clever way to indicate where guests should sit at your wedding or family dinner.
And finally, if you really don't see any use for keeping this little piece of cork, don't hesitate to recycle it. There are several collection organisations such as Planète Liège that help prevent overexploitation, as demand for cork stoppers is constantly increasing while the resource is limited.
Oé: do good by drinking good, open some great organic wines!
