Stretch aluminum foil over your ironing board for this nifty reason

Aluminum foil is used throughout meal preparation, serving and cleanup. It protects delicate food from overcooking; keeps dishes warm before serving; and, of course, stores leftovers in the fridge, making it one of the handiest items in the kitchen. Yet these shiny metal sheets can do SO much more, including assisting with household chores.

Hate ironing? Spread a long sheet of aluminum foil over your ironing board (but under the cover) and you'll be able to iron both sides of your clothing at once! The foil retains enough heat from the iron that the bottom is done while you iron the top. It's an easy way to cut your ironing time in half!

There are lots of other unusual uses for aluminum foil; here are just a few:

1. Wrap gifts
Aluminum foil actually makes beautiful wrapping paper, especially for food gifts! "Even if it's wrinkled, it can look 'artistic,'" says WonderHowTo blogger Karen Ahn. Watch this video from expertvillage for tips on how to use foil as wrapping paper -- including how to keep it wrinkle-free.

2. Keep bananas fresh longer
Ever notice how bananas will sometimes turn brown even while the stems are still green? Try wrapping the stems in aluminum foil to slow down the ripening process. Separate the bananas and wrap stems individually for maximum effect.

3. Scrub pots and pans
When you just can't get that cooked-on black stuff to come off, Diply recommends balling up some foil and using it as a scrub brush. It works like a charm, but only on uncoated pots and pans -- do NOT do this on nonstick items! Tip: this works wonders on uncoated barbecue grills, too!

4. Clean scissors
Fold aluminum foil over into a thick strip, and use gummed-up scissors to cut it into shreds. The foil will eventually scrape off gummy bits and rust, and your scissors will be shiny and clean. Contrary to popular belief, this action does not sharpen the scissors; it only cleans them -- but maybe that's all they need!

5. Make a roasting rack for bacon
Crimping a long sheet of aluminum foil into fan-like folds creates a perfect rack for making bacon in the oven. Lay bacon strips across the folds to keep the meat from sitting in oil, as shown in the WonderHowTo article. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204.4 degrees Celsius) for 10-15 minutes, or until bacon reaches your desired crispiness.

Do you have an unusual way to use aluminum foil? SHARE this article and tell us your foil tips in the comments below!