10 Clever At-Home Uses for Packing Peanuts

Closeup of female hands holding heap of packing peanuts in cardboard
Despite their harmful impact on the environment, many companies still use Styrofoam packing peanuts for shipping. While some have turned to using biodegradable packing peanuts to make their shipping materials eco-friendlier, many others still rely on Styrofoam due to its effectiveness and affordability.

Styrofoam, which is a trade name for expanded polystyrene, gained popularity in the packing and shipping industries because it is lightweight and protects delicate items during the shipping process. It also provides good insulation to keep products hot or cold while in transit. Unfortunately, this material is non-biodegradable and terrible for the environment.

Astonishingly, it takes more than a million years for Styrofoam packing peanuts to decompose. And unfortunately, the material cannot be recycled in most parts of the United States. There is some good news, though: There are several ways you can reuse packing peanuts around your home. In doing so, you can keep them out of landfills. Here are just a few clever ways to use those foam peanuts that arrived with your most recent order.

Reuse Them for Shipping


This is the most obvious use, but foam peanuts can be used over and over for shipping. If you do not send packages out often, you may be able to donate them to a local shipping company. They can also be used to protect delicate items while in storage or during a move.

Make Your Own Alternative Stuffing


Packing peanuts are small and lightweight. They are also soft. These qualities make them work well as an alternative stuffing material for bean bag chairs, toys and other items. Crunch up large peanuts into smaller pieces to make the stuffing smoother and softer.

Fill Large Planters


A large plant is a lovely addition to any room of the house. Big planters require a lot of soil to fill, though, and potting soil isn’t cheap. If you have some packing peanuts lying around, use them in the bottom of the pot. Add soil on top to put your plant in. In addition to filling up the excess space without costing you a fortune, including some packing peanuts instead of only using soil will make the filled planter lighter and easier to move.

Use Them as an Ice Alternative


One of Styrofoam’s best qualities is that it is an excellent insulator. The next time you are filling up a cooler with cold beverages, throw in some packing peanuts instead of ice. They will help keep the bottles or cans cool without the mess of melting ice. You can also use them in conjunction with ice to make it last longer before melting. Just remember not to put packing peanuts in your beverages.

Create Your Own Christmas Tree Decorations


Have you ever strung popcorn on a string to create a garland for your Christmas tree? You can do the same thing with packing peanuts! When you’re finished, use paint or glue and glitter to give the peanuts a festive finish.

Child making snow angel with packing foam

Tighten Loose Screws


Loose screws are a nuisance but packing peanuts can help. Put the screw through a piece of Styrofoam before inserting it back into the hole. Tighten as usual, and the foam will fill up the extra space to create a more secure fit.

Give Yourself the Perfect Pedicure


You don’t need toe separators to give yourself a perfect pedicure; use packing peanuts instead. Wedge them between your toes, apply nail polish and wait for them to dry. Since most toe separators are made from Styrofoam, using packing peanuts prevents you from creating even more non-biodegradable waste.

Protect Your Fingers


Need to pound in a tiny finish nail or brad nail? Protect your fingers with help from a packing peanut. Push the tip of the nail through the Styrofoam, and hold the peanut in place instead of the nail. Once you’ve gotten the nail started, remove the foam and finish driving it in.

Hammer protected from packing peanuts

Cover Sharp Blades and Pointy Tools


Don’t jab or cut yourself when digging through your toolbox. Cover the tips of pointy tools and the blades of sharp ones using Styrofoam packing peanuts. In addition to safeguarding you against injuries, covering the ends of your tools can also protect them from moisture and rust.

Protect Painted Walls


The corners of hanging picture frames, mirrors and other wall art often damage painted walls. To avoid this, cut packing peanuts in half and glue them to the back corners of the frames. This creates a spacer that keeps those sharp corners away from your walls.

While extremely effective for packing and shipping, Styrofoam packing peanuts are not environmentally friendly. Do your part to keep them out of landfills by finding clever ways to repurpose them around your home.

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