Paper coffee filters are exclusively sold in packs by the thousand for less than $2. This is a universal fact.
So what do you do when you give up coffee, or buy a new coffee maker that doesn’t require paper filters?
Glad you asked. The video above demonstrates many more uses for those curly doilies. Since they’re heat proof, and designed to remove even the smallest bits of residue for liquid, you can use them to strain items through tea, soup, and even wine.
They also make a great substitute for paper towels, rags, or more expensive microfiber pads. Plus, their porousness allows for air to flow through them, which means they can be used to absorb odors by filling with baking soda, without letting powder seep through.
This article was originally published on April 3, 2019, and updated on July 8, 2021.