Surprising Household Uses for Stale Bread (That Actually Work!)

Make your own bread to enjoy fresh—and save the leftovers for these clever uses!

Household Uses for Stale Bread

Stale white bread works best, but feel free to experiment with other varieties.

Make a Poultice

Soaking a piece of bread in hot milk is a renowned folk remedy for bringing an unripe boil or pimple to a head. Press the excess liquid from the bread, spread it over the affected area, and cover with a clean cloth. Remove when the bread poultice gets cold. Repeat as necessary.

Remove Splinters and Stings

Soak a piece of bread in cool milk, press out the milk, and apply the bread to the affected area, and bind it with a band-aid or a piece of duct tape for a few hours or overnight.

Prevent Tears While Cutting Onions

Spear a piece of stale bread with your knife and slide it up to the end of the blade near the handle. The bread absorbs most of the “vapors.”

Collect Slivers of Broken Glass

Reach for a chunk of soft bread after you’ve swept and vacuumed the big shards of a broken glass, and use it to pat down the area to collect those tiny slivers that remain. Wear rubber gloves; dispose of the bread in the trash when you’ve finished.

Clean a Coffee Grinder

Pinch off a three or four small pieces of stale bread, grind them up in your grinder, dump the crumbs, and wipe the inside of the grinder clean.

Clean Oily Fingerprints from Photos

Ball up a slice of stale bread and swipe gently.

Smudges, Crayon, or Pencil Marks on Walls

In a pinch, a ball of stale bread can work. Rub gently—one direction only.

Butter Corn on the Cob 

Spread butter on a slice of bread and rub or wrap it around the steaming hot cob. No mess, no wasted butter.

Soften Brown Sugar, Cookies, and Other Baked Goods

Just add a slice of bread to the sugar or baked goods and seal in a metal canister or ceramic jar.

Prevent Strong Cooking Odors

Remove the smell (and most of the taste) from scorched food by adding a slice of bread to the pot and covering it for a few minutes. Likewise, adding a piece of bread on top of broccoli, cabbage, or other strong veggies as they steam will keep the odors from escaping into the kitchen air.

Remove Grease

When cooking greasy foods, add a chunk or two of bread to the pan or boiler pan to absorb the grease.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use moldy bread for cleaning or household purposes?

No! If your bread has visible mold or smells off, toss it out immediately. Mold spores can spread easily and aren’t safe to handle. Stick with stale, dry bread, not spoiled bread.

How long does stale bread last for household use?

When stored in a cool, dry place, stale bread can last up to two weeks before it becomes too brittle. For longer use, freeze slices and thaw as needed for cleaning or other household hacks.

Can you use whole-grain or homemade bread for these tips?

Yes, but plain white bread tends to work best—it’s soft, absorbent, and less likely to leave crumbs behind. Still, experiment with what you have on hand.

Do you have any other uses that you’d like to share? Tell us in the comments below!