15 Clever Ways to Reuse Old Newspapers at Home and in the Garden

How to Reuse Newspapers

Newspaper Uses in the Garden

With two woodstoves in continuous use from late November through April, we use most of our winter newspapers as fire starters. The ashes we don’t use to provide traction on icy walkways, we add as a pH-raising amendment to our garden soils.

The papers have other horticultural uses, too: 

• During the growing season, we use newspapers as a weed-suppressing mulch. We lay them down several pages thick and cover the paper with a thin layer of hay, pine needles, or wood chips to make aisles between our garden beds.
• To create a new garden spot without mechanical tillage, I lay down a thick layer of newspapers (flattened cardboard boxes work well, too); top it off with a thinner layer of hay, straw, or leaves; and let the space sit for a year. By the following spring, the grass underneath will have died, and voilà!—a soil ready to fertilize, amend, and plant.
• I also protect young vegetable seedlings from cutworms by wrapping the lower stem with a tight collar of wet newspaper that extends an inch into the soil and at least an inch above the soil line.
• To ripen green tomatoes indoors, I harvest blemish-free fruits when frost threatens, wrap each in a piece of newspaper, and set them in a cool, dark cellar. Sometimes they last through Thanksgiving.

Creative Ways to Reuse Newspapers Indoors

During many years of freelance writing for newspapers (and always tending a big vegetable garden), I often joked about the fun of eating my words. But since this isn’t a gardening blog, allow me to share a few of the hundred and one other ways I use newspapers around the house:

• Cleaning windows: Crumpled newspaper and white vinegar make an unbeatable combo for washing windows and other glass surfaces.
• Wrapping paper: Very chic, especially if you select the right news for the occasion or decorate the newspaper with potato prints.
• Cut-flower holder: Torn or shredded, moistened, and stuffed into a vase, old newspapers will hold cut flowers, greens, or branches in place. Add more if you need to.
• Shape-holders: Crumple newspapers and stuff them into shoes, handbags, and hats you don’t use often to help them hold their shapes.
• Funny hats: I once worked with a colleague who’d previously spent many years as a daycare worker and was a master of newspaper-hat making. He had a hat for every occasion. Retirements, marriages, promotions, failed budget negotiations—Tom always came out with a news hat that spoke to the occasion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are newspapers safe to use in the garden?

Yes! Most modern newspapers use soy-based inks, which are nontoxic and safe for composting and mulching. Just avoid glossy or colored inserts, as they may contain inks or coatings that aren’t biodegradable.

Can newspapers be composted?

Absolutely. Shredded newspaper makes an excellent “brown” (carbon-rich) material in compost piles. Just mix it with “greens” like kitchen scraps or grass clippings to balance the pile.

Is newspaper mulch better than landscape fabric?

Newspaper mulch is an inexpensive, eco-friendly alternative to landscape fabric. It smothers weeds, helps soil retain moisture, and naturally decomposes over time—improving the soil instead of creating plastic waste.

How many layers of newspaper should I use for mulch?

For best results, lay down 4–6 sheets of newspaper and cover them with straw, grass clippings, or wood chips to hold them in place. This thickness will suppress most weeds while still allowing water to seep through.

Can I reuse newspaper for crafts or wrapping gifts?

Yes! Old newspapers make unique, eco-friendly wrapping paper and can also be used for papier-mâché, origami, and simple crafts like folded hats and baskets.

What are some household cleaning uses for newspapers?

Crumpled newspaper is excellent for streak-free cleaning of windows, mirrors, and other glass surfaces. Paired with vinegar or a natural cleaner, it’s a cheap and effective alternative to paper towels.

What do you do with old newspapers? Recycle or reuse? Let us know in the comments!