Walla Walla Women's Wine Club

Uses of Wine Corks

Maybe you saved corks because of a unique design or perhaps as a remembrance of a special occasion. Yet, corks are useful for more than sealing a bottle of wine. You can actually turn those corks into something useful or decorative.

Wine cork uses include:

• Mulch: Cut up a number of corks and grind them into fine mulch for the garden. The cork material will help plants retain water.
• Orchid soil mixture: Slice up a cork and place it in the soil with an orchid to help the plant hold onto moisture. Orchid growers commonly use wine corks.
• Scratch prevention pads for bottom of furniture: Cut corks and attach them to the bottoms of chair legs and table legs to prevent the furniture from scratching the floor.
• Fishing bobber: Drill a hole through the cork and attach a piece of doweling. Allow the doweling to hang slightly over the top and bottom of the cork and make a knot.
• Pin cushion: Attach four wine corks together with either glue or straightened paper clips. Stick pins, needles and thumbtacks into the corks to create a pin cushion.
• Painting pattern: Use wine corks in place of sponges to create patterns on the wall when painting a room. Cut patterns in the corks to make different designs. Single or multiple corks held against the wall will create different looks.
• High carbon knife cleaner: High carbon knives discolor easily. Wet the knife and apply some cleanser. Scrub away the discoloration with a cork to safely clean the sharp blade.