25 Ways to Reuse Pantyhose

Shoeshine buffer: Put a spit-shine on your shoes by buffing them with a length of old pantyhose.

Apply paint and stain: Use pantyhose to add interesting designs and textures when applying or finishing paint, stain and even plaster.

Store flower bulbs: Storing seasonal bulbs in pantyhose and hanging them up in a dry place will promote good air circulation and keep bulbs from rotting.

Avoid insect bites: Don't be shy about wearing a pair of worn out pantyhose next time you're working in the yard or go camping — even if you're a guy. Outdoorsmen know that they prevent chigger and other insect bites, and minimize foot blisters, too. 

Fisherman's trick: My grandfather taught me a great trick for catching catfish. He'd wrap a piece of chicken liver bait in a piece of pantyhose to keep it on the hook; the fish would still bite, and he’d still have his bait.

Special photo effects: Stretch pantyhose over your camera lens to give photos a starburst or muted effect. (Just remember, it’s best to have her take them off before you try this.)

Fan belt in a pinch: At least on older model cars, a band of pantyhose can still replace a broken fan belt in an emergency.

Patch a screen: Glue a pantyhose patch over holes in window or door screens rather than replace them.

Water gardening: Fill pantyhose with a mixture of gravel and soil, and plant water lilies and other aquatic plants in them for your water garden. Tear a small whole in them so plants can grow freely but soil remains intact.

Kitchen strainer: Use pantyhose instead of cheese cloth for straining foods in the kitchen. Obviously, you'll want to launder them first!

Nature nets: As kids, when we weren't wearing pantyhose over our heads on Halloween as a cat burglar costume cheapskate-style, we loved to make "nature nets" out of them with wire coat hangers to use on our endless butterfly-tadpole-spider-toad hunting expeditions.

Jeff Yeager is the author of The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches and The Cheapskate Next Door. His website is www.UltimateCheapskate.com and you can friend him on Facebook at JeffYeagerUltimateCheapskate or follow him on Twitter.