usd Magnets to Fixed Knives, forks, dishes, etc.unusual-uses

E is for Eating! Photo: Real Simple
1. Magnetic wall. Turn any wall into a giant magnet with magnetic paint, which can be applied to lots of surface materials, including drywall, plaster, wood, and metal. Then hang posters, clippings from magazines, artwork, photos -- just about anything really -- using smaller magnets. This is a great alternative for people who cringe whenever they need make a new hole in the wall.

2. Monogram place settings. Real Simple cleverly creates personalized place settings using those alphabet magnets from the fridge. It sticks to flatware made of nickel-free stainless steel (labeled 18/0).

3. Magnetic spice rack. Place magnets on the bottom of your spices and attach them to a sheet of steel next to your oven or a stainless steel backsplash.

4. Under-cabinet storage. Move things off your countertop by placing a magnetic strip underneath your cabinets. Then suspend jars with metal lids, or other metal items. (Also, take note of the wall-mounted magnetic knife strip in photo at left.)

Old Sweet Song
5. Screw saver. Take a magnet or magnetic paint and apply to a small piece of plywood. When you're putting together that tricky assembly-required furniture, place your screws, nuts and bolts on the magnetic surface to be sure you don't lose any. If you drop some nails on the floor, you can also use a magnet to pick them up with ease.

6. Stubborn battery remover. Have you ever tried to pry a tiny battery out with no luck? Try using a magnet to grab a hold of it, and you'll never have to use your fingernails again.

7. Medicine cabinet space saver. Have you ever opened your medicine cabinet and had your beauty tools spill out into your sink? Happens to me all the time. Place a magnetic board in the back of your medicine cabinet to hold your tweezers, scissors and other tools in place.

Use magnets to keep your chips crispy. Photo: L. Marie, Flickr
8. Keep snacks fresh. After you've had a snack, add two magnets to either side of a bag of potato chips, fold them over and let the magnets keep your chips fresh longer.

9. Make a compass. This cool kids' project provides direction on how to make a compass with a basic magnet. Hey, if a kid can DIY it, so can you.

10. Locate studs. If you're trying to hang a picture or a shelf on the wall and need to locate a metal studs, sliding a magnet across the wall is the old-fashioned way to do it. When you feel the magnet pull, or it sticks to the wall, odds are there's a stud right there.

Bonus tip: Fellow DIY Life writer Mrs. FIXIT offers one more idea for employing a magnet to keep your nails handy while you're using a hammer!