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Cheap and extremely versatile material, also outside the kitchen

This type of paper makes up one of the most used metals in the world: aluminum; losing the first position only to steel. Structures of boats, cars, planes, windows, doors, cans and aluminum sheets are the most common applications of the material. Aluminum foil is very present in the kitchen as it helps a lot in preserving food, but it may not be that safe. Understand this theme and learn about ways to use aluminum foil outside the kitchen:

• Remove Rust: Iron items, for example, can suffer, depending on the humidity conditions, rust stains. To remove them, simply crush a square of aluminum foil and use it as a sponge to rub in the place where there is rust. This works because aluminum is a softer metal than iron and won't scratch the material beneath the rust. Steel wool can do the job faster than aluminum sponge, but it is more likely to scratch the object;
• Sharpening scissors: scissors, over time, lose quality and efficiency when cutting. To sharpen it, just use it to cut six to eight layers of aluminum foil. After the last layer, the scissors will be ready for new cuts;
• Protect handles and latches: when painting doors or cabinets, handles and latches must be protected to prevent them from being damaged. Aluminum foil is great for storing such items, as it can be molded according to the accessory;
• Speed ​​up ironing: You can cut down on this task by using aluminum foil. Before placing the laundry on the ironing board, place some aluminum sheets on top of the ironing board. Once you start ironing, the sheets will reflect the heat from the iron back to your shirt, making your shirts crease-free faster.

Check out the video about these and other ways to reuse aluminum foil.

Which side to use?

There is a right side to using aluminum foil, did you know? When wrapping food, do not let the matte side of the aluminum foil come into contact with the food. The shine on one side of the aluminum foil is due to a specific polish that prevents the aluminum from coming into direct contact with the food and contaminating it. Therefore, the brightest side should be on the inside, in contact with the food. However, it may not be so safe to use aluminum foil to wrap food, even on the shiny side. Read on to better understand this topic:

Can aluminum foil be baked?

The practicality of using aluminum foil in the oven does not seem to pay off. That's because combining aluminum foil and heat can be dangerous. Studies even link this practice to Alzheimer's.

Heat causes aluminum particles to pass into food, which can be harmful, as excess aluminum in the body affects and weakens bone cells, making it difficult to absorb calcium, which accumulates in the blood and impairs the functioning of the parathyroid .

Aluminum is also deposited in the brain, and scientists have found large amounts of the metal in autopsies of Alzheimer's patients, suggesting a relationship between aluminum and the disease.

The human body can process aluminum in small amounts, and it is safe, according to the WHO, to ingest one milligram per kilogram of the individual's weight per week. In other words, a 60-pound person can ingest 60 milligrams of aluminum a week. But this amount is considered taking into account the amounts of aluminum we consume in teas, cheeses, antacid drugs, water, deodorants, among others.

The problem with aluminum in the kitchen is that it may be helping to exceed this safety limit. A study published in International Journal of Electrochemical Science, concluded that the use of peppery or acidic spices doubles the dissolution of aluminum . A portion of meat with tomato sauce and vinegar provided the absorption of 465 mg of the substance – a dose almost eight times greater than that recommended for someone weighing 60 kg in one week.

how to discard

As incredible as it may seem, aluminum foil is recyclable, but it requires certain care. When we use aluminum foil to pack food, for example, there are leftovers that can harm recycling. Therefore, before sending the aluminum foil for recycling, it is necessary to sanitize it - preferably with reuse water.

To correctly dispose of your aluminum foil, check the recycling stations closest to your home in the free search engines at eCycle portal and have greater security that your aluminum foil will be recycled!