For as long as there have been salads, there has been the quest for a perfectly dry, crisp bed of leafy greens. Salad spinners are a modern kitchen tool, with the first patents for gadgets utilizing centrifugal motion to dry salad leaves emerging in the 1970s. But people have strived to produce crisp and clean salads by other means long before the spinner, including drying leaves on towels and swinging a wire basket full of leaves around — and getting considerably wet in the process. While the original intent explains their name, salad spinners might just have the most misleading title of any kitchen tool, as they are extremely versatile. They come in handy for all sorts of cooking tasks, from washing and drying everything from pasta to produce, but their usefulness also goes well beyond the kitchen. 

From the laundry room to the craft room, salad spinners can be used for just about anything that could use a spin cycle. They can even be used in the garden to give the soil a boost by separating pure soil from debris. However, they also tend to have a limited lifespan, whether the plastic outer bowl cracks or the spinning mechanism isn’t what it once was. If your salad spinner is due for a replacement, don’t toss it just yet. There are tons of clever ways to reuse it around the house.

Salad spinner not spinning anymore? Turn it into a quick-draining planter for fussy plants. The colander and bowl allow you to easily control the soil’s moisture level. Just water the plant and tip out any excess water from the bowl as needed. A clear bowl makes it even easier to monitor, as you can keep an eye on the water level to avoid both over- and underwatering. The colander also provides excellent airflow for plants that need it. A salad spinner is just one of many household items you can repurpose into a planter.

Fundamentally, a salad spinner and a washing machine are very similar. While it’s hard to match the cleaning power of an electric washer, you can dedicate an old salad spinner to the laundry room to easily hand wash delicates. Just fill the bowl with water at whatever temperature you need and add some gentle detergent. Place your clothing items in the colander and spin to give them a good rinse. Let them soak for several minutes and then spin again. Finally, empty the water and spin the delicates again until dry enough to hang or lay flat.

Turn an old salad spinner into a one-stop shop for dyeing fabric. Fill the bowl with your dye mixture, then insert the fabric in the colander. The spinner will agitate the fabric to ensure an even dye job. When it’s time to remove the fabric, just lift the colander and pop it under the sink. Then, clean out the spinner bowl and pop the fabric back in the spinner for a good rinse and spin.

Convert an old salad spinner into a fun spin-art machine. Place paper, cardstock, or even fabric flat on the bottom of the colander inside the bowl, and apply drops, squiggles, and blobs of paint on top. Then, close the spinner and spin away. Use the splatter-paint designs in fun home decor projects around the house. This is a fun, family-friendly craft that even the littlest artists can do.

To keep swimsuits fresh and like-new all season, it’s important to rinse off sunscreen, seasalt, sand, and chlorine after every use. Whether you’re done swimming for the day or just want to rinse off your suit before your next dip, a salad spinner makes the perfect swimsuit companion. You can wash it in the spinner just like your delicates or just give it a good rinse in fresh water. Then, use it to dry the swimsuit so it’s ready to go.

When you wash your sweaters, don’t wring them out! Wringing knitwear can stretch the knit fibers, causing them to lose their shape and wear out prematurely. Sweaters, knits, and other clothing items that need to lay flat to dry can go for a quick salad spinner spin cycle. The spinner will force the excess water from the garment without stretching the fibers. They won’t be fully dry, but a salad spinner will definitely speed up the process while protecting the items.

Whether you have an infant and are constantly cleaning toys and pacifiers or you have a collection of tiny toy pieces that need a good wash, an old salad spinner will do the trick. Dump the toys in the spinner, add warm, soapy water (or the cleaning solution of your choice), and give it a whirl. Empty out the water, rinse the pieces, and spin the toys dry so they’re ready for the next play session.

Calling all crafting pros and indie dyers — this hack is for you! If you love to hand-dye your own yarn, wool, or roving, a salad spinner is about to become your new best friend. You can use it to rinse your dyed fibers and then drain and dry them while being gentle. Just spin and empty the spinner over and over until your fiber is ready to hang or lay flat to fully dry.