Most people keep sandpaper in the garage or workshop for smoothing wood, but it can actually be useful in many other situations around the house. Because it’s abrasive, sandpaper can clean, sharpen, grip, and restore a variety of everyday items.

If you’ve only used sandpaper for DIY projects, you’re missing out on some surprisingly handy tricks. Here are 10 things sandpaper can do besides sanding wood.

Remove Rust From Tools

Sandpaper works well for removing rust from hand tools like pliers, wrenches, and garden tools. Start with a coarse grit to remove the rust, then finish with a finer grit to smooth the metal.

Clean Stubborn Grout

If grout stains refuse to come out with regular cleaners, fine-grit sandpaper can help. Carefully sand along the grout line to remove the stained surface layer while avoiding the surrounding tile.

Sharpen Dull Scissors

Cutting through a sheet of fine-grit sandpaper several times can help sharpen dull scissors. The abrasive surface also removes sticky residue clinging to the blades.

Remove Scuffs From Suede

Fine-grit sandpaper can help remove small scuff marks or stains from suede shoes or clothing. Gently rub the area and then brush the nap with a toothbrush to restore the fabric’s texture.

Smooth or File Nails

A small piece of sandpaper can work as a quick substitute for an emery board. Medium-grit sandpaper (around 120–150 grit) is rough enough to shape nails when you don’t have a nail file nearby.

Deter Slugs in Potted Plants

Slugs dislike rough surfaces and often avoid crawling across sandpaper. Placing a used sanding disc or strip beneath a plant pot can help discourage them from reaching the plant.

Hold Pleats While Ironing

Sandpaper can help keep fabric pleats from shifting while ironing. Placing a sheet under the fold creates friction that holds the pleat in place as you press it.

Remove Sweater Pills

Fine-grit sandpaper can gently remove fuzz balls and pills from sweaters. Lightly rub in one direction to lift the fibers without damaging the fabric.

Improve Grip on Slippery Surfaces

Sandpaper can add traction to items that feel slippery. Rubbing it across the soles of new shoes helps prevent slipping, and placing a piece on a jar lid can give you a better grip when opening tight jars.

Sharpen Sewing Needles

Running a sewing needle through folded sandpaper a few times can slightly sharpen the tip. This simple trick can help needles glide through fabric more easily.

Restore Cloudy Headlights

Over time, plastic headlight covers can become foggy from oxidation and sun exposure. Using ultra-fine sandpaper with water can gently remove the cloudy layer and help restore clearer headlights.

Refresh Worn Windshield Wiper Blades

If your windshield wipers leave streaks, lightly rubbing the rubber blade with very fine sandpaper can help smooth out small imperfections. This quick fix can temporarily improve performance until you replace the blades.