12 Practical Uses For Aprons
By Kyrie Luke
I’m giving you 12 practical uses for aprons that go beyond just wearing them for cooking. A good apron is a homemaking essential, but there are many different types and uses for aprons.
Learn how to get the most out of your aprons in this post where I talk about the different uses and types of aprons.
Related: Modern Homemaking Schedule
Related: List of Kitchen Essentials for a New Home
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Uses for Aprons
Aprons can be used for so many things regardless of whether they’re brand new or vintage. Here are some practical ways to use and love your aprons.
1. Wear your apron while cooking
The most obvious use for an apron is to wear it while cooking – that is what they’re made for after all.
Aprons are there to protect your clothes while you’re cooking and if you’re anything like me, you ALWAYS regret it if you don’t put one on. Seriously, I want to put a sign in my kitchen that says “don’t forget your apron!”
Homemaker’s tip: Make your aprons easily accessible so you never forget to put one on – you’ll always regret it when you don’t and will never regret taking the extra 2 seconds to slip on your apron.
2. Use your apron for kitchen decor
If you have a beautiful, or vintage apron, use it for decor in your kitchen to add a little charm. Bonus points if it’s an apron you actually wear too – functional decor is a homemaker’s dream.
These are the aprons hanging in my own kitchen. I have them on a beautiful ironstone hanging rod I found at the thrift store.
Homemaker’s tip: Find a beautiful apron or two that matches the aesthetic of your kitchen and let those be the aprons you put on display at all times.
3. Wiping children’s mouths (or your own)
Keep your apron on during dinnertime and use it to wipe your little ones’ mouths after dinner. I’ve been known to wipe my own hands and mouth with my apron too. 😉
Homemaker’s tip: Get the corner of your apron wet prior to dinnertime to make wipe downs even easier. Only use aprons you’re willing to get dirty for this use!
4. To tie an outfit together
There’s no shame in using an apron to pull together an outfit. There’s nothing more attractive on a woman than a half apron so you can see her waistline. Aprons are functional, but should also make you feel good about yourself too.
Homemaker’s tip: Wear aprons you think are attractive on yourself as well as functional.
5. Wear your apron for cleaning
Aprons don’t have to be worn just for cooking. It’s important to protect your clothes while cleaning too. If I have a big cleaning day planned, I’ll put on my pinafore apron and use it to wipe my hands all day long.
Homemaker’s tip: Pinafore aprons have the most coverage and are perfect for all-day use during heavy cooking or cleaning days.
Related: Cleaning Schedules for Busy Moms
6. Gardening aprons
Wear your apron while gardening so you can wipe your dirty hands on your apron instead of your clothes. That makes it easy to go from inside to outside while still wearing nice clothes.
Homemaker’s Tip: Have an indoor apron and an outdoor apron so you don’t have to wash them as often.
7. Give the gift of an apron
If you find an apron you love, give it as a gift to a friend. When I find the perfect apron, I want to share it with the world! I love this pinafore apron; great quality linen apron for a fraction of the price of any others I’ve seen.
Homemaker’s Tip: If you find a vintage apron at an antique store, that would be a lovely gift too.
8. Inspirational Apron
An apron can have the power to motivate you to do all the things that need to get done around the house. Let’s face it, if we look the part, it inspires us to do all the things! Can you relate?
Homemaker’s tip: Use an apron to inspire children too! If you have a child who is reluctant to help with something, give them an apron to make them feel extra special and important.
9. Memory Making Apron
If you have an apron that you love and always wear, be sure to save it and pass it down to your children (or children’s wives) one day. If your children see you wearing an apron every day, they’re going to remember that.
My grandma always wore the same apron to bake Christmas cookies and I, now, hang that same apron in my kitchen every holiday season.
Homemaker’s tip: Be sure to keep your aprons nice by washing on delicate, hanging them to dry, and stitching them whenever necessary so they stand the test of time.
10. To look professional
If you’re a chef, caterer, or someone who is making food for anyone else (even guests in your home), wearing an apron gives you more credibility. Believe it or not, people trust uniforms and aprons can act as a uniform.
Homemaker’s tip: If you’re having guests over, be sure to wear your apron while serving food.
11. Use aprons for their pockets
If nothing else, wear an apron just for the pockets! If you’re wearing a dress without pockets, having an apron to fill that void is so helpful.
At the end of the day, you’ll find me cleaning the toy cars, pens, and other miscellaneous items out of the pockets of my apron.
Homemaker’s tip: Never buy an apron without pockets.
12. Wear protective aprons around heat
Leather, rubber, or nylon aprons are great when working around high heat environments (like a grill) or anything dealing with harmful chemicals.
Homemaker’s tip: Get your husband a nice leather apron like this one for when he’s BBQing.
How to Store Aprons
My biggest suggestion for storing aprons is to store them where you’ll actually use them. Make it very convenient for you to grab and go, otherwise, you’ll catch yourself “risking it” by not putting one on.
- On a hook in your kitchen (out of site)
- On a decorative hanging rack in your kitchen (as decor)
- In utility closet
- In a drawer in your kitchen.
- Inside your pantry
Types of Aprons and How to Use Them
These are the most popular types of aprons and how to use them the right way.
Pinafore Apron (aka: crossback apron)
Pinafore aprons offer the most coverage out of all the aprons and are easy to slip on. They cross in the back (hence the name, crossback apron) which means the fabric wraps around the sides of your body.
They often have large pockets on the sides or in the front making them convenient for holding gardening tools or anything else. Pinafore aprons are very loose-fitting and provide great range of motion while wearing.
Use when: Pinafore aprons are great when working outside and gardening since they have such large pockets and provide full coverage.
Don’t use: Don’t use a pinafore apron if you don’t want to cover up your outfit. This sounds silly, but if you’re after “style” these might throw off your image a tad.
Chef’s Apron (aka: bib apron)
Chef’s aprons are the most popular type of apron and offer pretty full coverage. These aprons cover almost the entire front side of the body and often go below the knees.
Use when: Use chef’s aprons when you’re cooking something that splatters (like bacon or brussels sprouts).
Don’t use: Unfortunately, these aprons can feel somewhat constricting since they’re full coverage. Don’t wear a chef’s apron if you’re doing a task that requires a lot of movement or bending over.
Homemaker’s tip: If I have a chef’s apron that I love, but don’t want to feel so constricted, I’ll often just fold the top part over and make it into a waist apron.
Waist Apron (aka: half apron)
Waist aprons are very popular among servers in the food industry. They conveniently have pockets to hold pens and pads, and cover the waist area, but offer easy movement. Sometimes half aprons go past the knees and sometimes they’re cut above the knees.
Use when: Use waist aprons for daily chores around the house or activities that require a lot of movement and bending over. I like to wear a waist apron all day as I’m cleaning, cooking, and playing with my son.
Don’t use: Don’t use a half apron when you’re cooking something that splatters. Since these aprons only cover half of your body, you’re leaving your upper half at risk for spills.
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