# What is the purpose of shelf paper? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 28, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-shelf-paper/508026 "2009-08-28T14:27:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lillith\_Fair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bb73d2/32.png) [@Lillith\_Fair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lillith_Fair)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-shelf-paper/508026/1 "2009-08-28T14:27:00Z")
Why go to all the trouble to measure it and put it in your cabinets? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-shelf-paper/508026/2 "2009-08-28T14:30:50Z")
Depending on what kind of paper you put down, it can: deter ants keep shelves clean from bad cans pretty up the kitchen I think it’s prety much a hold-over from a time when home-canned foods were common, and things would occasionally explode in the pantry. We put down shelf paper every summer to keep ants out. They make kinds with built-in insecticide. ---
**Author:** ![Lillith\_Fair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bb73d2/32.png) [@Lillith\_Fair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lillith_Fair)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-shelf-paper/508026/3 "2009-08-28T14:48:35Z")
Oh. Well, I don’t have ants, the cans are in the pantry, and I’m not going to all that trouble for pretty. My floor is pretty enough to draw everyone’s attention to it. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-shelf-paper/508026/4 "2009-08-28T14:48:38Z")
And if things get icky from sugar or flour spills or sticky bottles, it’s easier to throw away the old liner and put down new than it is to scrub your cabinet shelves. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-shelf-paper/508026/5 "2009-08-28T15:00:34Z")
Some shelving paper is made to help absorb sound and movement. Helps keep things quiet. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-shelf-paper/508026/6 "2009-08-28T15:38:15Z")
The original paper went over the wood that most people had in the kitchen cupboards. Once wood soaks up something you can’t just wipe it off. Unlined wood shelves became black with greasy crime after some time and it wasn’t going to come off. Remember mice and bugs were also a big problem and lining paper was easy to change. Now that almost all cabinets have switched to vinyl coated surfaces you don’t need it for the most part. I still will line the cabinet where the honey and syrups are stored and where I store glues and paint. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-shelf-paper/508026/7 "2009-08-28T15:42:31Z")
My 1957 kitchen came with enameled steel cabinets, which eventually would rust. Shelf paper helped. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-shelf-paper/508026/8 "2009-08-28T15:45:23Z")
if the shelves were painted and removable then cleaning was easier. if the shelves were not painted or removable then the paper made cleaning easier. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-shelf-paper/508026/9 "2009-08-28T15:48:59Z")
Cupboards have been so much nicer for a about 30 years I still think God I love vinyl coated shelving. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-shelf-paper/508026/10 "2009-08-28T15:52:54Z")
We just bought a 40 year old house with original cupboards. Those shelves were gross. Water stains, food stains, what-the-heck-was-that stains. We scrubbed them up the best we could, but I still refused to put clean dishes straight on to them. So shelf paper it is, until we redo the kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-shelf-paper/508026/11 "2009-08-28T16:10:40Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > Some shelving paper is made to help absorb sound and movement. Helps keep things quiet. Yeah, it’s a thin layer of padding. I have some thin foam, sold in rolls, that you cut to fit just like shelf paper. It keeps the glassware in my china cabinet from being rattled around by vibrations. ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-shelf-paper/508026/12 "2009-08-28T16:44:22Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > Cupboards have been so much nicer for a about 30 years I still think God I love vinyl coated shelving. Probably actually [melamine](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melamine_resin)-coated shelving. ---
**Author:** ![Lillith\_Fair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bb73d2/32.png) [@Lillith\_Fair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lillith_Fair)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-shelf-paper/508026/13 "2009-08-30T02:41:52Z")
Wow. Lots of really good reasons. Let’s face it. I guess my reason for not using it is that I’m lazy. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-shelf-paper/508026/14 "2009-08-30T12:20:25Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > …Unlined wood shelves became black with greasy crime after some time and it wasn’t going to come off. … Call the Kitchen Police! ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-shelf-paper/508026/15 "2009-08-30T12:35:23Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Call the Kitchen Police! I don’t want my plates and glasses on that stuff. Your welcome to let yours set directly on it. I know that it contains mouse poop and pee in that grime. Contact paper did even better at covering this than shelf liner. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-shelf-paper/508026/16 "2009-08-30T12:37:29Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > Probably actually [melamine](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melamine_resin)-coated shelving. I don’t know what plastic goes on them. I just know it cleans up and sterilizes nicely. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-shelf-paper/508026/17 "2009-08-30T13:14:55Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > Some shelving paper is made to help absorb sound and movement. Helps keep things quiet. 😕😕😕 Cite on that?? ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-shelf-paper/508026/18 "2009-08-30T13:19:32Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > Unlined wood shelves became black with greasy crime after some time … . > [@twickster](#): > > Call the Kitchen Police! > [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > I don’t want my plates and glasses on that stuff. Your welcome to let yours set directly on it. I know that it contains mouse poop and pee in that grime. Contact paper did even better at covering this than shelf liner. Um, you apparently missed **twickster** ’s attempt to draw attention to your spelling error by saying “greasy _ **c** _rime”, not “greasy grime.” 😉 Oh, and so what if it contains mouse poop in the past. If you took ammonia to it, or bleach, or any other disinfectant, while the stain remains, the bacteria are going to have left. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-shelf-paper/508026/19 "2009-08-30T15:57:17Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Um, you apparently missed **twickster** ’s attempt to draw attention to your spelling error by saying “greasy _ **c** _rime”, not “greasy grime.” 😉 Yes I did. As you can see I thought I was under attack for liking clean. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-shelf-paper/508026/20 "2009-08-30T16:33:26Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > Some shelving paper is made to help absorb sound and movement. Helps keep things quiet. > [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Yeah, it’s a thin layer of padding. I have some thin foam, sold in rolls, that you cut to fit just like shelf paper. It keeps the glassware in my china cabinet from being rattled around by vibrations. > [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > 😕😕😕 > > Cite on that?? i believe what is being talked about is what i’ve seen as a sheet of foam mesh about 1/16" to 1/8". not solid like shelf paper so not the same use as shelf paper for cleaning purposes but it does lessen noise if your shelves vibrate. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-shelf-paper/508026.md?page=2)