I think just about every day I use some cling film whether to seal the end of a cucumber or to cover a bowl in the microwave. Sandwiches get wrapped in the stuff and plates get covered, I can’t imagine a modern kitchen without it so what did we use before?
I can remember seeing gingham cloths fitted over jam jars and even some gauze ones with little beads sewn around the edges to keep the cloth in place. I’m sure in our house Mum never had to worry about covering left-overs, there were 5 children so I’ll bet there was never anything left to cover.
We don’t just use cling film in the kitchen though, we cover paint brushes with it when we need to take a break before the job is finished. I’ve used it to cover the end of my caulking gun and my hairdresser even uses it to cover the bleach when I’m having my hair streaked.
I guess when you have a versatile product you find new ways to use it.
I still ask myself though, how did we stop fish smelling out the fridge and how were sandwiches kept fresh and contained before Cling Film?
Musings of a Retiring Person 
We used re-usable Tupperware containers for leftovers, (Products didn’t come in re-usable plastic tubs). For sandwiches, we used waxed paper. And I remember the gauze and gingham cloths you mention—we used them to cover glass dishes of food. I’m not sure cling wrap is very good for the environment, though. I cringe when I think of the yards and yards of the stuff people use and discard. I think it ends up in the land fill, worse luck!
Tupperware wasn’t around when I was growing up, I remember my first invitation to one of the”parties” was in 1971. I have a good collection of plastic containers and my fridge is packed with them but I still fall into the cling film rap. I agree with you about plastic going to landfill but the bags concern me more than cling film. South Australia is proactive in recycling but the plethora of plastic bags is still a worry. Thanks for commenting.