All great tips and ideas. Whatever works....I use an empty cereal box. I cut it to fit square up well under the filter flange and leave a tail that sits up between the filter and motor. A small piece of masking tape placed on the box and engine case holds it there. I complete the whole task then when the new filter is in place I remove the cardboard last. No used oil anywhere but in my drain tray. The other reason I like to leave the cardboard in place until the new filter is on is because I fill the new filter with some oil and ocassionally some drips out before I get the new filter started and tightened on.