Everything old is new again (and a fantastic giveaway!)
You can find a new use for most things!
I saw a great article in the paper yesterday, titled "12 ways to reuse household items". Though the suggestions were fairly basic and obvious, it got me thinking about all the things I've reused for the sake of keeping them out of landfills for just a little longer. Here's what I've come up with off the top of my head. Hopefully it will give you some ideas on how to reuse items you're thinking of tossing.
• Add old cutlery to your camping gear.
• An old hair brush makes a great heavy-duty scrup brush. I've used it to give my green bin a good clean after it was pillaged by raccoons.
• I've covered my table with an old shower curtain before I start my seeds or any other sort of craft project. This is also great if you have kids and you need to protect your table from paint and glue.
• I keep and reuse travel-size bottles for shampoo, conditioner and body wash.
• I use newspaper as wrapping paper come Christmas time, or other festive events. It's also great to use when packing for a big move.
• Save the things you want to toss for a garage sale. You know the saying, "One man's junk is another man's treasure". Well, if you've ever held a garage sale you know this to be true. I'm always amazed at the stuff people buy. Put the money you make towards a nice dinner out. Or, better yet, donate the proceeds to your favourite environmental charity.
What's the most unusual item you've been able to repurpose? Have you made something totally useless into something you now just can't live without? Tell me how you've avoided sending something to the landfill, and you could win:
I'd go anywhere with this stylish buggy.
An oh-so-convenient President's Choice Green Stow Away Shopping Bag overflowing with PC GREEN products. Your stylish new shopping bag (with wheels!) contains:
• 8 jumbo rolls of PC Green paper towels
• 1 kg box of PC Green Baking Soda
• PC Green All Purpose Cleaner
• PC Green Coldwater Laundry Detergent
• PC Green Phosphate-free Dishwasher Detergent
• PC Green Floor Cleaner
• PC Green Multi-Purpose Cleaning Putty
Leave your answer here by Friday, June 26, and I'll announce a winner then. Don't forget, you have to be a subscriber to my blog to be eligible to win. Subscribe today!
Tags: cleaning, green cleaning products, recycle, reuse
June 16th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
I have reused a big tin of coffee by taping the lid on it and putting a hole in the lid so I can put all my change in it at the end of every day. Great way to reuse and a great way to save!! Save your money - save the environment :0)
June 16th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
I've reused my used toothbrushes for polishing shoes and for scrubbing around water taps (especially bathroom sink tap).
June 16th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
I reused an old bed, I used the wooden side board pieces as shelves in front of the windows in my sun porch and filled them with coloured glass items, it's so pretty when the sun hits them, the metal head and foot boards are in my garden and the english ivy climbs them.
June 16th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
I wash old clothes and cut them into rags to clean the house. Old towels that have seen better days make great washable covers for cat or dog beds so you do not need to wash the whole bed.
June 16th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Take envelopes which are sent by businesses (in the hopes that you will return them), place a label over the pre-printed address, write in a new address, and send it on its way.
Use for writing notes to family members. Don't recycle until it is completely filled.
Use for storing receipts,use for storing or carrying coupons,use for writing grocery lists.
June 16th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Steam off stamps that have not been stamped by the post office and glue them on to the next letter you want to send, save money and reuse the stamp. Some may say its cheap, I say its thrifty!
June 16th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Use the spritzer bottles that hair products come in when they are finished by washing them out and filling them with homemade cleaning products such as : vinegar and water mixture for laminate flooring.
June 17th, 2009 at 12:38 am
We reuse milk jugs to water plants. Everything that is broken or we just don't need anymore we put on Freecycle and there is always someone who wants it.
I went through my mom's closet and found fabric from her mother; about 3 huge bags full and someone wanted it from freecycle and they made reuseable bags out of most of it!
A win win situation
Thanks
June 17th, 2009 at 3:35 am
i reuse the plastic containers that yogurt comes in or salads from the deli , anything that you can imagine , i dont need to buy tupperware ever and when it all gets too old to reuse i recycle it , i also recycle old clothes into costumes and patches for funky kids clothes all gently used clothing we donate
June 17th, 2009 at 5:52 am
Use old envelopes to collect seeds from perenials -- I carry a few in my purse for times when I'm visiting friends-- no minds you collecting seeds.
After shredding private papers, add them to your compost-- they decompose easily.
If you have an area of grass or weeds you wish to change to garden, cover the area with 10-12 layers of old newspapers.You can then cover with soil or mulch. This will kill the grass or weeds, & decompose gradually creating improved soil.
June 17th, 2009 at 9:37 am
The most unusual items I've been able to repurpose were these old toys, (a house on my street had emptied out the garage to the curb and I found an old wooden hobby horse, a wooden wagon and other toys from the bygone era of before plastic.) And much to my husband's chagrin, this "junk" languished in our garage for months. Then a friend moved in to a new space; she and I spent an afternoon of scrubbing the eons of dust and grime off the toys, to end up hanging and displaying them in the guest bedroom of her loft.
June 17th, 2009 at 9:49 am
I make and sell crafts..Almost every part of what I make has been reycled. The wood I get from construction sites that have been discarded. The paint I get from the landfils paint shed. I also stop for big pick up day finds...discarded pie plates make great birdfeeders..old skates I fill for the holidays..old socks make great hats for smowman, and rip up old flannel shirts for their scarfs !!Not only am I reycling Im making money while doing it !!
June 17th, 2009 at 11:08 am
I use a cleaned ice cream bucket for rising my dough in when I'm baking bread--it's perfect.
June 17th, 2009 at 11:10 am
I use jogurt cups to rise plants,old sheers to cover my strawberry plants,my old BBQ has flowers in it and so are my kids old rubberboots.
June 17th, 2009 at 11:12 am
I've used old cutlery and made wind chimes ( drill a small hole and attach string) and give them away as gifts. Every one thought I had brought the windchime:)
And I cut off any buttons, snaps, zippers on old clothes before I cut them up to use them as rags.I now have buttons for another shirt:)
June 17th, 2009 at 11:34 am
I make a small hole in the centre of the plastic lid of an empty coffee can,put my garden twine inside the can and thread the end through the hole.This keeps my twine handy and untangled and easy to use.
June 17th, 2009 at 11:38 am
I re-use empty plastic bottles by filling them with water,and inserting them neck down into the soil of my houseplants.This keeps them watered when I'm on holiday.
June 17th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
I re-used an old rusty baby buggy as a planter! It looks so cute in my garden now. I spray-painted over the rust and planted colorful pansies and some greenery in it! Now it's alive again and enjoyed by many! Even the birds like it!
June 17th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
I reused an old metal broom stick to make a door lock for my patio door.
June 17th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Since I don't have a composter, I compost by grinding my daily vegetable and fruit scraps like broccoli stalks, banana peels, egg shells, fruit peels etc. in a blender with some water until the organic materials are all chopped up into little pieces. Then I go out to my garden and pour the mixture on top of the soil around my vegetable and flower plants. Then, I use a hand rake and incorporate the scraps into the soil around the base of my plants. I do this in several batches if I have a lot of scraps. Slowly, the organic pieces will decompose and blend right in with my garden soil and provide nutrients to my plants. This method reduces the smells of a regular composter and is practical for me, because I don't have room for a full size composter. I have found that I have reduced my garbage waste by about a third. And another benefit is that I will be rewarded with a bountiful harvest of vegetables and flowers.
June 17th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
We used an old wooden glass-fronted cupboard that used to hold linotype for printing the newspaper into an eye-catching china cabinet,
June 17th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
I reuse all my "ziploc" type bags. After a food use I clean them and use them for crayons markers small craft etc...
June 17th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
We compost and recycle and recently Nova Scotia brought in a law that computer monitors and such must be brought to the recycle depot as well. We hardly throw anything out. We reuse ice cream containers to store leftovers, coffee containers to store nails and screws in the garage... lots of random things!
June 17th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Used plastic pop bottle with bottom cut out as a flower protector when kids want to take cut flowers from home to Grandma. Slip stems down through hole and wrap and flower petals will still be on unbroken stems when they get there
June 17th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
I found an old brass weigh-scale curbside one day. It seemed too good to toss so I took it apart, cleaned it up and then painted it, and wired it to become a table lamp! After all that it wasn't really to my taste but a friend of mine jumped on it the moment she saw it, so she got to take it and give it a home!
June 17th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
If opened properly, the plastic wrap around the toilet paper rolls, can be used as a garbage bag in my bathroom container, as the container is small, the wrap usually fits perfectly.
I also re-use envelopes by writing my grocery list on the outside of it. I hardly ever forget my coupons, as when I write an item on my grocery list, if I have a coupon for it, I'll mark (c) beside it and I'll stick the coupon into the envelope.
June 17th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Iturned a pair of wire lampshade frames into hanging moss baskets
June 17th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
I've done suggestions # 2, 5, 6 and 17 before.
I re-use plastic net bags that oranges or onions come in. I take them to the grocery store and use them for produce instead of the 'evil' plastic produce bags.
June 17th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
There are some types of celephane bags that cannot be recycled here...those are the ones I use when I scoop my kitty litter.
June 17th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
i reuse toilet paper rolls, the kids use them for crafts!
June 17th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
I save all my margarine or cream cheese plastic containers and use them over and over again for my lunches. I also use old tooth brushes to clean the grout between the tiles.
June 17th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
i reuse cereal boxes and make gift boxes out of them
June 17th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
I buy antiques, they are over 100 years old, unique and have left no carbon footprint. Its the ultimate in recycling, think of the families that have enjoyed the same piece though many generations and now its mine to enjoy , then I will pass it along to other family members after my long life
June 17th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
I use empty toilet paper rolls in crafts to make animals and trains for the kids to play with.I also use the empty rolls to make puppets.
June 17th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
When my refrigerator died I got it fixed for $500 instead of buying a new one. I guess I did save it from the landfill but not it's old motor. Reduce, reuse, repair and recycle.
June 17th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
I paint a lot, and mix my own colours, so glass jars are excellent for keeping the mixed colours in. tin cans are good for nails and screws, any old wood or metal objects can be painted and restored into a new item. Don't toss it! change it! and use it again.
June 17th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Turned an old washbasin into a fountain with rocks in it.
June 17th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
I use the old trays from my last oven as cookie/cake trays when they're cooling.
June 17th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
I have 3 recycling ideas here.
I had some old clay pots, old, chipped and not very attractive. I smashed them up into little pieces by placing them in a canvas sack, and a very big hammer (safety glasses of course). With this I was able to make a little boarder at the edge of my patio and my garden, by spreading them out between two long 4 x 4's (they were left over from another project as well). Believe it or not, I did not have any sharp edges to deal with.
Another unusual recycling project was the old headboard from my waterbed. It was a nice heavy piece of pine. I cut them to size and made shelving.
Another time our Hydro company was replacing poles. Those are nice hard, treated pieces of wwood. The gentleman (with a nice heavy duty saw) cut them to various sizes and I made a boarder along the fence line of my yard and I use them to display various plants and little treasures.
June 17th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
An old toothbrush becomes and eyebrow brush
June 17th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
I used my babies' old dipaers one year to make a mummy costume for Halloween before they were again recycle for rags.
June 17th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
I save used coffee grounds to use for mulch in my garden. Crushed egg shells are great for African violets.
June 17th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
My carrot juice pulp is repurposed to my friend for carrot cake and muffins. My over ripe bananas to another friend for banana bread.
June 17th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
I use old hairbrushes to paint with.
June 18th, 2009 at 12:40 am
I found that groups like Sunday School classes, elementary school classes, etc.. are always looking for used household items for crafts. A local Church where I live loves it when someone brings them a big box of empty toilet paper rolls, tissue paper and wrapping from packages, and any everyday containers such as egg cartons and margarine containers. The kids use the items to make fun crafts, and the teachers use some of the plastic containers to hold craft supplies and such. It's a great way to recycle and puts smiles on everyone's faces!
June 18th, 2009 at 1:35 am
I am the master of reuse, recycle, reduce! But to try and think of just ONE thing is pretty hard. So I thought I would tell you about all the reused things I have used in my garden. I have turned old windows into a cold frame, an old swing set frame into a pole bean/cuke frame, old tires turned inside out for compost bins and then directly planted pumpkins and squash into the fresh compost. I use milk jugs (with the bottoms cut off) as cold weather cloches for my tender tomato plants at night. I used an old trashed mailbox on a pole to store my small garden tools and gloves right by my garden (very handy). And my favourite... an old iron gate became a piece of art and is used to support my peonies. It looks very nice!
June 18th, 2009 at 6:35 am
I took an old shovel that wasn't much good anymore and painted birdhouses on the shovel end and made a wonderful garden ornament!
June 18th, 2009 at 8:06 am
we reuse everything we can find for the kids crafts. beer caps are one of my sons favorites and my other son loves to collect wine bottle corks for his projects. I use left over broken bricks to fill the bottom of my planting barrels for extra drainage.
June 18th, 2009 at 8:07 am
my kids used milk cartons and juice cartons to make bird feeders for our feathered friends.
June 18th, 2009 at 10:17 am
It's a bit hard to think of the most unusual thing that I have been able to re purpose into something new.
I use contact cases for tinted cream and consealer when i travel, I do not need to bring the whole bottles and it stays put in a small easy to carry container.
- I did not try this but I will, old spoons
turned into jewlery (I have seen them in stores)
June 18th, 2009 at 11:00 am
I reuse old newspaper in the garden as a lining before putting the mulch down, stops the weeds. I also compost my coffee grinds for my flower beds and I have also reused old windows to make beautiful mirrors for around the house. One of my fav projects and a great gift too!
June 18th, 2009 at 11:11 am
I send old glasses frames to SelectSpecs.com so they can be refurbished and sent overseas to those in need.
June 18th, 2009 at 11:38 am
the last little bit of old toothpaste as an abrasive for cleaning.
June 18th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Since I always bring my own bags when I go shopping, I crochet a carryall from recycled plastic bags, that way they don't end up in the landfill and they are very strong and sturdy.
June 18th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
This is the Prince George Bag Lady, Linda Steger. I make "plarn" (that's yarn out of plastic bags) and crochet it into shopping bags that are really strong and I use them and use them and use them!!! Keeps plastic out of the landfill and dollars in my pocket that I don't spend on cloth bags.
June 18th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
A paint brush as a basting brush for the bbq!
June 18th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
I use leftover tin can under my bbq to collect drippings and discard it after a season of use
June 18th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
i cut up my Christmas cards and make them into package tags for the next year
June 18th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
I use flyers that are only printed on one side as scrap paper
June 18th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
I "borrowed" this idea from a colleague. When a tissue box is empty I turn it into a photo frame. Remove the plastic from around the opening and then tape a 4x6 picture on the backside of the box. With all the different patterns that tissue boxes come in you can have all sorts of different styles.
June 18th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
We re-purpose jam jars as glasses. The label come off pretty easy in hot water. My kids will always pick those ones first from the cupboard, I think they prefer the smaller openings.
June 19th, 2009 at 7:49 am
I use baby food jars and jam jars for small flower vases. They work great for lily of the valley, single roses or other small perennials found in the garden
June 19th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
We use the non-recyclable cereal bags in small bedroom garbage bins and built a little storage cabinet out of an old Ikea wooden slat bed base. We have a little gadget we use to see when the leaves are clogging up the eavestrough that we made out of an old extendable pole and an angled mirror.
The best 'resurrected' items we have are old tools that my grandfather used to buy at garage sales. He would clean them up, and paint every bit of wood bright red. So now I think of him whenever I use my red-handled tools!
June 19th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
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June 19th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
my grandmother was a quilter and used leftover fabric scraps for most of her quilts, rarely buying new fabric. i guess i follow in her footsteps just a little bit. recently a friend asked for donations of old jeans and made herself a beautiful jacket. she then gave me the scraps which she had leftover to make a denim quilt. i guess that is recycling recycleds! now i just need to get going on it!
June 19th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
I give empty yoghurt and margarine containers to my children to take to the park. They use them in the sandbox and can make great sandcastles of different sizes and shapes depending on which containers they use. In the winter we use empty diaper wipe boxes to make bricks of snow.
June 20th, 2009 at 12:47 am
Lots of great ideas. One of my babies fave toys are her pop bottle rattles, that i made by adding dry lentils to plastic pop bottles. We also re-use many many items in crafts that my kids make, from egg carton caterpillars to cardboard box forts.
June 20th, 2009 at 2:07 am
After cleaning out a lot of things I'd stored (for a long time!) and sharing them with others, I was left with a few storage bins. I took clear one and turned it into a patio pond - a few rocks in the bottom, a floating plant, a small fountain pump (which I still have to use again) and a couple of goldfish and I had something pretty to watch, to listen to and to enjoy all summer long. In fact, those little fish lived on my balcony in there for a few years until they grew to big and needed a new home. I used a plain blue one the same way. I loved having little ponds that were easy to care for and that could be brought indoors if the weather got too cold.
June 20th, 2009 at 5:54 am
I love to recycle denim jeans. It takes about 10 pair to make a good sized picnic blanket, waist bands and pockets get used as well so not much goes to waste. Also make tote bags, checkbook covers, journals & logbooks...
http://sockshavenothumbs.blogspot.com/search?q=jeans
June 20th, 2009 at 5:57 am
oops! Meant to use the "recycled denim" search of my blog. I've never subscribed to a blog...may done it twice
June 20th, 2009 at 7:04 am
I save the jars from candles. After they are cleaned I put pens and pencils in them if they have no covers, cotton balls, q-tips or other small items in them. some of the jars have covers and others quite decorative. I have even purchased them just for the jars with ideas for future use for them
June 20th, 2009 at 7:56 am
I use empty tissue boxes for plastic bag storage. It keeps my kitchen cupboard neat and the bags are easily accessible for reuse as garbage bin liners.
June 20th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
I recycle everything that I possibly can. Old silverware is flattened with a hammer, a hole drilled into the handle. Loop string throgh hole and turn and ttach to a wooden dowel or tree branch. It becomes a funky wind chime.
Plastic tubs with lids are now my "new" tupperware. With out lids they are used for starting plants from seeds in the spring.
Fallen branches can be used to make a lattice or trelis for the garden. Egg cartons can be filled with melted wax (left over remnants fron candles work well). They can then be used as fire startes when you go camping. Bread bags can be placed over socks when wearing boots in the winter. This will keep your feet dry and warm when walking or playing in the snow. Coffee bags, koolaid jammers, feedbags, etc. can be sewn to create purses or reusable shopping bags.
June 20th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
I turned a child's steel climber/slide into a lighted plant stand to start my seeds and provide light for my african violets. the a/frame with ladder just needed 2 boards for shelving and chain to hang the florescent lights. An old laundry tub was converted to a potting table.
I cut old plastic jugs into strips for plant markers.
Clear plastic milk bags make great freezer bags.
I use an old wire fence in my garden to stake my tomatoes.
June 20th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
I recycle stationery and letters- by printing on the blank side and using as notepads.
June 20th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
I reuse Christmas and birthday cards- as postcards to enter contests.
June 22nd, 2009 at 5:49 am
I reuse cards that I receive. Sometimes I cut off the front (with the picture) and use them as postcards. Other times I will cut out the pictures and glue a number of pictures onto one of the backs of a used card to make something totally different!
June 22nd, 2009 at 8:56 am
I try to use re-usable shopping bags as much as I can but when I forget and bring home an annoying plastic bag, it is always re-used as a garbage bag.
June 22nd, 2009 at 2:34 pm
I’ve reused my used toothbrushes for cleaning out tools and combs and other items with fine teeth or small spaces.
June 22nd, 2009 at 2:36 pm
I re-use pudding cups with re-sealable lids for holdings nails and pins and other items.
June 22nd, 2009 at 2:38 pm
I save elastics from my newspaper delivery to tie up small cardboard packages for recycling.
June 22nd, 2009 at 4:41 pm
i take old clothes and make them new again,by making skirts shorter or adding something to them like ribbon! I also re-use ziploc bags ,just wash and use again!
June 22nd, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Hope not to offend, but when I hear so many are using plastic bags for garbage it makes me upset. We use paper! It may not save a tree, but it doesn't trap garbage for 1000 years in a plastic bag. We use handkerchiefs instead of kleenex, bar towels instead of paper towels and lots of tea towels. But we buy the old fashioned paper shopping bags for our house garbage and put a little shredded paper (we shred bank statement, bills, etc) in the bottom of the bags to absorb moisture. They don't break apart and we transfer the bags to the city garbage can. We recycle so many things, we only have to put the can to the curb every third week.
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:45 pm
I like to use old water bottles to water plants.
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:53 am
The most unique thing that i have recycled is an old box that holds my crystal cake plate. When I remarried two years ago i used the box an my envelope box. It was the perfect size and i decorated it with paper, ribbons and flowers. When I was done i put the cake plate back in the box to store it, There is a thin cut on the top of the box from use. One June 6 our daughter got married and I reused the box again and decorated it with tissue and white lace for her wedding envelope box. The box is now back in the cupboard with the cake plate in it. I have three more daughters and a son so I think I'll keep the box until we are finished with weddings.
June 23rd, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Nothing gets used only once at my home. I have saved up even jars from baby food from many years ago to keep all my small screws, washers and tacks in them. Milk jugs are cut out to have bigger opening on top are my flower watering containiers for the outdoors. Too many things I reuse that I cannot even think of what to put down next.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:43 pm
I have many ways to avoid sending items to landfill
- Milk bags - Cut open 1 side, give them a wash and rinse while you're doing the dishes, and let them dry. You'll have a steady supply of tough and sturdy plastic bags that are useful for storing, well, anything that fits!
- Scrap paper - Everyone has it, use it for anything from doodles to making notes to printing out draft copies instead of wasting clean paper.
- Reuse envelopes and boxes for shipping - Open packages and envelopes gently and when it comes time to send rather than receive, cover the existing address with a label or stamp.
- Gift Bags - these things certainly pile up over time, and especially at this time of the year. Skip the wrapping paper this year and reuse a perfectly serviceable gift bag.
- Plastic Food Containers - Why buy tupperware when any number of regular grocery items come in perfectly reusable containers already? Margarine containers, tofu containers, pre-made salad containers, the list goes on and on.
- Paper Towels - a paper towel that has just been used to dry clean hands or the like can easily be dried and reused later for a dirty job like wiping plates before washing. Better yet, check out this thread in our green forum and learn about using shop towels instead of paper towels. They're inexpensive, super durable, and highly reusable.
- Sponges - Don't clean things with a dirty sponge, but don't toss it out either! 2 minutes in a microwave can effectively destroy 99% of bacteria and other harmful buildup in a sponge and prolong its usefulness (make sure the sponge is damp before you microwave it).
- Newspaper - wad it up and use it as a packing material instead of relying on foam peanuts or styrofoam.
- Coffee Tins and clean Egg Cartons - Think of the children! Schools, day cares, day camps, and kids anywhere can always use such items for arts and crafts. Keep some around the house for a rainy day children's activity or check if a if local school or daycare wants to take them off your hands.
- Old Clothes - Donate them to charity, or if you're a little more creative, consider some cool used-clothes craft projects including quilts, dog beds, gift wrap, and more.
- Old or Chipped Mugs - Use them as planters! They're practical and unique!
June 24th, 2009 at 10:53 am
The most useful item I repurpose is the bags from milk. They are the best freezer bags I've ever used, and I haven't bought plastic wrap or bags in the three years since I started saving them.
The most creative repurposing I've done is to turn my husband's old dress shirts (he wears out the collars and elbows) into pyjama pants for my son.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
I save my old supersize bath towels for the following: 1. to spread out on my dining table when we have a lobster feast. Better than a plastic table cloth because you can just throw it in the washing machine. Also, it's difficult to get the smell of lobster off table cloths. 2. anything wet and messy that requires a quick, supersize mop-up. Those old towels sure come in handy. That being said, as water is our most precious resource, these old towels don't get washed alone. I wait until I have a full load to wash.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
About five years ago I purchased a lip gloss which was packaged in a plastic cylinder. It has been holding my laundry quarters ever since.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
[... read more] Don’t forget to enter my PC Green giveaway! I’ll be announcing a winner this Friday. [... read more]
June 24th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
I took an old plastic tobbaco tub (got it from the local recycling bin), took some scenery pics around our summer camping place, modpoged the photos to the container and now use it for the extra TP holder in the "outdoor facilites" to keep the squirrels from getting it.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
I make windchimes for myself & friends & family out of old silver plated cutlery.
They look neat & sound pretty in the wind!
June 25th, 2009 at 1:26 am
I buy cleansing wipes that come in a plastic flip-open box quite frequently. i end up with at least a dozen at the end of the year. Since they are plastic, I am well aware that they do not recycle and end up in the landfill. Bad plastic! Fortunately (for the environment), I have an obsession with keeping things, even random, useless things. I keep all the containers and use them to store various knickknacks, such as hair ties, makeup, nail polish, you name it! I even bring them with my on vacations to store small travel-sized products. This method is so convenient and not to mention, environemtally friendly! Go green!
June 25th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Those old cardboard rolls from paper towels can actually be used to store tablecloths, napkins, and scarves. Wrap this cloth items around round tubes, and you have wrinkle-free storage. No more fold creases in your linens. When such items get old, like placemats or your little kitchen curtains, cut them up as drawer liners. This will save you actually buying drawer liners, and is a creative way to recycle that ugly décor that was "so cool" ten years ago.
Instead of buying arm guards for your gardening, all you need is old knee-high socks. You can cut the feet out of them and they are just the right length to slip on your arms for protection against scratches and any poison ivy you might encounter. Likewise, old shoulder pads can aid in your gardening efforts. They make great kneepads for when you are kneeling on the ground.
Other uses for old clothes include using making finger puppets for your kids out of old gloves (snip of the fingers and viola!). It will give the kids something to do that costs nothing. Use old buttons, ribbon, and some markers to decorate the puppets. Also, and old T-shirt can help you dust high places and remove cobwebs. Just wrap it around a broom and spray a little water on it. Traps dust and cobwebs easily from the ceiling or from on top of dusty shelves.
June 25th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
I recycle tin cookie/chocolate boxes by redecorating them and then using them as gift boxes. I get to recycle and be creative.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
I take old medicine bottles, wash them out, and use them to take sauces or salad dressing with me in my lunch bag.
Safe and secure, and no chance of the top coming off.
July 11th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
[... read more] Everything old is new again (and a fantastic giveaway!) | Green Living [... read more]
July 18th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
c vraiment cool come info . merci!
July 22nd, 2009 at 1:00 am
Love your ideas! Here's mine. I reuse pencil led holders for needles. Small plastic containers from shaving products & old film containers with lids for tacks, paper clips, needles, fish hooks, small nails.
For art projects, you can cut up old metal cans and make fish scales, native drums with tuna cans by covering it with any type of used leather. Make a drumstick from a twig. With the jewelry and broaches you find at garage sales you can dress up an old purse, hat or shoes. Make your own recycleable bags out of old clothes and ribbons.
July 22nd, 2009 at 1:08 am
Metal cans can also be used for candle holders when out camping. Simply turn the open side upside down and with the v shaped end of a can opener, puncture a circle hole on the bottom of the can. It can also be used for a mosquito coil holder. A metal can is also handy for hot oil or drippings when cooking. A larger metal can could also be used as a boiling container while out camping.
July 22nd, 2009 at 1:28 am
For the handle, puncture two holes on the top edge with a nail and thread with a metal clothes hanger. You either have a bucket to get water or a cooking pot.
July 22nd, 2009 at 11:08 am
Old pill containers are great for holding change for laundry.
Old washcloths and rags make great cloth napkins.
Leftover white wine can be frozen and used later in risotto. Use red wine in soups and stews.
Make your own vegetable broth.
Keep carrot, onion, potato, and sweet potato peelings, squash and celery tips, tomato tops, to this add some garlic cloves, oregano or bay leaves, fresh or dried parsley, salt, pepper and (remember to save) the water from your potatoes.
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:30 am
[... read more] Everything old is new again (and a fantastic giveaway!) | Green Living [... read more]
November 5th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
[... read more] Everything old is new again (and a fantastic giveaway!) | Green Living [... read more]
November 15th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Refreshing blog.