Tips to Recycle, Reuse, Re-purpose

[OceanAnnie]

Okay, I am tickled with the paper towel thing to hold hair bows. I'm tickled easily. Such an easy and free solution! I'm wondering what other ways I can reuse items to help organize, or just re-purpose in general.

Right now, I have been wondering about a big plastic laundry detergent jug. If I can't find a way to re-purpose it, I will take it to be recycled.

What items do you reuse? TIA!

 

[hsmamato2]

I haven't done this,but thought it was a great idea- you can store leftover house paint in a clean laundry bottle,keeps it sealed,and easier to pour!

 

[OceanAnnie]

I haven't done this,but thought it was a great idea- you can store leftover house paint in a clean laundry bottle,keeps it sealed,and easier to pour!

That is a good idea. I think we have several partial cans of paint same color/brand. It would be nice to make some room! Thanks!

 

[minnie1928]

I haven't done this,but thought it was a great idea- you can store leftover house paint in a clean laundry bottle,keeps it sealed,and easier to pour!

Ohhh, I like this idea!

Something to think about...your comment about laundry detergent made me think of this, I just ordered something called a greenwash laundry ball. Basically it's this green ball that you throw in the wash instead of laundry detergent. It's supposed to last over 1000 loads. I haven't gotten mine yet, but it gets great reviews for handling normal, everyday laundry. Heavily soiled/stained laundry would still require pretreating. I figure it keeps the bottle out of the landfill, saves me money and I don't have the hassle of lugging those jugs from the grocery store. I ordered mine for only $16 (including shipping).

 

[Disney845]

We reuse the large plastic cat litter tubs . One use is for powdered laundry soap, we transfer it from the cardboard box with no closable lid (just the flap) to the plastic litter tub (the ones with the hinged lids as opposed to the lids that completely pull off is best) and it prevents the soap from getting any moisture in it .

 

[TifffanyD]

You can cut used cereal boxes to store magazines

 

[Colleen27]

Laundry bottles are great for so many things. I use one for storing de-icer for the sidewalks. Another for a watering can (well washed out, of course). And as someone else said, they're great for leftover paint - I've got 5 colors stored that way right now, just in case we need touch-ups.

My experiment in repurposing right now is making newspaper pots to start my seedlings. In the past I've gone out and bought peat pots but I'm starting a lot more plants this year and peat pots would start to add up. So I found instructions for making disposable pots out of newspaper and found I can get about 100 pots out of a Sunday edition (the only day we get the paper). So for the price of 5 weeks' papers that I would have bought anyway, I'll have my pots for this season. That's a LOT better than the $65 or so that I'd have spent on peat pots.

 

[worm761]

Another great use for toilet paper rolls- store cords in them. You know, like your hair dryer cord or the curling iron. I keep seasoning containers when they run out to use for glitter. I make my own laundry detergent so I don't have those bottles. I should get some from someone to store the paint in. That is a great idea!

 

[java]

I saw this today- empty Baby wipe box- put a sponge in- squeeze a couple drops of washable paint onto sponge- squish it around. add a little water if it's too dry. Just add paint and water as needed.
Instant washable ink pad for little children!
milk jug into reusable "ziploc" style boxes from Family Fun
http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/reusable-lunch-containers-785113/

 

[OceanAnnie]

Lots of great ideas. I really like the milk jug idea too. I have seen a game of toss that can be made from milk jugs. Cut the milk jugs to look like a large scoop (handle side up). Toss a ball between friends, using the "scoops" to catch. I might have seen that one on Family Fun too.

Of course, I got lost in the "recipes kids love" section from that link! There were some good ones!
Thanks for the link!

 

[stahshee]

I cut up old staind clothes. I use them insted of paper towels. I was and reuse...

 

[mrsklamc]

Go to realsimple.com- search for 'new uses for old things' or 'new uses for everyday things.' They have TONS of stuff like this listed.

 

[bear74]

Laundry bottles are great for so many things. I use one for storing de-icer for the sidewalks. Another for a watering can (well washed out, of course). And as someone else said, they're great for leftover paint - I've got 5 colors stored that way right now, just in case we need touch-ups.

My experiment in repurposing right now is making newspaper pots to start my seedlings. In the past I've gone out and bought peat pots but I'm starting a lot more plants this year and peat pots would start to add up. So I found instructions for making disposable pots out of newspaper and found I can get about 100 pots out of a Sunday edition (the only day we get the paper). So for the price of 5 weeks' papers that I would have bought anyway, I'll have my pots for this season. That's a LOT better than the $65 or so that I'd have spent on peat pots.

can you post the link or instructions for making your own peat pots?
Thanks

 

[OceanAnnie]

Go to realsimple.com- search for 'new uses for old things' or 'new uses for everyday things.' They have TONS of stuff like this listed.

I am going to check it out! Thanks so much for the tip!

 

[ohlas]

Laundry bottles are great for so many things. I use one for storing de-icer for the sidewalks. Another for a watering can (well washed out, of course). And as someone else said, they're great for leftover paint - I've got 5 colors stored that way right now, just in case we need touch-ups.

My experiment in repurposing right now is making newspaper pots to start my seedlings. In the past I've gone out and bought peat pots but I'm starting a lot more plants this year and peat pots would start to add up. So I found instructions for making disposable pots out of newspaper and found I can get about 100 pots out of a Sunday edition (the only day we get the paper). So for the price of 5 weeks' papers that I would have bought anyway, I'll have my pots for this season. That's a LOT better than the $65 or so that I'd have spent on peat pots.

I have done this make sure they are using the soy dye on newsprint. they degrade really nice too...

 

[Earstou]

I use a milk jug as a scoop and a funnel for filling my bird feeders. I cut the bottom off, keeping the handle on. Put the cap on, scoop up bird seed, then take the cap off and use as a funnel to fill the feeder!

 

[QVCshopper]

I reuse those wood boxes that clementines come it. I lined up three of them under my rolling buffet; they fit just right under there and are now filled with some of my DD's craft suppies. Look pretty good, too.

I also think I'm going to reuse old PlayDough containers for Easter egg hunts, unless I come up with a better idea. Unfortunately, they aren't recyclable.

 

[dyna]

Those plastic boxes strawberries an mushrooms comes in from store. I saved a few of those yrs ago for tater peelings an other food waste then take the waste out to compost pile those same boxes still going strong even last in dishwaher.

Kitty litter buckets I saved to different ones 1 is clean mop water the other is for rinsing my scrub rag or mop keeping cleaning water clean....empty the dirty rinse water as needed.

Still get usually 1 or 2 buckets of kitty litter a month parents took couple of buckets at a loss as to what to do with them.

Milk jugs not found good use for them either. Yougurt cups with no lid, detergent bottles, oval ice cream buckets they plastic now too have no handle.

Just saved a cocoa box that i'm gonna use on kitchen shelf for my mad money stash box, butter tub or coolwhip bowls work in fridge/freezer for this an much more likely to survive a fire than regular shelf or drawer robbery too...chances are robbers not gonna go thru kit cabinets or fridge lookin for money or valuables.

Tinkerbelle mug that was a gift no one here drinks coffee or hot tea etc I use tinkerbell mug to hold paintbrushes i use for cleaning....see there another use....paintbrushes for cleaning I have different sized cheap brushes for dusting small detailed things an small areas.

Here is one that worked well while I put up a christmas tree.....1.00 plastic shoe boxes store ornaments in them late nov very early dec put up tree decorate rinse out ornament boxes an you got boxes for homemade cookies once cookies gone after the holidays rinse boxes put ornaments back in boxes.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Those plastic boxes strawberries an mushrooms comes in from store. I saved a few of those yrs ago for tater peelings an other food waste then take the waste out to compost pile those same boxes still going strong even last in dishwaher.

Kitty litter buckets I saved to different ones 1 is clean mop water the other is for rinsing my scrub rag or mop keeping cleaning water clean....empty the dirty rinse water as needed.

Still get usually 1 or 2 buckets of kitty litter a month parents took couple of buckets at a loss as to what to do with them.

Milk jugs not found good use for them either. Yougurt cups with no lid, detergent bottles, oval ice cream buckets they plastic now too have no handle.

Just saved a cocoa box that i'm gonna use on kitchen shelf for my mad money stash box, butter tub or coolwhip bowls work in fridge/freezer for this an much more likely to survive a fire than regular shelf or drawer robbery too...chances are robbers not gonna go thru kit cabinets or fridge lookin for money or valuables.

Tinkerbelle mug that was a gift no one here drinks coffee or hot tea etc I use tinkerbell mug to hold paintbrushes i use for cleaning....see there another use....paintbrushes for cleaning I have different sized cheap brushes for dusting small detailed things an small areas.

Here is one that worked well while I put up a christmas tree.....1.00 plastic shoe boxes store ornaments in them late nov very early dec put up tree decorate rinse out ornament boxes an you got boxes for homemade cookies once cookies gone after the holidays rinse boxes put ornaments back in boxes.

I love it! I think I'll snag this idea!

 

[SDSorority]

These are all great ideas.

You know those fake credit cards that you get in the mail? I save those and use them as pot scalers. They really take the baked on cheese, eggs, etc. off of my pans and don't scratch!