Do you reuse something in some way that others might not know about?

I'm looking for alternative uses for things that I usually throw away, such as coffee containers, detergent bottles, etc.  It just seems so wasteful & expensive when the package looks useful! 

So, what do you do or know that we might not know, but might like to try? (wow, say that fast five times! lol)

Not really a big deal but when we are done with our detergent box I use it in the laundry room to put the lint in from the dryer.  I sometimes use a store bag and just toss the bag instead of the box when it gets full of trash.

 

I bought the kids bath wash that has a pump and keep refilling it. It seems to last longer when they can just pump a lil at a time instead of dumping the bottle in the tub.

 

I bought a jug of water the other day and am using it as a tea jug now. Has a nice handle on it and makes it easier to pour than a milk jug.

 

I reuse my foil sometimes and wash my zip loc bags out.  I save the paper towel and toilet paper rolls for the preschool for their lil projects.  They are always needing more.

 

Can't think of anything else right now.  Need to get busy on the house. Nice topic.

Angie

I wash out the plastic containers that coffee is packed in now and use them to store rice, noodles, and other staples.  I label them so I know what's in them. I also use them for storing other things around the house like dog biscuits, or yarn, or whatever.

I reuse pump bottles for liquid hand-soap, body wash and shampoo and conditioner.  Dish liquid bottles can be washed out thoroughly then used for vegetable oil.  One or two squirts is all you need in the frying pan. Also saves on oily rings in the cabinets.  Use plastic lids from margarine or cottage cheese containers in your cabinets underneath syrup bottles to catch sticky drips.

That's about all I can think of now.

Oh yeah, one more thing........

I use the large jugs of liquid laundry detergent.  When they are empty I use them for watering cans for my outside plants in the spring and summer and for watering house plants as well. 

i wash all of my butter and cool whip bowls and reuse to put leftovers in......

i also reuse gift bags and christmas bows just retape on the package.....

another idea for scrapbookers is take gift wrap paper and use for either background or something for your scrapbook pages....

Jet

Some great idea so far.  I love the one for the plastic coffee cans.  We use a lot of coffee and I always feel wasteful throwing those away.  Another plus to using them is I will not use as many resealable plastic storage bags. 

One thing I did just today was to cut down a cool whip container to use as a bowl under the plant.  I usually buy those planter bottoms but this will work just as well and since you can't see the drip bowl it does not matter how it looks.  I think if I were to use the container in a spot that can be seen I would decoupage it with some thing I like.

Thanks for starting this topic.

Sue

Several new cookie tins from the holidays will be used for storing sewing thread. 

Huge tins are wonderful for serging cones.

I always save the paper cup liners from the cookie tins for baking muffins or cupcakes. 

 

2 qt. paper milk cartons rinsed & opened up are handy for use in the freezer.  I like to put a freezer bag in & save soup or fruit in the "shape" that is more space efficient.  You can remove the carton & use again when the bag contents are frozen.  Mom used to store directly in the carton without a bag & just sealed the top with staples or freezer tape.  (Folding the top down a bit saves more space.)   Easy to write on.

A milk carton with the top cut off halfway down is good for smaller bags of fruit, tomatoes, or soup stock.  They stack nicely.      I also use this size for starting garden seeds. ( Just take a 4" nail & punch 4 holes in the bottom of the carton for drainage.) 

 

3 gal. plastic ice cream pails make the best garbage cans!  Most grocery store plastic bags fit perfectly as liners.  They are simple to coordinate with a room by using fabric or paper on the outside of the pail & "podging" over it.  (Podge is bought at the craft store.)   They look nice left plain too.

I have also used that size pail for making juice.  Prefer the 5 gal. size for storing flour or sugar, though the 3 gal. size works.  I bought pails from a juice store/stand & an ice cream shop.  Some will give for free & others charge 30 cents to $1. each.  Nice 5 gal. pails with good lids are worth it; considering what Tupperware would cost for just one!

 

Buy the heavy duty foil & it's good for many more uses than the thin foil before wearing out. 

 

 

 

 

When I buy chicken breasts or pork chops in bulk, I repackage them individually for the freezer in plastic sandwich bags.  Then, with all the air out so as not to get freezer burn, they get packaged again in the big freezer bags with the ziplock tops (the air taken out of the bag again).  When the ziplock bag is empty, I don't throw them away as they are perfectly clean (everything inside having been already wrapped).  I keep them in the freezer and they are ready to be used again.

 

I really enjoy tole painting and love to paint on clay pots.  I never plant directly in the clay pot but always in a plastic pot that has been washed out since its previous use.  Before putting the plastic pot in the clay pot I put a cleaned out margarine tub or ice cream tub under the plastic flowerpot to catch the excess water.  This has a twofold benefit - the plants don't lose water as quickly and my painted pots don't get ruined by water seepage.  (No matter how well the clay is sealed, the water will evetually get thru and the paint starts to flake off).

 

 

 

 

 

I don't like throwing away those plastic containers, either.  Since I don't have much use for them or the room to store them, we take them to our local convenience center to be recycled.  At least they don't end up in a landfill somewhere.

My DH fills up 3 lb Folgers coffee cans with bird seed. It's just enough to fill one feeder. We have three so he always keeps the cans full. It's convenient for him instead of dragging the large bag out in the yard. The lids are good to set house plants on if you don't have an underdish.

I hate it when my printer prints off a page I don't need with maybe one line. I fold the sheet and cut it in half. Paper clip together. When I get a stack, I staple and use as scrap paper at the computer or for store lists. My grandson likes to draw so he gets some use out of it too. I explain we are saving trees so now he doesn't complain that it's not a real tablet.

This was posted previously on another post by someone - using cereal liner bags.  Can be used in place of wax paper.  For instance, to cover food in microwave, roll out dough, use to freeze food.  Can be used as a bag or taken apart.

Can't be used in a hot oven or with a hot iron.

http://www.folgers.com/coffees/holiday-canister/index.shtml.................. Did you all see these for decorating the coffee containers? They are adorable.....except that I don't drink coffee and don't have any containers. Boo hoo. I'm going to see if my sister has any and I'll print the decorations and she can supply the coffee containers. I send gifts in decorated containers all the time. I just have to find something to decorate. I use a lot of peanut butter jars for giving small amounts. Cool Whip containers are good too. If it looks usable, save it!

Use medium size plastic bags from the grocery or other store to line small wastebaskets in the bathroom, bedroom, etc. When they are full, take out the bag, tie a knot in it and throw it in the trash. Then get a clean one to replace it. No mess.

 

Large coffee cans with both ends removed can be used to surround and protect newly growing perennials in the spring. The rabbits can't nibble on the new green shoots that way. 

 

Plant houseplants in glass vases with wide tops from the thrift store. ($1.49 to $2.99 - half price on certain days) Make sure they are heavy glass not the thin kind.Plants grow very nicely in them. Put some river rocks ($1.00  a bag from the Dollar Store) in the bottom for drainage. Buy cheap dinner plates at the thrift store for 49 to 79 cents to use under potted house plants.

 

My cats like to play with plastic milk or juice caps. They bat them all over the house. They also play with ping pong balls and plastic colored easter eggs with a couple pieces of kibble in them. Make windows in a cardboard box so the cats can climb in and out of it.

 

Our weekly neighborhood newspaper has 2 or 3 colored 8 X 10 paper inserts with ads on them. I cut them into four squares or long strips and use the blank side for notes or grocery lists. I always have a colorful supply of scratch paper next to the telephone.

 

I'm sure I'll think of more later.  I like this thread.

 

I use ice cream pails for berry picking, coffee cans (the plastic ones) - large ones I like for putting peelings, coffee grounds, and other things for the compost pile in. The cover keeps the bugs out (and the smell down) and it's easily transported every day or two to the pile outside. The smaller ones work great for small kids toys, lego's, crafting supplies, if you make your own homemade wipes (weather for body or cleaning) cut the paper towel to size of the coffee container, place in can, put in enough liquid cleaner or soap mixture to saturate, cut an "X" opening on the cover, pull the edge of the paper towel thru and you've got a handy dandy tub. Reuse the wipe tubs for the same as described. I love the baby wipe square containers to put crayons, markers and pens in. Also work great for crafting supplies and organizing the office supplies (paper clips, scrap paper,ect.....

 

I used to give the oxy clean bucket (powdere oxi stuff) to the kids for their legos and such.

I've just been recycling the coffee canisters but they do make good places for nuts and bolds and stuff for the garage. (only if they are the foil seal lid because when cutting off the lids like they used to I always though was to sharp).

 I love the lunch meat that comes in the plastic glad ware!!! I'm always sending left overs with my mom. and they are perfect for that.--- she even washes them and gives them back. they are also good for the girls to put their beads and small art projects in between working on them.

 

you could always use large boxes like laundry soap comes in for a magazine organizer. 

 

If you have small kids and drink frozen juice you can save the metal lids and put 2 matching stickers on one side make about 8-10 sets and make a matching game.