I try to keep things simple around my house. You know, make new use of old things. Problem is, I hang on to old stuff too long in hopes of repurposing it... and it never gets used. Hubby will say, "Do you want to save this for...." And I have to force myself to say no.
But every once in awhile, I come across some awesome new ideas for old things. Here are a few that I've done or think are noteworthy to try.
RE-PURPOSING AND REUSING
**1. Toilet paper roll- for holding unused extension cords. Yeah, totally works better than just throwing them all in a box and having to spending 20 minutes untangling them.2. Old plastic tupperware containers - before we tossed a bunch out due to overuse, we made our own homemade sugar scrub and stored it in the containers.
**3. Rubberbands - Using rubberbands to hold up camisoles or dresses that don't want to stay on the hanger is genius. Putting this one in
4. Coasters - All those nice coasters you see at restaurants can come in handy. Snag a few next time, cover them in some cute scrapbooking paper, and use them as gift tags or even thank you and birthday cards. Get super creative and make an entire baby book out of them!
6. Greeting cards - Instead of throwing them away (and having to purchase new ones for your friends' upcoming birthday) take the front of the old card and cut out anything that can be reused. Flowers, butterflies, or something spunky... like the sock monkey card I got for Valentine's Day! Create your own card with the cutouts and add to it with colored pencils. People will love your creativity!
**7. Shower Hooks - use them for holding up heavier items like purses. The fit over a regular closet pole. (This is another one of those I'm going to use!)8. Old Tablecloth - Great for kids crafts like painting, glueing and other messy projects! We have an old heavy-duty one that has been used since my husband was a kid. Even the thin plastic ones from a birthday party will work - they might only get you one more use, but better than a mess on the table.
**9. Six-pack bottle container - LOVE this idea for barbecues and parties or even Thanksgiving! Match it to your party theme with papers, ribbons and stamps!
10. Tennis balls - Neck pain? Back pain? Duct tape two tennis balls together very well (it'll look like a peanut). Lay on the "peanut" on your back so that each ball is on each side of your spinal column. Amazing muscle relaxer!**11. Ribbon - I love ribbon. So versatile. But I love this little addition to the trim of a simple. lamp. What a great makeover to a kid's room!
**12. Ketchup bottle - Makes for an easy pour spout for the perfectly round pancake!While repurposing isn't designed to create more junk in your house (if it is, you might be going about it all wrong), it can give new life to a few things that might otherwise be trash.
What are your favorite things to repurpose and reuse?
**These ideas with the asteriks and their pictures were taken from an article on Real Simple's site. Go there to see the rest.
10 comments:
Those are some great ideas! I really like the 6 pack container idea especially! I've seen it done at restaurants before just never applied it at home.
Love these ideas! I could definitely put some of them to good use! I have saved and collected tons of diaper wipe containers. They store B's sock and undies perfectly, as well as some of her other toys like Hotwheels, and random small toys that she may have gotten in a kids meal. Over the years, I've had to throw out a lot of containers just b/c I saved every single one of them, but I kept a good many too. They make great storage!
love the idea of wipes containers for socks and underwear! we use a little tackle box for happy meals toys and it's kept in the car, that way we always have something on hand to play with!
Some great ideas here... and we re-purpose wipes container, too! Great for cleaning up the kids' toys and for bathroom items like hair ties.
However, you mentioned at the top of your post that you tend to hold onto things with the intention to re-purpose, even if they don't end up getting used. In my household, we've tended toward the other end. Unless we have a specific use for the item RIGHT NOW, we get rid of the item -- donate, recycle, toss. This probably is because I have hoarders in my family, and I have a strong need to resist any impulse to keep any "stuff." Oh, the "baggage" we carry. ;)
What a great post! So many great ideas! I'm a chronic purger married to a hoarder so we are always looking for ways to recycle things.
Best,
Tina
I'm not really a saver...I don't like clutter, but I do like to repurpose things so that I don't have to buy new things :) I use the plastic easter eggs to keep earphones separate and untangled. I don't know why we have so many pairs, but I have a few in a kitchen drawer and the kids have them in the car. Easter eggs keep them tidy :)
love the easter eggs for headphones too!! great tips, keep 'em coming!!
LOVE these ideas! I just happen to have about 10 empty toilet paper rolls lying around! And I can't wait to empty that ketchup bottle to stick pancake batter in it.
Thanks!
OMG, these are fantastic ideas. I love the ketchup bottle for pancakes. And the 6 pack beer box. How great!
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I love the reuse of the cards. I always, always feel guilty throwing them out but never knew what to do with them.
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