What do you reuse?

Patchwork_Quilt

All of the above, plus


Newspaper – line bin instead of using plastic bag. Peel and chop veg on it before wrapping and composting.
Yoghurt pots – used once to pour hot fat into and then thrown in bin instead of down sink
Shirts, sheets, duvet covers, jeans – patchwork
Wool – crocheting knee blankets for cold nights and knitting scarves
2L soft drinks bottles – make mini cloches and protection from rabbits
Net curtains – cut out a large circle and tie around lid of home-made jam with ribbon
Large chocolate tins – reused as cake tins (they never come back)

champys

Here's another one: I keep all my worn-out washing-up sponges. In spring, when I put together my window boxes, I cut them up into cubes and mix them in with the compost before planting the flowers. It helps keeping them moist during the summer.
(The only downside to this is that when it comes to the end of window-box season, I'm less happy to chuck the plants that are not worth keeping through the winter onto the compost heap, because of the sponges between the roots. But it probably doesn't matter much)

LJM

anything package wise i save and bag up for my girls to take to school they are always model making and appreciate the bits and bobs plus it saves my bin being full and its going to a good cause

georgia1

Wow! Loads of great ideas here everyone. Please keep them coming!

KatieKins

This thread is fab. Reading it I realise I do a lot of these things but not as many as I should! Love the idea of the old road map as wrapping paper too! X

Optimisticpair

champys wrote: »

Here's another one: I keep all my worn-out washing-up sponges. In spring, when I put together my window boxes, I cut them up into cubes and mix them in with the compost before planting the flowers. It helps keeping them moist during the summer.
(The only downside to this is that when it comes to the end of window-box season, I'm less happy to chuck the plants that are not worth keeping through the winter onto the compost heap, because of the sponges between the roots. But it probably doesn't matter much)

I use most of mine in the bottom of plant containers to cover the drainage holes. Some just get used for DIY.

I also reuse bits of polystyrene packaging as drainage material in heavy pots. If it is shaped so that it will hold water I use it as a tray under plant pots.

bellaquidsin

sparrer wrote: »

Presuming they're only inches long...
thread through the holes on gift tags,
thread through zipper tags to colour coordinate with the cardigan/sweater/purse etc
thread several through the zip/handle to make a feature on suitcases so you can spot them on the carousel
tying indoor plants to stakes,
use in card making for hair, grass etc
thread through canvas to make patterns on bags leaving the loose ends on the outside - time consuming but looks really effective

not many ideas but no doubt someone will come up with more

Sparrer, you're a genius. I particularly like the card making idea and would use that these days, but it is 30 some years since I was given these snippets and as I couldn't think of a use at the time they went in the bin:eek:

If I had had them last week I could have used some as hair when I made a peg dolly with my DGD with a 50ish year old dolly peg that used to belong to my DM.

I shall save all my ends in future if DH can stand it, he's already submerged beneath a pile of drying eggshells, teetering margarine cartons and the general plethora of just in case...,

Oh, and has anyone said, saving coffee grounds as a slug deterent? Well I haven't proven this one yet and the ones I did save went mouldy in the garage, guess they'll have to head straight to the compost heap and I'll use fresh ones when the slugs wake up.

Can't wait for the slugs to wake up then winter will be over:j:j

Bella

jcr16

i re-use ice cream tubs and marg tubs for freezer portions. the ice cream tubs are excellent for when i make a batch of rock cakes of flap jacks then i can freeze them and get out just a few at a time.