Double Duty

Agapanthus

I once used a couple of wire coat hangers to make water divining rods - with two drinking straws as handles. They worked brilliantly - the only trouble was that everybody who had a go reckoned that the drain we were looking for was in a different place. In the end none of us were right!:o

I've also used a wire coathanger to break into an old car - it was mine, I'd just locked myself out of it with the keys inside. Rather to my alarm, I got into it within thirty seconds. So much for car security...:eek:

shandyclover

When I went on foreign holidays with 4 little ones I bought those toilet cleaning wipes. I don't use them in my own home but they were great for a quick swish round a unfamiliar toilet seat.

cheerfulness4

I use my panini machine to make toasted sandwiches
paninis (obviously!)
heat frozen garlic bread
make pancakes
cook potato waffles
cook HM flour tortillas
make cheese on toast

Basically, we've experimented to use it instead of heating the elec oven and lots of things cook beautifully on it.

natlie

I use the reusable jute shopping bags to grow potatoes (when they break/handles worn) they are great because you can compost them too

I use broken mugs to grow plants

my dad turns old china teacups and saucers into posh candles for pressies by filling them with a wick and scented wax

Skintslimmer

I use one of those little drawstring bags that come with washing tablets as storage for my millions of bra straps - you know, the kind that come with multiways bras.

I also save the little bits of ribon that come in new clothes. If I want a bra to fit a certain odd shaped top I tie the straps together with one of those. Kinda doubling up on the need for multiway bras, but I prefer the ribon method for some reason!

Trinny

I reuse old tights for storing vegetables picked from the allotment. If you put an onion in the toe, then knot the tights and then repeat until full, then if one of the onions goes mouldy, the knot will prevent the mould spreading to the rest of the veg - works well with Homegrown onions, shallotts etc.

Trin

sparrer

I've just discovered that the spaghetti server which I never use and takes up space in my utensil pot makes a terrific back scratcher! It's now been removed and put in my odds and ends drawer

zarazara

LOL sparrer

polejunkie

Further to my Terry Nappy post I just wanted to get more idea's about other reusable items. I have now learnt about re-usable wipes which I will be having a go at, washable panty liners and towels which I might try the panty liners. Breast pads I might try if I have another baby.

Now I finding all these items has made me look at my own wastage, what other reusable items have I missed? What other hidden reusable items may i have missed also? Any tips or tricks of the OS trade?

Thanks

elle

craftdaft

I used reusable breast pads. They could only cope with a little leakage so I used then when I'd been breastfeeding for 5 months or so and DD was in a routine and my body knew what was expected when

In my case I didn't find them moneysaving as two of them got stuck in my washing machine and I had to get someone out to repair it (we'd tried everything we could think of first). I was very embarrassed to come home and have my neighbour tell me what had been stuck I had washed them in the little bag but they must have escaped. From what the repair man said to my neighbour it was quite a common thing to happen. I would use them again but put them in something to ensure they can't escape.