The Great 'Are you a re-user - what items do you reuse for max value?' Hunt

pippo

"Those remarkably irritating (and for the most part useless) little 5" strips of ribbon that are sewn into the shoulders of sweaters and teeshirts I save and use as little bows on handknitted gifts, dolls' clothes, or as decoration on birthday parcels."
lol I'm a bit obsessive about those ribbons too!
First, when I cut them off on holiday and used them in 'Toon Army' colours to help identify case at baggage reclaim.

Have also used for tying presents

Thinking of a craft project to use them up now!
BUT.. I will not throw away
Pip
x

EccentricRavenJewellery

pippo wrote: »

"Those remarkably irritating (and for the most part useless) little 5" strips of ribbon that are sewn into the shoulders of sweaters and teeshirts I save and use as little bows on handknitted gifts, dolls' clothes, or as decoration on birthday parcels."
lol I'm a bit obsessive about those ribbons too!
First, when I cut them off on holiday and used them in 'Toon Army' colours to help identify case at baggage reclaim.

Have also used for tying presents

Thinking of a craft project to use them up now!
BUT.. I will not throw away
Pip
x

I saw something on a knitting forum where a lady tacked them end-to-end with a couple of stitches and then crocheted them into things. looked fiddly but good! worth a go?

blackberry-rum

pippo wrote: »

lol I'm a bit obsessive about those ribbons too!
First, when I cut them off on holiday and used them in 'Toon Army' colours to help identify case at baggage reclaim.
Have also used for tying presents
Thinking of a craft project to use them up now!
BUT.. I will not throw away
Pip
x

EccentricRavenJewellery wrote: »

I saw something on a knitting forum where a lady tacked them end-to-end with a couple of stitches and then crocheted them into things. looked fiddly but good! worth a go?

Actually this Christmas, for four work colleagues, I knitted little lacy covers for small honey jars I'd saved, I used leftover sock knitting wool in colours to suit their colour schemes (it took some judicious questioning to get those details) and then I used the little ribbons threaded around the top edge. It took the two little ribbons - one to go around, then a few stitches to attach a bow made of the other ribbon. Inside each I popped a little tealight. They loved 'em. And ALL leftovers, just my time, approx 2 hours each. The patterns are available on the Ravelry.com site, look for Candle Cosy.

The other thing I do is cut in half my facial cleansing wipes. I don't wear foundation or powder, so it's just to clean the general daily detritus. There's always a pair of scissors near my pack of pads!

When I was younger and needed them I always cut pantie-liners in half too. I mean .... you don't actually need the back half unless you are anatomically quite unusual, surely? (thinking: they may now make them smaller anyway, they used to be about 6 or 7" long).

When my cats deigned to use a litter box I would put the box into a large supermarket plastic carrier bag, then dump the litter on top thus forcing the bag down into the litter box. When time to empty, just ease the bag from underneath the box (against the floor, that bit) up and over and hey presto the litter is contained within the bag, ready for the bin.

I'm sure there's more (I do composting, turn boxes inside out to use for mailing, use every scrap of knitting wool on smaller and smaller projects - my best was some gorgeous brown alpaca I bought last year and made a short sleeved sweater, then long sleeves that can be buttoned on, then a long lacy cowl, then a polo neck-type cowl, then some fingerless gloves. There's not a SCRAP left)

Thanks for all the hints on here, loving them!

Solarjunkie

Just a few more to add, I am proud to say I already do most of what has been mentioned, apart from the cat litter ones as we don't have a cat!

The large coffee jar lids make great plant pot saucers, deep and colourful.

Old maps, or those A3 size car atlases make good wrapping paper.

The sides of leaky wellingtons can have insoles cut out of them.

The big bags that multipack loo roll come in can be used as bin liners; or take plastic bags out of the recycling at the supermarket. I have to do this as I never have any, I always take several strong canvas bags with me when shopping.

The posh paper napkins you get in some restaurants are very strong & last a surprising length of time as a kitchen cloth.

A large dog collar makes a good replacement handle for a vanity case.

I'm sure there's more, right up to the old caravan base which is now a trailer!

Becky_2

Some great suggestions on here, thanks. In the future I shall keep the yoghurt pots once cleaned for this spring's seeds.

* I keep old washing up brushes to clean flower pots, shoe soles etc. I have put a label on them as well to stop cross contamination.

* I keep old dish clothes to use when I clean the oven and then throw them away afterwards. For the last wipe I use a kitchen towel.

* I keep empty cake case containers to bring in cucumbers/tomatoes etc in to work for my lunch time sandwich. I hate soggy sandwiches and adding the cucumbers on just before eating it, the sandwich tastes so much better.

* Blusher brushes are brilliant to use when cleaning out the ground coffee when cleaning a bean to cup coffee machine.

mousey54

Hi, I'm new to this forum so forgive me if this idea has been flogged to death!
I save all greetings cards, including Christmas and use them for Christmas gift labels or Birthday present labels etc. Find a picture that you like, check the back of it and make sure that it is clean and blank so that you can write the message on it. Cut the picture out, any shape you like, you could use crinkle scissors that cut a zig zag shape if you want. Use a hole-punch to make a hole for the string/ribbon/thread to go through. Write your message on the back, hey presto a home-made label. Use any thread strong enough for the tie.

I also cut off the thin ribbons that can be found inside clothes to hang them up these days and save them. They are ideal for these home-made labels. :j

mp11h

I have started saving my washing-up water for flushing the toilet - I just keep a bucket in the kitchen and re-use any water that isn't too dirty. I find that I can get by with far fewer proper flushes.

radio_hack

What a great set of ideas.
I use a thick layer of newspapers to cover the veggie patch after the autumn digging to discourage weeds. I also roll pages into balls and put them on the surface of outdoor plant pots in the summer - it cuts down evaporation so they need less watering. I always keep newspapers in the car for emergencies - put them under the wheels if you're stuck in snow or mud, protect the interior from muddy boots or just for keeping things clean.

Large carpets are cut down for smaller areas, particularly the bathroom or wardrobes. Off cuts are used as weed suppressers.

Clothes that are too old fashioned/ not suitable for ebay or the charity shops go into the dressing up box.

Netting from the Christmas tree is saved and the following autumn, attached to branches from the tree pruning to create a cover for the pond to keep leaves out of the water.

I put orange peel on top of the wood burning stove for a fresh smell.

Tea bags and coffee grounds from home and work go into our compost and people at work bring me their empty jars to re-use for jams and chutneys.

Oh yes and my OH is very good at re-using old jokes

mp11h

Just remembered another -

After grilling bacon or lamb chops, we soak up the fat with a thick piece of bread then dice it and put out for the birds.
Seems to go down well and the pan's easier to clean.
Actually, as kids we used to think "dripping" butties were a tasty treat, the birds wouldn't have had a chance!

Chingfordonian

I use ceral boxes as a paint shield when painting round windows, skirting etc. Glass jars that have a screw top (preferably coffee jars) I use to clean paint brushes with white spirit, when the brush is devoid of paint I put the top back on the jar and leave to settle. The white spirit will raise to the top leaving the sediment on the bottom of the jar. Ready to re-use next time I need to paint- pouring into a clean jar before re-use.

Should I need the white spirit before the sediment has settled I strain the white spirit (into a clean jar) using an only stocking or pair of tights.

If I need a funnel I cut the top of a plastic bottle - very good to pour oil into the car engine.