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

Valli

radio_hack wrote: »

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Tea bags and coffee grounds from home and work go into our compost

Apparently these can be obtained, free of charge, from coffee chains. Check on the gardening thread but slugs MIGHT hate 'em (so a good mulch arouns plants to keep the slimy munchers away;))

Chingfordonian wrote: »

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

And you can make excellent SCOOPS from milk containers

Eenymeeny

Some great ideas thanks. I reuse lots but you can always learn something new can't you?
Halving face wipes... I use unscented baby wipes, cut them in half when I first open the pack then store them in plastic takeaway type cartons. Keeps them fresh for longer and saves keeping the scissors on standby
Wouldn't have thought of taking the bags OUT of the recycling stash at supermarkets. I'll use that next time I forget to take my own bags.
Maybe I should be putting this on the hoarders thread but like a lot of others I've kept a lot of gift bags and find that I don't give a lot of gifts these days. (Not working now, family abroad, economising etc) I wonder if anyone can suggest an alternative use, or somewhere who would use them?

pollyolly

I have grown some catmint and cut some of this and put it in an old sock and tied it. Give this to the cats and watch them go mad. IAfter buying many catnip toys which don't amuse the cats, this one really works and gives them hours of fun.

Flotsam

Some brilliant ideas on here thanks folks.
My very favourite item for reusing is peapods.
I grow peas in any spare space in my garden and containers too, once I have shelled the peas I then boil up the pods and use the juice for making wine (tastes surprisingly good) once I have drained the liquid from the pods they then go into my compost bin ready to feed my garden again the following year.
Peas Rock!!

loocyloo

wow!

i do sooooo many of these things already!

i have often thought i wish i could think of a use for the bags from cereal boxes, so will be using those ideas. all i usually use them for is cutting up to use as wax circles to go in the top of my homemade jams.

i save all the little pots from face creams for putting childrens glue in, as you can put the lid on tight and it doesn't get wasted.:D ( or sequins, beads etc )

i save ALL packaging - cardboard/paper/wood/plastic/metal/fruit nets/bottle tops etc and we either use it for junk modeling, tower building, play shops or it goes into school for the children there to use in their junk modeling! ( one mum groans when she sees me with a big box going in as she knows her son will be bringing it all home later! )

i had new tyres put on my car and kept the old ones for the children to play with in the garden. they love them and they get used for so many things.

i used an old cupboard and set of shelves to make a 'mud' kitchen in my garden for the children to play with, along with all my old saucepans, bowls, cups, spoon and kitchen implements.

old clothes/bags/hats/phones/keyboards etc etc all go in my dressing up box!

my DH groans and says it is getting ridiculous as i never through anything away! but its all useful !!! :rotfl:

Primrose

Flotsam - I also reuse my pea pods, and if you don't want to make wine with them they make a delicious light soup. Just saute them with some chopped onion and add chicken stock or a chicken stock cube with about a pint of water (depending on quantity of pea pods you have). . Simmer for about 15 minutes, and when cooled a little, whizz with a stick blender and season with salt & pepper. If you want to freeze, this stores well in a 1 pint plastic milk bottle which will serve 2 portions.

Valli

pollyolly wrote: »

I have grown some catmint and cut some of this and put it in an old sock and tied it. Give this to the cats and watch them go mad. IAfter buying many catnip toys which don't amuse the cats, this one really works and gives them hours of fun.

My daughter made a catnip (with catmint) rat in sewing class. I used to have to chase after salivating 'other' cats - she put so much catnip in it attracted loads...eventually we never got it back.:rotfl:

Flotsam

Primrose wrote: »

Flotsam - I also reuse my pea pods, and if you don't want to make wine with them they make a delicious light soup. Just saute them with some chopped onion and add chicken stock or a chicken stock cube with about a pint of water (depending on quantity of pea pods you have). . Simmer for about 15 minutes, and when cooled a little, whizz with a stick blender and season with salt & pepper. If you want to freeze, this stores well in a 1 pint plastic milk bottle which will serve 2 portions.

Thanks Primrose,

I'll definitely try the soup as I always freeze the pods in bags until I have enough to make wine so I'm always discovering stray bags of pods at the bottom of the freezer which I've forgotten about.:T

Figgerty

katholicos wrote: »

Our christmas tree is outside at present and when able, i will cut off the branches and use the pine needles around things in the garden like my blueberry bushes.

Why do you put pine needles around blueberry bushes?

Flotsam

Figgerty wrote: »

Why do you put pine needles around blueberry bushes?

Hi Figgerty,

Certain plants, blueberries included, prefer acidic soil so by using the pine needles as a mulch around the plants it raises the levels of acid in the soil.