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

mushtiff

Here are some of my re-uses:
I'm a keen table-tennis player, and re-use a cracked ball on top of tomato plant canes so I don't put my eye out (canes are the long straight prunings from my mock orange). I also have a ball dangling from a string in the garage which touches the windscreen when the car is in the right place. An old bat wallet is an ideal cover for my netbook - and disguises it too.
Old fridge drawers provide great storage in my home office.
An old cutlery drawer divider fits neatly across a desk drawer, for all those odds and ends.
The tiny box from a memory card goes in my handbag with a tea-bag in it. I use the tiny plastic bags which come with eg buttons on clothing, for a single cotton reel, to stop them getting tangled.
I put the glass of water by my bed into a chunky stand meant for wine bottles - finally solved the problem of knocking it over in the night!
The sort of bird feeder which attaches to windows with a sticker is now high up on the wall of my shower - I put a mini-speaker in there so I can listen to my MP3 player.
And finally, I cut u-shaped sections from old plastic milk bottles, & attached a picture of our cat with a big red "No" sign over it. These fit over drinks glasses to prevent the cat drinking from them (cat is not clever enough to knock them off).

debsign

hummingbird wrote: »

I also use the backs of Christmas cards for making shopping lists etc.

Supermarket carrier bags are used as liners for the smaller bins in the house and for collecting small amounts of weeds if I'm having a quick few minutes in the garden.They also come in handy for wrapping paperwork etc that I want to keep away from other items in my work bag.We have lots of uses for them at work too so I donate some there.

I have cleaned up ordinary food tins to use as penholders - they look lovely and shiny with the label off and polished up.

Have refilled spray bottles with my own vinegar water cleaning solution.

I have reused stamps that come through without being franked (There are a surprising number of these!!!)

Will think of some more and add them:money:

i used stamps too! also the plastic boxes from the take away to used for freezing stuff

Genmod55

cestlavie wrote: »

all envelopes sent with credit card statements that are paid online are similarly reused with the use of a new address label to pay completely different bills.

I have often thought of doing this until someone told me it was illegal, not sure if they were just trying to frighten me or if it is true?

blackberry-rum

Firemunchkin wrote: »

I'm trying to get better at mending clothing, but haven't a clue how to darn! I think I will practice turning a collar inside out on one of OH's old shirts, but usually the cuffs are also worn too so might see if it works there too. If all else fails, his shirts are great for patchworks or bunting!
...Since joining this thread I've been noticing what I do and don't re-use a lot more. My preference is always to reuse as much as possible than to recycle straight away, and I do throw away more plastic than I'd like to. Plastic bottles, plastic meat containers, plastic veg containers (the ones without lids) etc. I don't want my house to look like Steptoe's but I'd like to think there's something worthwhile to do with these things.

Any ideas??

Darning is like weaving, just a few strands across then weave in and out - but there are some tutorials on Youtube, here's one - and since you need something firm inside the sock one of your plastic bottles will find a use! You may find cards of darning thread in the usual dull sock colours in your local charity shop.

auntymabel

You can put flowers in any old bottle or jar of a suitable size and stand it in a used gift bag.

Firemunchkin

Thanks Auntymabel and blackberry-rum. I'll make a task note to look at darning in the summer (once my law degree exams are over and I have more time to devote to such things). I've got loads of vases already so if I have flowers I put them in those.

I made some mini crumbles yesterday, with a punnet of plums that were past their raw-eating best, and used the glass ramekins that come with Gu desserts. Eat the yummy contents and the ramekin is the perfect size for a single portion treat. Keep the plastic lid too for protecting them in the freezer.

I bought a glasses cleaner from the Natural History Museum today, the plastic pouch it came in is the perfect size to fit business cards in and protect the corners and keep them clean. Easy to slip into a wallet/purse as well.

Valli

I still use my old (fabric type) water resistant shower curtain.

Only now it lives in the car and I put it across the windscreen during winter, to stop the windscreen icing up. Folded double it fits and can be held in place by the doors.

Valli

Firemunchkin wrote: »

Thanks Auntymabel and blackberry-rum. I'll make a task note to look at darning in the summer (once my law degree exams are over and I have more time to devote to such things). I've got loads of vases already so if I have flowers I put them in those.

I made some mini crumbles yesterday, with a punnet of plums that were past their raw-eating best, and used the glass ramekins that come with Gu desserts. Eat the yummy contents and the ramekin is the perfect size for a single portion treat. Keep the plastic lid too for protecting them in the freezer.

I bought a glasses cleaner from the Natural History Museum today, the plastic pouch it came in is the perfect size to fit business cards in and protect the corners and keep them clean. Easy to slip into a wallet/purse as well.

Ah Gu desserts...only eaten in Valli Valli when they are whoopsied; which is also when you buy them no doubt;). IMO far to small for HM crumbles, though.:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

fizzlebottom

I never use the stated amount of washing powder, only about 2/3rds but I do add a scoop of washing soda (much cheaper than the powder); this also helps keep the washing machine clean and grease free.

Once a month I do a hot wash (no clothes) with just a cup of soda crystals and a cup of white vinegar which keeps the machine 'wiff free':D

edwink

I keep in inner roll of toilet and kitchen rolls for using to sow seeds. Obviously they need to be cut down. Toilet rolls are fine cut in half. If you put compost in them and sow the seed, when they are ready to pot up you do not disturb the root and the tube just composts down in the new pot. You can buy carboard pots for use for sensitive seeds but they are so expensive.

We made a compost bin from 4 old pallets. Just nailed them together in a square shape. When the compost is ready just push it over which will loosen the compost you have made. Remove the square and shovel the compost onto your veg beds. Reposition the square and reuse every year. If you use pallets that have the slats quite far apart it is always a good idea to fix some chicken wire around the squarfe that way it stops bits of peelings etc from falling out. Works great!!!

Edwink