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

debtmess

I am reusing the metal trays take-a-ways come in at school for our children's baking, they can happily share the cake we made and each take a portion home, it can be iced in the tray like a tray bake, all the need is a quick wash through a dishwasher.

News papers go on the bottom of the cat litter tray making it easier to clean out.

Small pots ie yoghurt pots are idea for paints/glue at school and the junk modelling.

The odd carrier bag gets taken to school for reuse or ideal for the bathroom bin, emptied out it the go's into the recycling bin.

motch

MadMom wrote: »

Surely it costs more in the long run? Twice a year? Seriously? I've had the same duvet for nearly 8 years now - perfect condition

I bet you're loft is not as well insulated though:)

jenblackrod

I use old 2litre drinks bottles to store inside my various pairs of boots. It keeps their shape really well in the wardrobe over summer for example.

Uniscots97

jenblackrod wrote: »

I use old 2litre drinks bottles to store inside my various pairs of boots. It keeps their shape really well in the wardrobe over summer for example.

For long narrow boots or kids boots you can use rolled up magazines (elastic band, string or a piece cut from old tights to secure the magazine and stop it unrolling).

Valli

A few weeks back I bought Kenco Millicano coffee (on offer;))
I was thrilled to discover that the plastic lid fits on any can - as I feed the Vallicats canned food I needed a plastic cover to pop over the tin.

If you haven't got pets (and you happen to have bought Millicano) a lid just *might* come in useful if you used, say, half-a-tin of baked beans!

I had two pet can food plastic covers but one went missing a few months back - was on the verge of buying more covers!

[Deleted User]

hummingbird wrote: »

I had a bunch of flowers that had lasted a good 2 weeks, and I was about to throw them out - then decided to shorten the stems, take off the wilting foliage etc, refresh the water and they looked lovely for another week!:j

If you have a soluble asprin in the house put it in with the flowers when you change the water it seems to 'perk' them up and they do last a bit longer or even some lemonade works quite well too

lemontart

tea bags defo 2 cuppas can get 5 cups total out of 2 bags on a good day. bread bags veg bags used for freezing and finally as poo bags for woofers so used 3 x. cardboard rolls from loo paper daughter uses for hamster to have then burnt for heat in garden thingy, all jiffy type bags reused for ebay etc.. gift bags and gift wrap reused, envelopes etc used as note paper, fan of freegle and freecyle. Duvets that are getting to end of life for dogs for a while before one decided to tear apart then it is sadly for the bin., though did manage to use the cushions he destroyed as stuffing for a another.

Now looking at using plastic bottles in a garden build project

madmary_2

I've just washed out a plastic 2 ltr milk carton. Not sure what I'm going to use if for but it just seemed a pity to throw it out. I don't have a garden so it can't be used for that sort of thing although I do have a few pots which I'm planning to grow herbs in on the patio.

So what do people use plastic milk carton with screw top lids for?

Mary

BAGGY

I use loo roll inners to start off my bean and tom plants. Poke them in a old mushroom box so they are a tight fit and fill with compost. When they are big enough you plant the whole tube (which will bio-degrade). Cut the base off a milk bottle and plant it as deep as poss next to the seedling witht he lid off. You can then water the roots by filling the milk bottle and less water is lost through evaporation.
I use the milk bottles as storage in the garage by cutting the top off (but leaving the handle in tact) for nails etc. They also make a good scoop for compost if you cut them the other way and use the screw cap end.

Valli

madmary wrote: »

I've just washed out a plastic 2 ltr milk carton. Not sure what I'm going to use if for but it just seemed a pity to throw it out. I don't have a garden so it can't be used for that sort of thing although I do have a few pots which I'm planning to grow herbs in on the patio.

So what do people use plastic milk carton with screw top lids for?

Mary

There are online tutorials where people cut them down to make scoops - might be worth a google?