"Repurposing" things - what have YOU done? Or what do you have that needs a purpose?

AndyCF

I was thinking earlier, those 'almost crisps in a tube' , I won't mention the main brand name but there are those and at least one major makers alternative as well as the imported ones*** and supermarkets own versions. These tubes if cleaned and kept dry could be very useful for storage of various items perhaps, not necessarily kitchen related but anything really.

I mention this as it also occurred to me there's the larger 10 inch-ish length tube as well as the mini 3/4 inch one too, the smaller perhaps more suitable without its lid for 'random oddments'

As long as they stay dry internally they should be quite reasonable for something, and free if you've already brought a tube!


*** Four letters with a capital "S" or "L" , only mention this as if you have any Eastern European shops locally occasionally they may stock these and they (being imported) come in some interesting choices of flavours sometimes, not always available in the UK or in some cases not in the EU! Certainly one shop around here has them as well as a huge variety of 'imported' crisps, shame I cannot read them to see what they are though!

GreenQueen

That's just reminded me - years ago DH was given a bottle of whisky in a really nice circular tin. We have been using the tin as a biscuit tin since then (probably getting on for 20 years) . It fits packets of digestives/rich tea/hob nobs perfectly. The whisky is long gone:rotfl:

Miró

Over the last year or so I've had quite a few of those Jo Malone lookee likee candles from Aldi in the nice jars with silver lids. With labels removed and after a good wash I use them as storage jars on a shelf in the bathroom with cotton wool balls, cotton buds, mini soaps liberated from hotels etc, (all white contents!). Look very smart and I would hate to just throw the jars away as they are really good quality!

D&DD

I need to read through this entire thread!! My lot are all now grown but in the ensuing chaotic years between childhood and now the house has changed very little..Partly due to my son's need for routines and familiar *stuff* due to his Autism and then due to me being crocked sooo now we are finally embarking on the total redo from top to bottom including *crosses herself* the loft..
I admit I'm a hoarder..I'm also a prepper so have much more 'stuff' than your average Joe of which most is perfectly usable or needed..honestly..but I have a cunning plan as Baldrick would say to now reuse as much stuff as I can in the refurbishment.

Blue_Doggy

Since Senior Dog (canine:D) has had several teeth extracted, he has become rather drooly. Instead of using kitchen paper to wipe his chops several times a day, I dug out a pile of cotton table napkins which were my Mum’s.

They date back to the mid-1950s, so are beautifully soft and wash up very well. Their matching tablecloths have long gone to the Great Rag-Bag in the sky ...

Hoarding has its benefits.

Savvy_Sue

Blue_Doggy wrote: »

Since Senior Dog (canine:D) has had several teeth extracted, he has become rather drooly. Instead of using kitchen paper to wipe his chops several times a day, I dug out a pile of cotton table napkins which were my Mum’s.

They date back to the mid-1950s, so are beautifully soft and wash up very well. Their matching tablecloths have long gone to the Great Rag-Bag in the sky ...

Hoarding has its benefits.

Ooooh, I don't recall terry nappies being mentioned so far (of course I might have just missed it!)

In the days before washable nappies started coming in all shapes, sizes and colours, was the square Terry Nappy and the square Muslin Nappy. The muslins were only ever used as 'dribble nappies' because DS1 was just about the best up-chucker of his feeds EVER, but boy were they used ... and I still have them!

D&DD

So true Blue Doggy! My DS1 has just been furnished with almost an entire home due to mum's use one store one mentality..


Currently repurposing single bed sheets as the 'boys' are now in double beds so reusing the decent ones as backing/strips/pieces on lap quilts for the sofa

thriftwizard

Shudder if you wish, but I'm re-using old, well-boiled muslin nappies as straining cloths in the kitchen. I think I'd rather bet on no germs having survived repeated 100-degree temperatures & 30-odd years than on using a plastic sieve. I've cut a few into quarters, which is a convenient size for lining sieves, but also left a few intact; that way I can tie the corners into knots & hang them from the pan-rack to drain the juice off crab apples or plums or whatever I'm turning into jelly or fermenting.

AndyCF

Those harder plastic type 'instant cup of noodles in a pot' as well as making small decent plant pots for growing cuttings/seedlings , I've used them in the past as marker pen holders too. Slightly daft perhaps but it saved it going into the recycling bin, and when you've done with it, it can go in there anyway so it gets a 'third life'

Siebrie

thriftwizard wrote: »

This is part of a challenge I've set myself: has anyone got any ideas for re-purposing cut-off shirt collars? So far I've managed to make a sleeve for my poundland specs, but I'm really struggling to make anything else useful from them, though they do lend themselves to various decorative things like little mobiles, mini-bunting etc. because they're stiffened. I suppose with a bit of nifty stitching I could make some bookmarks from them? What else?

Could you turn them into a clothes peg apron? It is similar to a French waitress' apron, so very shallow, your fingers should easily reach the bottom of the apron. It is basically a small, but wide bag, attached in the top middle for strength, with two long strings to go around the waist.