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

Pyxis

bloomfelt said:

Just wondering if anybody has found a use for hard coffee jar lids. I normally try and buy the refill pouches but had to get a jar under current circumstances and the lid isn't recyclable so was wondering if it could be used for anything

A spoon rest, while cooking?

Greenqueen_2

I use one as a dish under my bottle of oil to save the cupboard getting tacky.

Savvy_Sue

This has probably been suggested already, but in case not. I'm planting veg this year, and fortunately have a few bamboo canes which I will use to mark which bit of the veg patch is which. We have a yoghourt drink each morning and I'm using the small bottles as plant labels / end of stick protectors. I may have to work out a way to tie them on (very windy today!) but have a plan involving holes in the neck of the bottle and string ... 

Oh, and I also cut up some plastic yogurt pots for the same purpose, to stick in the ground. 

Miró

Greenqueen_2 said:

I use one as a dish under my bottle of oil to save the cupboard getting tacky.

I stand my salt & pepper grinders in them when they are 'parked' in the cupboard - saves the stray grindings making a mess.

Dottles1

or just re-use the whole jar things.  I've used them for h/m soup in the fridge, left over h/m tomato sauce, dried food like lentils or couscous as bags always split. or even nails or screws etc.  I've passed a few on to my daughter in law to use in her cupboards

bloomfelt

Thanks for the ideas everyone I will reuse this jar for rice but some great ideas if i can only get jars for a while 

-taff

I use the big coffee jars [ very rarely buy one though and only when they're on offer] for what my sister calls an artery jar. Any leftover fat that can't be used elsewhere goes in them, so anything from cooking lamb, mince etc. I save other types of fat for roast potatoes, like bacon or beef.

Savvy_Sue

I did have a brief (very brief) attempt at finding the post where I described using a pink paper gift bag to keep my pills together. I may have wondered how much longer it would last: it was given to me before brain surgery in July 2005, so I guess I can't grumble at almost 15 years ... However, it has now disintegrated beyond repair, so I have taken an empty box which used to have 40 breakfast bars in it. Its base is almost exactly the same size as the bag, so I've cut the top off, punched holes in and threaded the old handles through. Actually it's only ONE of the old handles, the other had to be replaced some time ago, but you get the drift. 

Also I used to have a plant support but the bottom sections broke. I hadn't got round to disposing of the top part, and glad I didn't as it is now making an excellent support for my pea plant. 

Savvy_Sue

Suggestions needed: DH has a pair of slippers which I have had to banish to the porch, because they smell dreadful if he wears them. His other slippers, very similar make (moccasin with cotton lining) are fine, although they're wearing out, but these have me gagging within a few minutes. 

Any suggestions? If they were wellies I'd turn them into planters ... 

ToastLady

Savvy_Sue said:

Suggestions needed: DH has a pair of slippers which I have had to banish to the porch, because they smell dreadful if he wears them. His other slippers, very similar make (moccasin with cotton lining) are fine, although they're wearing out, but these have me gagging within a few minutes. 

Any suggestions? If they were wellies I'd turn them into planters ... 

What about sprinkling with a good dose of bi-carb and leaving them for a good while, overnight? 
Good spray of Febreze, or a home made version? (Fabric conditioner mixed with water in a spray bottle).