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

Mee

ToastLady said:

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).

Agree on the bi-carb. Another option is leaving unused old teabags in them overnight.

Savvy_Sue

ToastLady said:

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).

Done. Is fine, until he wears them again ...

Savvy_Sue

Mee said:

ToastLady said:

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).

Agree on the bi-carb. Another option is leaving unused old teabags in them overnight.

Must admit I hadn't tried teabags.

I feel, however, that they've had their chance, and they really need an outdoor life.

Savvy_Sue

I do however have another 'what can I do with these?' question.

We've had two weeks' worth of HelloFresh meals - not sure I can cope with any more, so no need to tell me how extravagant that is.

The boxes have gone to work because we're moving one team into a new office soon.

I'm left with two insulated 'bags' - they're made of recycled plastic shreddings inside a plastic bag, and they're the shape / size of a small bucket / waste paper basket. I THINK the shreddings will stay together if I take them out of the bag, but I don't want to risk using them as fleece in the garden in case birds try to eat them, but I was wondering if I could sit some of my plant 'buckets' in them if I felt the plants needed a bit more warmth? eg I've got three pepper plants which germinated very well indoors from a M&S free seeds thing, but have done nothing since I moved them outdoors.

I've also now got 5 large freezer blocks - just plastic bags with water inside - and no room in the freezer for them. One of them just leaked away , but the others seem fine. Keep, or throw? Or other thoughts?

Savvy_Sue

And to add to the 'what have I repurposed' bit of the thread: this year I have planted vegetables, and a few of them have even grown! I have used those small plastic bottles you get yog type drinks in as plant markers: writing on the side what it is and when it was planted. I either punch a hole in the bottom and spear it on a small cane, or cut half an inch up the sides and wedge it over the side of the pot if not in the ground. The marker pen fades but I can always write again ... 

AND I've planted some things in toilet roll innards to make planting out easier. 

AND I've bought a couple of fat-filled half coconut shells for the birds. I've put the empty one for DH to shatter it into bits to make stuff to cover the drainage holes in flower pots. ATM we've retrieved peach stones from the compost for this purpose (yes there are plenty of stones in the garden but these never seem to rot down!)

MrsStepford

Towel storage tower became a bookcase in the bedroom. Garden mirror got reused there too. Glass cheese plate was reused to stand scent on. A narrow bathroom cabinet was used in kitchen for herbs and spices, next to cooker. Tree which keeled over in Storm Ciara is now logs for firewood. Old Lloyd Loom laundry bin from my mother as painted and top re-covered using old checked tablecloth. Wooden teabag box with glass lid now used to store bits of costume jewellery. Curtain tieback hooks used as coat hooks (large, cast iron).