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

GreyQueen

I;ve even come across US preppers who use old freezers as deep larders hidden in outbuildings/ woodpiles etc. It was recommended to remove the electrical cable and fit a metal plate over the gap, tho.


I have purchased a modern steel breadbin made along the lines of the trad enamel ones (£1 chazzer, it had a couple of dents in it) and it is now on the allotment where it will be used to keep a few items of snack food, tin cup, etc. Don't fancy having mice chewing on/ spiders crawling over such things.


I dismantled two broken wooden Venetian blinds at the weekend to get the slats, the uprights, the metal bits they hang from and even the turned wood 'pulls'. Up at the allotments, some of which will be incorporated into the divan bedframe plant nursery, some for other purposes (row markers for one). When they have rotted beyond redemption, they will be burned.

culpepper

When our old plastic walk in greenhouses finally got too bad to repair I took them apart and used the frame to make staging in the new one. The roof parts of the old ghouses are ideal for making strawberry net supports as you can just poke a stick in each corner of the bed and then a bit of roof pole which fits on two sticks.Another the other end and a bit of garden net over the top.

In the camping car I added cargo netting which I made from a motorbike inner tube OH gave me (it was torn). Cut into loops and then linked together, it makes very sturdy net. Instructables shows how to do it.We have them fixed on the boxes at the back that make up the kitchen/sleep area and they hold drink bottles/torches and shoes.

bsuije

IKEA have a few upcycle ideas on their website, with my favourite being a picnic blanked made out of their large blue carrier bags, some tea towels and an old duvet / blanket: https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/ideas/lagom-idea-upcycle-bags-to-a-picnic-blanket-pub899364c1

My local store even had workshops where you could go and make one of these over the course of a weekend, but all spaces were booked up before I spotted it on the website...

Speaking of IKEA bags - I use one as a washing basket to carry wet items across the room to the clothes drier. It's a different colour (one of their special editions), so that I don't get it confused with the usual blue bags which I use to carry other things. And it folds down to almost nothing, which is perfect as I don't have that much storage space in the flat.

calleyw

Need some help to re-purpose something. I recently started buying vinegar in 5L plastic bottles for cleaning etc.


I now have a empty bottle and don't really want to chuck in recycling. And wondering what to use it for?


Thanks in advance.


Yours


Calley x

Working_Mum

I have a large plastic bottle which i keep by my sink to catch the hot water in - the satrt of the tap run before the water warms up - I use it to water my plants outside!

I decant bird nuts into a large plastic bottle too which helps me when filling up the bird feeders in my garden.

calleyw

Working_Mum wrote: »

I have a large plastic bottle which i keep by my sink to catch the hot water in - the satrt of the tap run before the water warms up - I use it to water my plants outside!
.

I have brightly coloured plastic jugs by the sink for that. I use the water to flush the loos.


Yours


Calley x

ouraggie

So many repurposers about! Gladdens my heart.
Love the jeans leg idea for storing wrapping paper rolls. I am going to make one very soon.
Remembered a few more repurposed things yesterday:
my aunty's old wicker "walking stick" style shopping trolley is now our laundry basket
I reuse the long thin transparent plastic trays that our Co-op packs tomatoes in. They are exactly the same size as the 4 little compartments in our fridge door. Saves me a bit of cleaning.
I use ancient tea towels to line the salad drawer in the fridge.
Once used a worn-out pair of leather walking boots as a patio planter. Looked excellent with red and pink geraniums in.
In our holiday cottage I leave food basics there even though we aren't down there most of the time. I store smaller amounts of things like gravy powder, cornflour, custard powder etc in empty jam or chutney jars and whole packets of oft-used stuff like pasta and rice in big, old black-olive jars. Over the years I have managed to get them all so that they have a plain black lid. This makes my jar collection look quite stylish and visitors often remark on it. I am ashamed to admit that I paid 9p more for a particular brand of olives that had a plain black lid until I had the 8 jars I needed!

Still struggling with the perfect solution to my growing collection of plastic pink Garnier pots. Thanks for all suggestions so far.

Keep those ideas coming, folks!

PipneyJane

calleyw wrote: »

Need some help to re-purpose something. I recently started buying vinegar in 5L plastic bottles for cleaning etc.


I now have a empty bottle and don't really want to chuck in recycling. And wondering what to use it for?


Thanks in advance.


Yours


Calley x

I have multiple thoughts:-

1. Do you garden? Cut the bottom off and used a bottle as a cloche for a tender plant.
2. Use as storage for washing powder or washing soda. Some people on here make their own “washing gloop”, again this is is the perfect container to store that. (Fill with a funnel.).
3. Store in the garden shed and use to mix weed killer. (Draw a skull & crossbones on it with a permanent marker, first.)

HTH

- Pip

PasturesNew

bsuije wrote: »

... And it folds down to almost nothing, which is perfect as I don't have that much storage space in the flat.

I hate pointing out the obvious, but it's only in use when the washing machine's being used... so you could toss it into the machine when you've finished (folded or not).

bsuije

@PasturesNew

Hadn’t crossed my mind, to be honest!

I’m not too sure about leaving anything in the machine, though. I wipe it down after use and leave the door and detergent drawer open for a day or so, but my machine still smells of damp when I open it next time...