Get wise about waste

photo by tgbdad
My favorite tips from readers are practical ways they reuse and repurpose items in their homes. From linens to kitchen gadgets, these creative people are reducing waste. I love the manicure-kit tip and think it would make a great gift. I remember when I thought I was an oddball for finding a second use for everyday items. It’s inspiring to know there are so many kindred spirits who are consuming and throwing away less.

TEXTILES: I take old sheets and turn them into pillowcases, old tablecloths become napkins, and clothes are reused to make quilts or rugs, or I refashion them into “new” clothes.

BOXES: I reuse cardboard milk cartons as candle molds and reuse cardboard boxes as storage, and I cover them with $1/roll wallpaper, so they’re decorative.

With square facial-tissue boxes, you can carefully open the bottom and put a roll of bathroom tissue in them, with the tail sticking out, and use it as facial tissue for a fraction of the cost. We use them to store plastic bread bags, and produce bags for freezing food and for homemade goodies, too. I’ve cut them so they are drawer height, and they make great drawer dividers. Cut the tops off, and the boxes are the right size to store pens and pencils. — Jean, Canada

I use tissue boxes, wrappers and paper products as embellishments in my scrapbooking and card making. I made a sticker book for my daughter out of cardboard scrap, stock paper and wax paper so the stickers can be removed and reapplied. — Patty, New York

PLASTIC: I reuse plastic cat-litter containers. I punch holes into the cover to use as a watering can for the garden. The water doesn’t splash out when I walk. They make great storage containers, too, because they stack nicely.
Note from Sara: I loved the Tidy Cat mailbox in the photo, so had to share it.

You can reuse empty dish-detergent bottles and put other liquids into them, such as vegetable oil or homemade salad dressings, or let the kids take them into the bathtub to play with.

I use an old CD case to scrape my car windows off in the winter. — homemaker66, e-mail

I use empty baby-wipe containers to store hair accessories and as a manicure kit that includes polish, clippers, cotton balls, nail-polish remover and files. When I want to do my nails, all I have to do is grab the kit. — Kim, Michigan

I had a plastic-coated wire picnic organizer, the type that held the forks, spoons, napkins, etc. I flipped it on its side, removed the bar on the napkin holder, and now it is an organizer in my fridge. — chewawalove, Alabama

WOOD: I got two louvered folding closet doors that my neighbor was tossing and have one standing as a divider in my kitchen. It shields the computer from view, and, on the other side, I hang all my muffin tins, ladles, etc., with S-hooks. I also have two solid folding doors painted white that I use in the craft room as divider screens and surfaces to tack up pictures.

I found a great old wood case that holds 12 glass soda bottles. I flipped it on its side, and it now holds 12 pint canning jars perfectly as a spice cabinet. I hung an old wooden towel drying rack, and it holds herbs that are drying.

KITCHENWARE: I bought an electric coffee grinder for $1, and it chops nuts and herbs. An egg whisk not only whisks eggs but makes a mean cup of latte! Pour hot coffee and warm milk into your mug, add a bit of sweetener, and twirl the whisk rapidly between your palms until it froths up. — Diana, Wisconsin

I use a cracked bowl as a planter pot or to hold potpourri. — cspp04, e-mail

Posted by Sara Noel on September 21 2008. Filed under Frugal Tips.
Sara Noel owns Frugal Village, LLC and is a nationally syndicated columnist with Universal Uclick. Bio, Follow me on Twitter, Join us on Facebook