Instead of... alternat uses for items

[SerenaNY]

I use the bounce dryer sheets after they come out of the dryer and put them on my swiffer mop to pick up the dust and dog hair.

So I am not buying swiffer sheets anymore ; )

Serena

[larabelle]

I really wanted a nice glass pitcher to place my orange juice. I buy the frozen orange juice and add water to it. Anyway nice heavy glass pitchers are pretty expensive. So as I was browsing my cheap thrift store I saw a nice heavy glass vase. It was probably used for funeral flowers but I could care less. It is was only $1.03 so I bought it and washed it and started using it for my orange juice. It is tall enough that I can make a full amount of orange juice with some room to spare at the top. I just cover it with a piece of aluminum foil which I reuse. I did not even think about it until my sister came to visit and commented that it was a really pretty vase.

[miss_thrifty]

for my swiffer i use old facecloths to scrub with and use hot water and vinegar in a spray bottle. the hotter the better for me. I wet swiff every second day except the kitchen that's every day. kids and spills. lol

[Monner 1]

When the cereal is finished I take the wax paper bag that it came in and use it when I freeze meat. I put the meat in there tape it shut and then put it in a ziploc bag and it stays much nicer and longer in the freezer.

Monner

[DAAC3DEC]

I save all bread ties, keep them in the junk drawer and use them for lunches on the fold over bags.

I save all old jars (pickles, mayo) and modge podge them with fabric and paper and give them for gifts filled with homemade salsa, or jelly, etc.

I save all my bread bags, I use them as "plarn" to make door rugs or other bags, they melt together like the other plastic bags and you can sew them too.

I save those lone socks that we all have lurking in the laudry rooms and use those for the swifter or dust the house.

I save old sweaters and make christmas stockings that I use for gift "wrapping".

I save old jeans and make body pillows that everyone loves.

[Trishagirl]

for my dryer sheets I reuse them to scrub down the shower and walls they are great at getting the rust and lime off and soapscum!

[spyzvixxen]

I use the dryer sheets for dusting - works great on the TVs! I also buy the "swiffer" wet wipes from the dollar store instead of the real thing. Sometimes I just use paper towel sprayed w/ some Windex.

[ravengirl]

after measuring how much fabric one will need and cutting accordingly, I don't "baste" sew them, but use the heavy duty safety pins to pin the edges together on the inside!!!! You can buy a pack of 120 of the large ones for one dollar at the dollar store!!! Much easier than sewing, more sturdy, and they won't come apart with two large labradors and three busy kids!! I usually safety pin the two edges, and the fold the last edge (edges tucked tightly inside), after turning the case inside out and inserting the pillow, with a tight base stitch. Works great and you wouldn't know the difference!!!

[dolphinlfier]

I use fabric sheets for dusting also!

[Katybird]

You can also use a damp dryer sheet to take the bugs off the front of your car. Just wipe them off with the damp dryer sheet and then rinse with water.

[Araceli]

1.- Instead of fresh milk, i use milk powder and water
2.- Tea bags can be reused up to 3 times without much loss in flavour. I leave the infusion for one minute the first time, three minutes the second time and five minutes the third time. It tastes just the same
3.- Instead of buying a mop, I shred old clothes i find in the trash cans out in the streets. You just need to make sure it's made of cotton
4.- Instead of buying new shoes, I have a pair of shoes I've been using for nearly six years now. I paint them different colours and repair them myself when needed.
5.- Instead of charging your laptop's battery at home, thus consuming electricity, I do it at work or anywhere I can do it for free, and use it at home for two hours. I do the same for my camera. If you have a cellphone, it's a good idea to do it somewhere else.
6.- Instead of paying a rent, we found four roomates. We divide the rent in six parts and pay the equivalent to 50 dollars a month.
7.- Instead of buying fresh fruit, we pick wild berries and mushrooms -you have to be careful with these-
8.-Instead of going to the gym, exercise at home. There are several daily use items you can use. I use food cans instead of weights, and use a chair and a wall for push ups/abs.

[Patty A]

I use the dollar store coffee filters like paper towels. Over food in the microwave, as a paper plate for a sandwich, great for cookies for the kids to lay them on, great for all kinds of snacks and great to wipe off things. I also use these to put in the bottom of a bowl to absorb grease on foods like bacon.
Cover the drain holes in a plant before adding the dirt. Lets the water out but doesn't let the dirt out.

I use old cloth diapers for my swiffer, spray bottle full of cleaner and it does a great job. You can wash them and use them over and over.

I make my own clorox clean up spray. Spray bottle from the dollar store, 2 to 3 teaspoons of clorox and fill the bottle with water.

I make my own diaper type wipes, and my grown daughters use them to remove makeup with. I use about 1 tablespoon to 1/4 cup baby shampoo (dollar store brand) or baby wash, 1 tablespoon to 1/4 cup baby oil, depends on skin type. 2 Cups of water. And old diaper wipe container or container that will seal and hold them, or a zip lock baggie. I buy Bounty paper towels (select a size) as they hold up great when wet. Cheap paper towels seem to fall apart to fast. These work great for a makeup remover, diaper wipe, or just a fast clean up in the car of dirt hands or face.

I make bubbles for the kids out of liquid soap and water. They know I always have bubbles. I just saved the old bubble containers and then refill them.

Easy splinter remover, spread elmers glue on it and let it dry. When you peel off the glue it will pull out the splinter.

Sprinkle baby powder in the sheets to give them a fresh scent at bedtime.

empty tp rollers to hold cords. These work great for all those cords around the computers. Keeps them from getting all tangled. I also use them on all extension cords to keep them from being a mess when I need one.

I use news papers to clean my mirrors and windows. No streaks!

I use bread bags to put over my shoes to keep from getting them muddy.
I also store home bakes goodies in them for the freezer.

I save old motor oil and pour it in a bucket of sand. Push the shovel in to this mix to keep it from rusting. I do this often to keep the mud off and it stops the rust.

I use an eye brow pencil to touch up marked up wood. Like the coffee table scratch, just paint it with an eye brow pencil and the scratch won't be seen. Wooden frames, work great too.

I can't think of anymore but I know I have some. Hope these help.

[Mavourneen]

I have a glass cooktop on my stove, and the special cleanser you have to use with it is expensive - $4 for a small bottle.

I thought about it the other day, and compared the ingredients in the "special" cleanser to that in a bottle of liquid Soft Scrub.

It's the same thing.

Soft Scrub can be had for about $2 on sale for a very large bottle. :-D

[Spikey1341]

Put dryer sheets in stinky tennis shoes over night and the offensive smell is gone. Cut dryer sheets in thirds and use one third per load. No static and clothes are as soft as if you used the whole sheet.

[Judi Dial]

I only buy unscented, cloth baby wipes (no baby). I use these in the car and then if they aren't too gross, they get put in the wash. They get used for all kinds of dusting, clean up, filtering liquids (paint, cleaning products, etc.) Whey they're dead or stained? I toss 'em with no guilt.

I've said this before, but I don't use dryer sheets. I use liquid starch on a wash cloth. Toss it in the dryer with the wet clothes, you get the same effect for pennies compared to the dryer sheets, and of course, you get a lovelly smelling, soft wash cloth too.

We reuse bread bag/produce plastic tabs to label frozen foods (cover the tab with masking tape, write what's in the bag, close the bag, add the tab with the label. (Don't use water soluable ink.)

Coffee grounds go into the vegetable garden beds spring-fall. Nut shells go into the woodstove in winter.

JD