reuse items don't throw them away

**julsandtrish** · 10-19-2001, 08:26 AM

Some ideas of things to save and reuse are:

Plastic grocery bags make excellent small trash can bags and are great to take with you for cloth diaper and/or accidents for babies and toddlers.

Paper grocery bags are a cheap way to cover school books, and are wonderful to mail books in that are sold on Ebay.

Ziplock bags can be washed and reused over and over again.

Toilet paper rollers make great craft items.

Good heavy foil can be washed and reused time and time again.

Worn clothes can be used as rags or saved for quilt squares.

Newspaper is great for cleaning windows and mirrors. You can also use newspaper if you have indoor pets.

Leftovers! Stop throwing them out. If you don't want them the next meal, freeze what is left after a meal. Use on those days you don't feel like cooking, or make a soup or stew.

Boxes make great storage containers, mailers, and play towns for the children.

Plastic milk jugs can be used to store water in for sudden power outages, water for plants, etc.

Small plastic water or soda bottles are great for freezing water in and taking with you on a shopping trip. This saves a lot of drink purchases while you are out.

Mouses pads can be cut into sections to make coasters.

**ziggee** · 05-19-2008, 07:50 AM

socks with holes in them can be cut into loops and made into potholders.

Zig

**ziggee** · 05-19-2008, 07:51 AM

plastic grocery bags can also be cut into crosswise and use as yarn to and make crochet handbags, totes and other useful items.

Zig

**kestrel91316** · 05-27-2008, 04:20 PM

When I scoop my cat's litter box at home every day, I put the scoopings into either a plastic grocery bag, or more often, some other sort of plastic bag that I have acquired when buying a food item or whatever........most recently I used a plastic bag that had held bird seed for my finch feeder.

When I close up the bag or twist the top, I can then put it into the kitchen wastecan and have NO odor problems. I have already acquired the darned plastic packaging - may as well put it to good use rather than just throwing it away.

**kestrel91316** · 05-27-2008, 04:40 PM

When I scoop my cat's litter box at home every day, I put the scoopings into either a plastic grocery bag, or more often, some other sort of plastic bag that I have acquired when buying a food item or whatever........most recently I used a plastic bag that had held bird seed for my finch feeder.

When I close up the bag or twist the top, I can then put it into the kitchen wastecan and have NO odor problems. I have already acquired the darned plastic packaging - may as well put it to good use rather than just throwing it away.

**zakity** · 05-27-2008, 05:35 PM

We use whatever plastic bags we have acquired also. I figure that I am going to throw it out, I might as well use it before I do.

**hippytreehugger4ever** · 05-27-2008, 08:42 PM

I use yogurt cups with the lids as freezer containers.

**jolenegreen2** · 07-07-2008, 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by hippytreehugger4ever

I use yogurt cups with the lids as freezer containers.

My grandma babysits and she uses her yogurt cups as drinking cups for the kids. This is a great Idea, I didnt know it and I am going to do it with mine. It is the perfect size and when they get beat up, just toss them out and get new ones!

**freyadog** · 07-07-2008, 01:28 PM

I take peroxide and alcohol bottles and cut the tops off that I use for funnels. they lay right down on top of the bottle that you are trying to pour something into. the bottoms are saved to transplant sprouted veggie plants into among other uses.

you can cut flip flops out of mousepads.

**DonnainME** · 07-07-2008, 10:05 PM

Great ideas. I never thought about using alcohol bottles for funnels.

**itsahumanzoo** · 07-07-2008, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by freyadog

you can cut flip flops out of mousepads.

Ok, I want to see how this is done!

**Edna_E** · 07-10-2008, 10:22 PM

I use the cardboard egg crates to start plants in.

I re-use all plastic containers with tops that can be put back on for leftovers and to contain small items.

I re-use shopping bags for cat litter, but have stopped getting them and am using cloth ones for shopping. It's ok - I still have quite a collection of them.

I re-use glass jars, but also have a friend who is developing a project to use recycled glass, so any broken glass goes her direction.

I use old socks as potholders, and in the car for when the steering wheel and/or gear shift are hot.

**missyali** · 07-11-2008, 08:38 AM

We are using the used yogurt cups for crafts right now. In February they will become seed starters for the garden. I also save meat trays for crafting for kids. Nylons with holes are used for tying up the plants in the garden.

**cmitch1961** · 07-12-2008, 05:43 PM

I reuse dryer lint that is stuffed into a empty paper towel or TP role and pour hot candle wax inside(from a candle that is down to the end) and I use them for camping firestaters.