One of the greenest things you can do is purchase long-lasting products and then find ways to re-purpose them once they’ve served their usefulness. After re-purposing, there’s recycling. However, if you’re creative, you can first find new uses for almost anything before recycling. Here are some ideas…
Re-purpose that old spice rack: You know those sit-on-the-counter spinning spice racks? Most folks don’t want those anymore because they take up valuable kitchen real estate. I know that many folks have switched to in-cupboard or wall mounted spice storage which means there’s a ton of these spinning spice racks hanging around. You can re-purpose yours to hold beads, sewing odds and ends, stickers for the kiddos, rock collections, little kid hair supplies (barrettes, rubber bands), and more.
Re-purpose bubble wrap: Obviously, you can reuse bubble wrap to send new packages, but you can also use it in your fridge veggie and fruit drawers as a liner to prevent tossed in produce from becoming bruised.
Re-purpose a tablecloth: Vinyl or oilcloth tablecloths aren’t so eco-friendly, but if you’ve moved to cloth tablecloths, how do you re-purpose your old ones? By making a lunch bag of course. Or make three or four for the whole family – also makes a great gift.
Re-purpose a leaky old garden hose: Into a much better, more eco-friendly, soaker hose.
Re-purpose old bedsheets: I like the idea of making a body pillow, because they’re cozy, but you can also use them to save energy in the summer if you live in a humid area. Take your old sheet, dip the whole thing in water, wring out so it’s not drippy, and hang across your window in the early morning. The air coming through the cool, damp sheet will take the sting out of summer heat and maybe allow you to turn down the AC. See 20 more ways to use old bedsheets.
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[image via Sprig]
Re-purpose coffee cans: Use old larger cans to make amazingly lovely planters. See how! See even more Recycled Garden Containers at Mother Earth’s Garden.Re-purpose that old spice rack: You know those sit-on-the-counter spinning spice racks? Most folks don’t want those anymore because they take up valuable kitchen real estate. I know that many folks have switched to in-cupboard or wall mounted spice storage which means there’s a ton of these spinning spice racks hanging around. You can re-purpose yours to hold beads, sewing odds and ends, stickers for the kiddos, rock collections, little kid hair supplies (barrettes, rubber bands), and more.
Re-purpose bubble wrap: Obviously, you can reuse bubble wrap to send new packages, but you can also use it in your fridge veggie and fruit drawers as a liner to prevent tossed in produce from becoming bruised.
Re-purpose a tablecloth: Vinyl or oilcloth tablecloths aren’t so eco-friendly, but if you’ve moved to cloth tablecloths, how do you re-purpose your old ones? By making a lunch bag of course. Or make three or four for the whole family – also makes a great gift.
Re-purpose a leaky old garden hose: Into a much better, more eco-friendly, soaker hose.
Re-purpose old bedsheets: I like the idea of making a body pillow, because they’re cozy, but you can also use them to save energy in the summer if you live in a humid area. Take your old sheet, dip the whole thing in water, wring out so it’s not drippy, and hang across your window in the early morning. The air coming through the cool, damp sheet will take the sting out of summer heat and maybe allow you to turn down the AC. See 20 more ways to use old bedsheets.
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11 comments:
we use old blankets for our dog's bed area, he loves it.
Love the vinyl tablecoths ideas!
Those are some awesome tips! Unfortunately I don't have any of those things except bubble wrap - I don't drink coffee, no spice rack or tablecloth, and my garden hose and bedsheets are fairly new. That's the advantage (or is it a disadvantage?) of giving up everything in a divorce.
Hi Andrea!
First of all, thanks for the link! No coffee?? Actually I did not drink coffee until I was 50ish, before then it was Pepsi in the morning. New stuff.. is an advantage when starting out fresh.
Oh.... our dog likes the couch. :)
I'm a morning Pepsi kind of person too! Well, only if I don't have any sweet tea in the house, which is rare.
Great tips. But I am a shooper and I would rather spend money on something new that re-use it. But I might consider changing that habit!
Somethings can be easily re-used..... But I must confess... I a am shopper too.
We usually just take our used items to goodwill, great tips though Lisa!
Thanks Paul. Sometimes I get overwhelmed and do the same thing. Better than throwing it away.
Those coffee can planters look neat. I love repurposing old and trash-bound items for reuse. Great tips. I'm off to poke holes in my jacked up hose.
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