Every time I throw away a container I’ve used into the garbage, I always have the feeling that I’m throwing something away that could be reused. Most of the time, however, I can’t find a good scenario to reuse the container, so I unfortunately still end up throwing a lot of them away. Until now.
In the following slides, you’ll find ingenious ways of how you can reuse common items you find around the house. Instead of tossing them into the recycling bin next time, try out any of these tips.
So take a look at the following slides and identify which of these items you throw away on a regular basis. You’ll never guess how you can transform an otherwise disposable item into something incredibly practical.
1.) Folgers coffee bins
The next time you’re thinking about throwing away coffee containers, try transforming them into storage containers for the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room. They’re perfect for holding flour or sugar in the kitchen, and detergent and dryer sheets in the laundry room! Just decoupage some pretty paper on the outside.
Most people would never think of holding onto an empty cereal lining bag, but they’re actually super useful! Rinse it out then transform it into a piping bag for frosting. Just snip off the corner of the bag and pipe away!
There are quite a few uses for the mesh bags that veggies or citrus come in. For instance, turn it into a scrubber by simply wadding it in a ball. Perfect for cleaning pots, pans, and countertops that have stuck-on food.
Most people have probably never thought twice about keeping the paper wrapper from their butter, but you should! Save the butter wrappers to use as burger patty separators. The buttery residue will prevent the paper from sticking to the ground meat.
You obviously know how useful jars can be after they’ve served their initial purpose. One of the great, many uses for a mason jar is to rinse it out and use it as a flower vase.
Just because your disposable razor has gotten dull, doesn’t mean it belongs in the garbage quite yet. You can still use it to remove the pills off sweaters, hats, scarves, and more.
Egg cartons are absolutely perfect for organizing just about anything. Use one to organize jewelry, beads, nails and screws, office supplies, or any other small, loose item that you want to keep track of.
Did you grab the last tissue out of the tissue box? Don’t toss that box in the recycling bin quite yet. You can transform it into a plastic bag dispenser under your sink. Simply stuff it full of plastic grocery bags and pull out when needed.
Old newspaper comes in handy for lots of things. One of the endless things it can be used for is shoe deodorizer. Ball up a page of newspaper and stuff it into smelly sneakers, it will absorb the nasty odors.
Once you’ve used the last drop of your dish soap, thoroughly rinse it out until all the soap is gone and fill it with pancake batter. Now you have a mess-free pancake batter dispenser!
Extra or broken floor tiles make for great art projects. Create a beautiful mosaic piece of art with different colors and patterns of tiles. Decorate an outdoor wall or re-purpose an old nightstand with a new mosaic top.
Has your favorite pair of socks gotten a hole in them? You can still use them! Keep them handy for covering your shoes when you’re doing something messy–like a painting or pottery project.
A favorite t-shirt from decades ago can be pretty sentimental and letting go of it can be hard. Instead of trashing it, why not give it new life by sewing it into a pillow?
After using the last piece of paper towel, hang on to the cardboard roll and use it to keep cords organized and untangled. Just wrap up the cord and place into the cardboard roll. You can even use a marker to label what it’s for.
If you’ve found yourself with dozens of unused grocery bags, put them to use instead of putting them in the landfill. Ball up the bags and use them as protective packing material. Way less messy than using packing peanuts.
Shoe boxes once stored your shoes, so why can’t they store something else? Cover the box in pretty tissue or craft paper and use it to keep toiletries, craft items, or whatever else. Be sure to label the outside to easily identify what’s inside.
Why the heck would you hold onto an old, ugly shower curtain? Because they come in handy, that’s why! You can use an old shower curtain as an outdoor tablecloth when you’re having a family picnic.
Don’t just toss all of those wine corks you’ve gathered in the garbage. You can do so many things with them! For starters, create a floating keychain in case you accidentally jump into a pool or water with your keys in your pocket.
If you (or your kids, or your pet) break the glass out of a picture frame doesn’t mean it’s out of commission. Use it to make a beautiful earring display piece. All you’ll need to do is string and secure some wire across it, then hang the earrings on the wire.
Instead of packing up that old entertainment center to send off to the dump or secondhand store, transform it into a play kitchen for any little ones you might have in your life. All you’ll need is a little paint and imagination!
If you have an old basket that isn’t quite what it used to be, why not upcycle it to store recyclables? Instead of having that brightly colored recycling bin in your home or garage, use the basket!
Did the straps break on your favorite pair of flip flops? That’s okay! No need to rush out to buy new ones, just find some cute fabric and thread it through the holes. Now, you basically have a new pair of sandals.
“You can create a really handy cell phone charging station that keeps your cords from being out in the open. With just a bit of fabric, some cutting and a little time, you can make this really handy cell phone charging station that holds your phone and the cord right up next to the plug-in so you save space and your cord is not lying on the floor,” says DIY n Crafts. Here’s the tutorial on how to make it.
Even if a wire basket is nearly worn out and has seen better days, it can still be useful! Upcycle your old wire basket into a cool, funky, industrial light fixture.
Did you accidentally drop a terra cotta pot? Don’t beat yourself up over it, you can still use it in your garden. Use a permanent marker to write on bits of the broken pot and use as garden markers for your plants and veggies.
Do you have an old, dated dresser that doesn’t quite fit in with the rest of your furniture or decor? Use some elbow grease and a bit of creativity to transform it into a super cute bench. Here’s the tutorial on how to do it.
If you happen to have a mishap in the kitchen and accidentally drop that piece of beautiful china, your heart and the plate might be broken, but you can still hang on to it! Just glue it back together and use as art in the kitchen.
If the metal pieces of your umbrella broke, it’s not unusable. Just turn it into something else–like a reusable grocery bag. Head over to Untrendy Life for the full tutorial on how to make it yourself.
That boring, dated dining room table you have doesn’t have to go to the secondhand store quite yet. Turn it into a desk or vanity by cutting it in half, giving it a fresh paint job, and securing to a wall. So cute!
Bottle caps are often tossed in the garbage without much thought at all, but someone came up with the genius idea to turn them into mini candles. They’re perfect when you need a large amount of candles for a wedding or other event. Just clean them up, add a wick, then melt some crayon wax.
Kids tend to break crayons or wear them down until they’re basically nothing. Create new crayons out of those bits and pieces by putting them in a muffin tin, tossing them in the oven, and letting them cool.
Here’s another creative use for a broken plate. If the plate happened to break in half evenly, or leaving a large chunk of plate intact, use it as garden edging for your shrubs and trees.
Repurpose old or broken jewelry into magnets. Just head to the craft store and pick up some basic round magnets for a very inexpensive price. Then, simply use a hot glue gun to adhere the piece of old jewelry.
A pretty brooch or bracelet that’s been broken or tarnished doesn’t have to become a hand-me-down or trash. Instead, upgrade your cabinets by using them as drawer or cabinet pulls.
A broken or scratched CD or DVD seems pretty useless, right? Wrong! Turn them into an art project by gluing bits and pieces of it onto a plain Christmas ornament. Now, it’s a beautiful, shiny ornament for your tree.
Use one half of a broken globe as a display bowl for potpourri or other pieces of decor. “You will need a round wooden plaque to glue to the bottom of the globe in order to keep it level when it’s full but you can pick these up at your local craft store for very little,” says DIY n Crafts.
After a lot of use and wear and tear, chairs break. But it doesn’t mean that they’re done serving a purpose. Use the tops of the chairs to upcycle into cool, funky hangers. Here’s the tutorial.
If it’s just the legs that broke off of your chair, why not turn it into an adorable backyard swing? Paint them, drill some holes, and use some hardware and you’re all set! Head to This DIY Life for step-by-step instructions.
If you have a bicycle wheel that’s gotten a bit wonky and out-of-shape, it’s not garbage quite yet. Use some hardware to attach it to your ceiling and use it as a pot and pan hanger.
Over time, it’s inevitable–your washing machine is going to break. But once it’s done for, take out the drum and turn it into a cool fire pit for your backyard. Feel free to paint it, but make sure you use a high-heat paint otherwise it will melt off.
If you have a broken ladder, you certainly don’t want to use it anymore. And although it’s not safe to climb on anymore, you can still use it! Lean and secure it against a wall and use it as an industrial-style shelf.
“By adding legs to the suitcase, you can create a great table that is perfect for the living room or the foot of the bed. You can store things inside the suitcase so it’s great for keeping the room organized and it’s got a really neat vintage look to it which is perfect for those who love that type of décor,” says DIY n Crafts.
If you have a piano that no longer works, it might not make music, but it can certainly still serve a purpose. Hollow it out, and some pegboard, and turn it into a functional work space.
Another way to repurpose an old suitcase is to remove half of it and transform it into a cute pet bed. Just line the suitcase with a bright or patterned fabric with some cushioning and you’re good to go. Your pet will love it!
Bent or tarnished silverware doesn’t need to go in the trash quite yet. Instead, use some permanent marker to write the names of your veggies or flowers and use them as garden markers.
Did your old computer monitor finally take a digger? Hang on to it and transform it into a unique fish bowl or aquarium. Of course, you’ll need to hollow it out and remove all of the hardware. Instructables has the instructions.
If you’ve recently had to replace your refrigerator because it stopped working, you can still use your old fridge for some good. Lay it on it’s side, cover with some wood paneling, and turn it into a backyard cooler.
Did the top of your gardening rake break off? That’s okay! Hang it on the wall in your garage or kitchen and use the tines to hang garden or kitchen tools. Perfect if you have the farmhouse look in your home.
A broken rake head is also good for using as a wine glass holder in your kitchen. So simple, but so cute! Tattered Style has the instructions on how to do it.
If your shutters are in less-than-perfect condition anymore, take them off your windows and move them into your hard. Attach planters and decorate them with beautiful plants and flowers.
Did your favorite record become scratched? Although you can’t play it anymore, you can still use it as a piece of decor. Turn scratched vinyl into bookends by setting them in boiling water to bend the plastic, and you’re good to go.
A broken mattress or bed springs might seem pretty useless, but it’s actually not. Use those metal mattress frames as a piece of wall decor to display photos or artwork.
“Paper egg cartons can be split up and used as seed sprouting containers. Once the seedlings get big enough to plant, just wet down the whole egg carton cup and plant it right in the ground. The soggy paper will break down over time in the dirt,” says One Good Thing by Jillee.
As we mentioned earlier, and we’re sure you know, newspaper has so many uses. To prevent your windshield from icing up in the winter, lay some newspaper over it. Now, you don’t have to scrape in the morning.
Hang on to cereal liners and use them to crush up crackers or nuts without making a mess. Just place the ingredients inside the bag and then use a mallet to crush. Easy peasy!
Hopefully these ideas have inspired you and will make you think twice before tossing out that supposedly old and useless item. Have any other ideas? We’d love to hear them!
55 clever ways to reuse common household items
Ashley Fike
03.06.19
Every time I throw away a container I’ve used into the garbage, I always have the feeling that I’m throwing something away that could be reused. Most of the time, however, I can’t find a good scenario to reuse the container, so I unfortunately still end up throwing a lot of them away. Until now.
In the following slides, you’ll find ingenious ways of how you can reuse common items you find around the house. Instead of tossing them into the recycling bin next time, try out any of these tips.
So take a look at the following slides and identify which of these items you throw away on a regular basis. You’ll never guess how you can transform an otherwise disposable item into something incredibly practical.
