We all know we need to recycle – it reduces our carbon footprint and is far more eco-friendly than sending trash to the landfill. But have you thought about the other things you could do with your waste products? From reusing old toothbrushes to fixing scratched furniture with walnuts, here are a dozen creative hacks and ideas to consider…
12. Reuse Clean Glass Jars
Glass jars have so many uses around the home – so think twice before sending them to the recycling center. Fill them with pens, sweets or cotton swabs, grow seedlings in them, or you could even use them as drinking glasses.
11. Make a Worm Farm
Get hold of some worms, and you could have the best-ever plant feed for your flowers, fruit, and vegetables. Add your food scraps to the pile daily, and the worms will turn them into an entirely natural feed for all your plants.
10. Use Old Clothes Hangers as Clips
The sort of clothes hangers with clips that you get for free when buying garments can be repurposed in more than one way. For example, if you remove the clips, you can use them to seal opened food bags. Whether it’s frozen veg, potato chips, or cereal, rolling and closing the bag first will keep things fresh.
9. Sharpen Razor Blades on Denim Jeans
Razor blades can be costly, and trashing them can cause safety concerns. Instead of replacing yours, try running it over the surface of a pair of old jeans. It can be a cheap and effective way to resharpen the blades and make them (nearly) as good as new!
8. Clean With Old Toothbrushes
Never toss out an old toothbrush! Instead, use it for cleaning small gaps or even for scrubbing the grout between the bathroom or kitchen tiles. You can also use it to ensure you have the shiniest faucets in the neighborhood.
7. Get Creative With Gift Wrap
Who says gift wrap must be bought by the pack or the roll? From newpapers and magazines to kids’ unwanted comic books, all kinds of old reading material can make excellent gift-wrap. Just add some ribbon or a bow, plus a pretty tag, to make your present stand out.
6. Repurpose Your Baby’s Crib
If your little one has long outgrown their crib and moved onto a bigger bed, there’s no need to give it away! Depending on the height of the platform, you can remove one of the sides, put a chair beneath it, and voila – your child now has a “new” desk to draw, write, and play at.
5. Thin Out Old Nail Polish
Old nail polish bottles getting too dry or clumpy to use? Well, before you chuck them out and buy some new ones, try adding a drop of nail polish remover. This should revive the old polish, thinning it out and thus making it usable once more.
4. Collect Travel-Sized Containers
Instead of spending money on a brand-new set of plane-friendly travel containers, it’s easy to collect your own. Simply keep and clean any small-sized bottles or pots before refilling them with your favorite body wash, bubble bath, shampoo, and conditioner.
3. Don’t Throw Water Away
Whether it’s your bath water or the endless half-finished glasses left around the house by family members, there’s no need to waste leftover water. Why not pour it into a watering can or bucket instead? You can then use it to water your plants or clean your car.
2. Milk Bottle Ice Blocks
Instead of tossing old milk or juice bottles into the trash, why not use them to chill your portable cooler? Simply fill them with water, then freeze and reuse them. That way, you can keep your food and drinks cold all summer long!
1. Refresh Old Furniture With a Walnut
This one sounds crazy, but give it a try. Instead of dumping old wooden furniture that’s been badly scratched, grab a raw walnut and watch the magic happen. Rub the nut back and forth diagonally along the scratch, then buff the area using a dry microfiber cloth. Those scratches should look ten times better in no time!
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