Do you have a large, tall wastebasket or trashcan that you are
no longer using? This is perfect for housing rolls of wrapping paper. Use old or new hair scrunchies around the rolls instead of rubber bands. Keeps the paper nice and rubber bands tend to dry and break. It also tucks easily in the back of your closet. Or if it is wicker or just pretty, use it to store your umbrellas by the front door.
Using a piece of old furniture (possibly a small night stand or end table) in your bathroom frees up counter space. You can store rolls of toilet paper and hand towels. Then you can place a nice basket on the counter to hold lotions or rolled washcloths.
A utensil crock or a nice vase will hold your hair dryer, curling iron, hair brushes, combs and more.
Who doesn’t have too many coffee mugs? Use some in the bathroom or bedroom to help sort lipsticks, lip and eye pencils, mascara and other makeup.
Also put a few in the children’s’ rooms, helps organize crayons, pencils and markers. Keep one on the kitchen counter to put all those “found” objects, buttons, game pieces, errant screws, coins and the like.
Picnic table utensil holders come in very handy in the arts and crafts area of your home. Use it to separate markers, crayons and paint brushes. You only need it once or twice a year on the patio anyway, so put it to good use elsewhere. Or you could place it under your kitchen sink to store bottles of dish soap, handsoap and rubber gloves.
Do you have a piece of old or new window screen lying around? Take a picture frame and cut the screen to the appropriate size. Tack it to the back and set it on the counter or hang on the wall, now use it to hang earrings on and you won’t be looking for the match all the time.
Old sheets and tablecloths when folded almost in half (leave a top flap) and stitch up the sides to store your blankets, comforters, pillows and the like. It will help them to stay clean and dust free.
There are a couple of uses for old ladders. Take a small one and stain or paint it and mount it on chains from the ceiling, a terrific pot rack. Make hangers for your pots out of sturdy wire hangers. All you need are some wire cutters and pliers to bend it.
Another use for an old ladder, stain or paint and if you have the room, put it in your bathroom to use for holding towels. I have an antique ladder from Holland in mine and it holds all my bath and hand towels. Set a pretty basket on top and roll your washcloths. Or use it as a plant stand.
A small pretty flower pot with a drainage tray will be a very attractive container for your sponges, pot scrapers and handled dish scrubbers in your kitchen. Some of us still use the steel wool pot cleaners and this would be an excellent way to store them so they can drain.
How many of you still have that set of three metal hanging baskets that you bought to put fruit or potatoes and onions in? Make use of them in one of the children’s rooms for small stuffed toys. Possibly, into the nursery to use for baby lotions, powders, ointments. The largest basket on the bottom could even hold diapers.
When you aren’t using your luggage, use it to store extra pillows, blankets or whatever. Maybe even your out of season clothing. You could also pick up some that are inexpensive at a thrift shop for this purpose. They may be cheaper than the plastic tubs, last longer as well.
Have a backless barstool that you no longer have a need for? Take it out to the garage and turn it upside down. This will be a good storage place for all your long handled tools. Or, loop a canvas bag over the legs and give the children a place to store all their footballs, basketballs or soccer balls.
Keep a small container in your laundry room, maybe an empty margarine bowl. That way you have a place to put all the loose change or the odd screw that always ends up in the bottom of your washing machine.
Lingerie laundry bags come in handy when you have small children. After the bath put all their toys in and hang it from the showerhead. The toys will drain and dry and not clutter up the bathroom.
Unused CD rack, turn it on its side in the office area and use it to sort mail or folders on your desk.
Back of the door shoe bags are great and have many uses. Put one in the bathroom and store hair bands, scrunchies, lotions, extra bars of soap, etc. Put another one in your children’s rooms to store all their treasures. Hopefully, it will help teach them to be neat also.
Three ring binders can be reused to sort recipes, important papers, craft ideas, take out menus and probably a few things I haven’t thought of. You can purchase the see-thru plastic sleeves at your local office supply stores.
Small snapshot picture albums can be used to sort recipes, as well. Since they already have the built in see-thru sleeves.
Organize the top of your desk by using some pretty baskets for holding, paper, pens and pencils, bills, CDs, etc. Makes an attractive display also. Baskets, if you don’t already have some to use, can be purchased at a thrift shop really inexpensively.
A no longer used dish rack is an excellent spot to store video games. File the games in the dish slots and the controllers in the silverware well. Place on a shelf or in a drawer to eliminate clutter.
Plastic grocery bags are readily available for many uses. Keep some in the car for trash or damp bathing suits from a day at the beach. Use them to line a small trashcan rather than buying the more expensive ones.
My friend does gourd art and uses this idea to pack her gourds for art and craft shows. If you don’t have a shredder, you should. Take the shredded paper and put it in a plastic bag, tie the top closed and use it to cushion whatever you are packing.
Sending gifts through the mail, it is better to use this idea rather than the expensive plastic peanuts.
Do you have to make gift baskets for a bazaar? Instead of buying a lot of the metallic shreds, use one of these filled plastic bags in the bottom and put the pretty stuff on the top.
Unused laundry baskets make wonderful toy containers in your children’s rooms. Instead of a laundry hamper, place one in the closet or wherever is convenient for dirty clothes. There are lots more uses, use your imagination.
Place a lovely serving tray or dish on a table by the front door. It makes a great spot to place keys or outgoing mail. You could place one on your vanity to hold jewelry, makeup or?
Dear Readers;
I hope I have given you some ideas for reusing and recycling many of the things you have around your home. If you have more ideas to share with everyone, please do not hesitate to send them to me via “Contact Grandma”. I can always us the help to get the word out on saving as much money as possible.
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