50 Things you can Reuse

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Ranked #2 in Green, #146 overall

Ways to Reuse Simple Household Items

Recycling is very important, but even better is reusing. Recycling actually uses energy and transport time and fuel to get the items to where they need to go. If you can reuse an item yourself, that's more energy, time and fuel saved, as well as less emissions produced. From your old metal cans, plastic bags, bicycle tires, packing peanuts and computer keyboards, there are many ways to find a second life for simple items around your home by reusing them.



Thank you to everyone for making this lens #1 in the Green Living category in January!

 

big pile of stained mattresses by soundfromwayout

Pour Ground Coffee into AeroPress by INeedCoffee / CoffeeHero

Pen and Pencil Collection by shadowhound

 Packing Peanuts - July 3, 07 by ThrasherDave

Rolled up carpets by Koonisutra

curated content from Flickr

Reuse Everything! Nearly Everything we Buy and Consume can be Reused. 

Here's some ways to reuse simple household things...

1. Reuse your blankets and towels. Bring them to a local shelter that will be glad to put them to good use and give animals a soft, warm place to sit.

2. Reuse seeds from fruit and vegetables and try to grow them!

3. Reuse old plastic bags. There are 10 creative ways to reuse plastic bags here.

4. Reuse paper bags as school book covers, or be a little more creative with these ideas.

5. Cut used pieces of paper into scrap pieces of paper (a message pad!).

6. Reuse stove heat by opening up the stove once you are done with it and letting the warm air into your home in colder weather. Reuse the heat!

7. Reuse coffee grinds by keeping them aside and placing them into your garden or soil.

8. Reuse coffee that you don't drink by putting it over ice and placing it in the fridge for an iced coffee later.

9. Reuse Christmas trees (not the fake ones) by putting them outside for birds and letting it naturally break down.

10. Reuse packing peanuts, air pillows, bubble wrap and boxes for your own ebay shipping, or bring them by the local post office or recycling center for others to use.

11. Reuse pens and art supplies by donating them to local schools.

12. Reuse your old carpet. Even slightly dirty carpets can have a second life.

13. Reuse your old food scraps by composting them.

14. Reuse your used margarine and butter tubs by cleaning them and keeping them for leftovers (free ziploc containers!).

15. Reuse old clothing by donating it to a local charity.

16. Reuse the stuffing from old pillows and comforters into new items. Reuse the pillow covers for rags.

17. Reuse used wrapping paper and save it for next year.

18. Reuse newspaper, interesting magazines, and other paper products by using them as wrapping paper.

19. Reuse kiddie pool water on plants and shrubs.

20. Reuse your old paint by finding things to paint in your home, touch up, or donate it to a local charity.

21. Reuse your old toilet paper rolls.

22. Reuse old wallpaper and turn it into one of a_willow's suggestions!

23. Never throw away an old book, donate it to a library or to your recycling center, or a school! They can reuse it.

24. Reuse old curtains as rags for cleaning your car.

25. Reuse your old electronics by selling them on Craigslist or on eBay.

26. Reuse old glass containers with lids and save them for leftovers, or, make your own jam or jelly. Food safe airtight glass containers would be great for storing rice, pasta, sugar and flour.

27. Reuse your old sneakers by donating them to Nike's Shoe recycling program (okay, this is more recycling, but it's important!)

28. Reuse greeting cards.

29. Reuse your old toothbrush and use it to clean hard to reach areas like around the sink, your drains, faucets and grout.

30. Save stale bread and give it to the birds in the backyard (be sure to rip it small enough so they can eat it!).

31. Make a piece of artwork with your old metal cans.

32. Make your own checker set by reusing your old bottle caps.

33. There are over 20 ways to reuse your old furniture here.

34. Sell or donate your old cellphone to the one of many companies out there.

35. Sell old clothing and let others reuse it, provided it looks good still.

36. For your next home renovation project, you might be able to reuse your old floor tiles.

37. Reuse popsicle sticks with these ingenius, crafty ideas.

38. Even bicycle tires can be reused.

39. Reuse old seafood seashells by crushing them and using them in your garden as decoration.

40. There are at least five ways you can reuse your old drinking straws.

41. Reuse insulation when building a home, or adding insulation. This will save energy and money!

42. There are some creative things you can do with old metal pie pan plates.

43. Reuse old aluminum foil by judging whether you it is clean enough to use again. If you're using it for bread or dry goods, you should be able to shake it off and set it aside for next time (provided it is clean).

44. Reuse old spray bottles by first making sure they are okay to reuse (see the back of the bottle) and filling them with water to spray plants.

45. Reuse your old CDs and DVDs with these tips.

46. Reuse your old yard debris! Leaves, lawn cuttings, and wood chips naturally fertilize and add nutrients to your soil.

47. If you receive a gift in a gift bag, save it for another occasion and reuse that bag!

48. Is your old keyboard the perfect seedling starter?

49. Reuse your old toothpaste tubes.

50. Yes, you can even reuse your mattress.



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Can't Reuse it? It Might be Recyclable or You Can Reduce It! 

A list of 50 things you can reuse and reduce in your life!

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Beadmagic wrote...

Recycle magazines! And make beautiful paper bead jewelry! It's not just a kid's hobby anymore.

ReplyPosted October 27, 2009

SoyCandleLover-Maker wrote...

Excellent advice! 5 *'s, favorited and lens rolled into my newest lens http://www.squidoo.com/green-and-frugal-household-substitutions-and-tips , too! Please come and visit. :D

ReplyPosted October 11, 2009

GeothermalVids wrote...

This is such an interesting lens. I will think twice before I get rid of something next time.

ReplyPosted September 09, 2009

patelm wrote...

Excellent lens! I try to re-utilize everything possible. Thanks for the tips.

ReplyPosted July 28, 2009

livingonsolar wrote...

Great info. Thanks for a terrific lens.

ReplyPosted July 14, 2009

JConwell wrote...

Congrats on the star! Your ideas are very useful to people.

Check out my lens on Fuel Saving Devices - www.squidoo.com/fueleconomy

Keep up the good work!

James

ReplyPosted July 14, 2009

wyrm11268 wrote...

Really enjoyed reading your lens. I like to recycle and now I have even more ways!
Thanks for all the great information

ReplyPosted June 17, 2009

casperfei wrote...

Nice work and great information. I have features your lens to my lens.
Kindly visit to http://www.squidoo.com/Environmental-protection-tips and leave me some comment.

ReplyPosted June 14, 2009

kab wrote...

Saw this and thought of you. Lots of cool links to reused items http://housewife.splinder.com/tag/baskets

ReplyPosted June 10, 2009

kab wrote...

Saw this and thought of you. Lots of cool links to reused items http://housewife.splinder.com/tag/baskets

ReplyPosted June 10, 2009

sunshine1600 wrote...

Love this lens...very good info, will certainly use them...Thanks for sharing

ReplyPosted May 31, 2009

wrote...

We don't seem to throw away anything and your lens is a great one. Recylce makes a lot of sense to me, good job!

ReplyPosted May 23, 2009

HenryE wrote...

This is one of my most favorite lenses! You have so many great ideas. I'm rethinking everything that goes in the trashcan from now on. Waste not = want not, right?

Henry
www.geothermalexperts.net

ReplyPosted May 15, 2009

lakeerieartists wrote...

Blogged about this in Living the Green Organic Lifestyle Blog. :)

ReplyPosted May 12, 2009

BigGirlBlue wrote...

Great tips! Congratulations on the purple star.

ReplyPosted May 10, 2009

Evelyn_Saenz wrote...

Congratulations on the well-deserved purple star!

ReplyPosted May 09, 2009

RinchenChodron wrote...

My favorite was donating old books to the library! More people need to do this - I buy all my books at the Friends of the Library so that the library can purchase more new books! Worthy indeed of a purple star.

ReplyPosted May 09, 2009

Joan4 wrote...

Brilliant! Our parents and grandparents learned this lesson well during the depression. It's time to re-learn some of their thrifty habits for certain. Blessed by an angel! I enjoyed these great ideas! Congratulations on that beautiful purple star!

ReplyPosted May 08, 2009

chefkeem wrote...

Too bad you can't reuse this Angel Blessing...oh, well - there will be more angels flying by. Fabulous page! :-)

ReplyPosted May 08, 2009

CoolFoto wrote...

Congrats on your Purple Star! Lots of good ideas here.

ReplyPosted May 08, 2009

Susan52 wrote...

Congratulations on the well-deserved purple star!

ReplyPosted May 08, 2009

genglo wrote...

Congratulations on your purple star!

ReplyPosted May 08, 2009

monarch13 wrote...

Well of course you got a purple star! Congrats! Already rated 5 stars and faved long ago..

ReplyPosted May 08, 2009

tandemonimom wrote...

This lens is highly deserving of that purple star! Congrats!

ReplyPosted May 08, 2009

Ramkitten wrote...

Use it up, wear it out, make do, do without is one of my favorite mottos, but I should at re-use to that. Wonderful list of ideas here. Nice job!

ReplyPosted May 03, 2009

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