Items which can be reused

All too often, we dry our clean hands or a washed dish using paper towels. One quick usage and in the garbage it goes. Did you know that a paper towel is good for several uses? Not only do candles smell great, but they often come in cool glass jars. Once the candle gets low, we usually throw the jar away and start a new candle.

Using only an Exacto Knife and something like Goo-Gone , we can clean out that old wax, remove any residue and wash the jar out like any other glass. This makes old grocery jobs excellent storage containers. You can store raw cooking materials like spices, beans, rice, etc.

This makes old clothes perfect for doing house chores involving grease, soot, bleach, etc. Why ruin your still-good clothes when the old ones can bear the brunt? Not only can you wear old clothes for cleaning, but you can USE them for cleaning, too! T-shirts and other cotton garments are soft and absorbent, making them great for cleaning up spills, wiping down glass and much more.

According to USI , American use over 2 Billion trees per year for paper and wood-related applications. It benefits the environment greatly to save paper when you can.

One easy way to do this is to stop throwing away random documents printed on standard 8. Cut these pages into two or four smaller pieces. You can then keep the smaller scraps near the phone, computer or on the desk and use the blank side for scrap notes.

With a little finessing using some sharp scissors meant for fabric , we can cut these fabrics into strips for headbands, hair ties, bandanas and many other purposes. If you have a project that requires you buy some fabric, consider any old clothes or cloths that can be used, instead. Frames pictures often have a plain background; whatever comes with the frame is what is behind the photo.

Fabrics like curtains, shirts, pants, sheets and many more are often sturdy, bright-colored and feature unique patterns. You can cut them into rectangles or any other shape to fit within a picture frame. Then, place your photos over it for a cool, unique look! This keeps our plants healthy and growing. As they say, we all come from the Earth, one way or another. Fresh food is no exception, and it can easily be incorporated back into the Earth too.

Sponges can only be used for so long. They then get tossed in the trash can. Hold the phone! You can use that old sponge to scrub down stains on tile or wood floors, wash the car, clean windows, clean tools after using and any other dirtier house chores. Normally, we crank on the hose to water the plants. This can use quite a bit of water, and much of it goes to waste.

Cutting off the top of larger plastic bottles that contain juice, soda, milk and water leaves an open-top container — perfect for catching rain.

Keeping a few of these jugs outside helps us collect this rainwater and water our plants again when the sun comes back out. This can especially come in handy when making cups for a few people at one time. It may not amount to much, but it can at least help you buy tea less often. Many teas — specifically ones with caffeine — are able to reduce inflammation. These tea leaves contain chemicals like tannins and other compounds that can reduce swelling, extract toxins, soothe burns and act in an anti-bacterial capacity.

Used notebooks are a challenge when it comes to recycling - the paper can be easily recycled but what about the data they have on them. So instead of using paper based notebooks try using digital pads or try opting for the reusable notebooks which can be erased of any non required data.

Did you know that the permanent marker can be brought back to life to be working again. Now re-attach the nib and shake well to make sure that all the alcohol is absorbed in the sponge. In order to make it easy, create a common shipping and receiving area that will have all of these items. The more accessible they are, the more likely they will be used by everybody.

Or check out these excellent Pinterest ideas for ways to upcycle old clothes into new! Why not turn those torn t-shirts into beautiful braided rugs?

At the end of the growing season, let a couple of your veggies and flowers go to seed, collect the seeds and save them for next season for free! They make excellent dusting rags, especially for sucking up pet hair.

They work great for scrubbing off soap scum and polishing chrome too! When the box of cereal is empty, save the inner bag, wash, dry and cut to wrap sandwiches. Plastic bags can be used a pet waste bags, or trash bins, or you can reuse them at the grocery store.

Better yet, upcycle those plastic bags into nice-looking, sturdy reusable grocery totes! Save old toothbrushes to scrub hard to reach places, like grout and underneath the fixtures on faucets. Or clean old toothbrushes and reuse as eyebrow brushes, hair color applicators or for cleaning tools, electronics or other delicate or hard to clean items. Empty toothpaste tubes can be re-purposed as a funnel by cutting off the bottom, or as a frosting tube for icing cakes.

Collect broken china to re-tile outdoor tables, flower pots , paths, or as a unique border for your garden. Use broken china to make a key fob or jewelry. Plant small plants in old stained coffee mugs. Refinish or repair rather than tossing old furniture. Re-purpose broken furniture or disassemble and reuse the wood. Hang drawers on the wall to create shelves, shadowboxes or bulletin boards.

With just a little ingenuity, you can cut down on your ecological footprint, save your pennies and re-purpose your trash! What clever home items can you think of to recycle and reuse?