Simple Ways to Repurpose Household Items

I love finding out that an item I use all the time can serve another purpose. All it takes is a fresh eye to see that a desktop paper organizer can also store cutting boards and baking sheets, or that a rubber band will keep a wobbly taper candle from tipping over. I’m convinced that you don’t have to have a huge cabinet of cleaning supplies or organization tools to get a job done, so I’ve become a collector of tips for using everyday items in new ways. Here are a few that stand out as totally useful, multipurpose items.

What clever ways do you reuse household objects? I’d love to hear!

Line the bottom of a flower pot with a coffee filter to prevent soil from leaking out the drainage hole.

Slice a lemon in half to scrub a cutting board. Or drop the rind down your disposal to freshen up your drain.

Sprinkle grounds on plants that love nitrogen: tomatoes, blueberries, roses, rhododendrons...

Rub a sheet against a staticky skirt or wipe down a dusty TV screen.

Use a clean soup can in place of a cookie cutter for biscuits, sugar cookies, pastries...



0 replies
  1. Jessica
    Jessica says:

    I like to spray paint old cupcake baking pans to store jewelry or as a drawer organizer for an office desk. It is great for separating earrings or for use in the office to separate rubber bands, paperclips, etc.

    Reply
  2. Cheris Liptac
    Cheris Liptac says:

    I like to use old dryer sheets to dust. Also, soap/lotion pump dispensers usually dispense more than I (or my kids) need to wash or moisten. To solve this, I put a zip tie between the head of the pump and the bottle so a smaller amount of soap/lotion is dispensed.

    Reply
  3. Linda Illes
    Linda Illes says:

    Used, dried coffee grounds are good sprinkled around the outside foudation to keep ants away from your house.
    Boiling water is a greener way to kill ant hills.
    Turn a clean, empty tuna can into a pin cushion. Larger cans can be turned into pretty utensil organizers or pencil holders with a little fabric. Add pockets around the outside and this works great in the sewing room!
    Egg shells dried, smashed into tiny pieces and sprinked in the garden add calcium for a good yield.
    Turn store gift type bags (you know the ones with the store name on them) into a pretty gift bag with a little ribbon and some glue to cover the store name.

    Reply

Trackbacks & Pingbacks

  1. […] for even more quick fixes and simple solutions for the home? See how you can repurpose common household items and fix those nagging kitchen issues easily and on a budget! This entry was posted in Nest […]

  2. […] out our Simple Ways to Repurpose Household Items post for more great ideas! This entry was posted in Nest and tagged cleaning, easy, […]

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