I love the idea of reusing things around the house. It not only saves money but it also saves things from going into landfills. Check out this post. I found it very cleaver.
25 Things to do With Used Corks (Including Making Money With Them)
Showing posts with label repurpose. Show all posts
Showing posts with label repurpose. Show all posts
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Use Up Leftover Mashed Potatoes and Other Useful Ideas
Use up leftover mashed potatoes
Make potato patties from leftover mashed potatoes. Simply add an egg to 2 cups mashed potatoes, form into patties and fry in a pan with a little oil. You can add meat, seasoned breadcrumbs, cheese or onion for extra flavor. The first reader tip shares another way to use up leftover mashed potatoes.
USE FOR LEFTOVER MASHED POTATOES:
We use leftover mashed potatoes to make potato soup. Simply thin it down with milk or water until it is the consistency you want, bring to a gentle boil and then top with bacon, cheese, chives and sour cream. An absolute favorite in our house. If you don’t have quite enough, add a can of creamed corn to stretch the recipe. — Daisy, Canada
REUSE PAPER TOWEL TUBES:
I store my shoes on a shoe rack on the closet wall. I noticed that the U-shaped wire made indentations on the leather of the shoes. I now stuff TP cardboard rolls into my shoes first, THEN slide the tube onto the U-shaped wire support. It keeps the shoe from resting against the wire of the rack. I adjust the length of the tube to suit the shoe; sandals get a paper-towel tube. — Sandra N., e-mail
I use the tubes from paper towels, the few I get, to roll linens in so they don’t crease and wrinkle. Works well for me. — Liz, e-mail
RE-CREATE:
It can be hard to see the potential in thrift-store or recycled items, so I like to approach the problem from the other direction. I browse the high-end stores to find ideas that I like, then search for ways to re-create them. A $200 feather trimmed chenille throw was re-created with a $20 Target chenille throw and $40 of feather trim from my local upholstery shop. Granted, it’s still a major splurge. But when company is over, it makes my beat-up, cracked leather love seat look lux. — W. Herdman, e-mail
REUSE A CEREAL BOX:
You can cut apart cereal boxes and make templates for measuring quilting pieces or make stars, bells, etc., and cover them with foil for Christmas decorations. The lightweight pasteboard is useful for many crafts. — Pat, e-mail
ANOTHER MAN’S TRASH:
I remember my neighbors looking at me oddly when I picked two sets of draperies out of their garbage can. (I had their permission, of course). I didn’t see old draperies. I saw new bags for groceries. It took me an enjoyable afternoon to make the totes and have been using them for two years now. They are sturdy and wash beautifully. My neighbors’ trash is my treasure, funny though they still think it’s trash. What will it take for people to understand that we can be better stewards of our money, our environment and our time? — Julie, e-mail
SHAKE TO MAKE:
With using mason jars as drinking glasses, you can also create iced tea (from a mix) right in them. Put the powder in and then add the water, put the lid on and shake. I love how convenient this is. I use jars from spaghetti sauce this way, too. — Cricket, e-mail
See more ideas at http://frugalvillage.net/
Make potato patties from leftover mashed potatoes. Simply add an egg to 2 cups mashed potatoes, form into patties and fry in a pan with a little oil. You can add meat, seasoned breadcrumbs, cheese or onion for extra flavor. The first reader tip shares another way to use up leftover mashed potatoes.
USE FOR LEFTOVER MASHED POTATOES:
We use leftover mashed potatoes to make potato soup. Simply thin it down with milk or water until it is the consistency you want, bring to a gentle boil and then top with bacon, cheese, chives and sour cream. An absolute favorite in our house. If you don’t have quite enough, add a can of creamed corn to stretch the recipe. — Daisy, Canada
REUSE PAPER TOWEL TUBES:
I store my shoes on a shoe rack on the closet wall. I noticed that the U-shaped wire made indentations on the leather of the shoes. I now stuff TP cardboard rolls into my shoes first, THEN slide the tube onto the U-shaped wire support. It keeps the shoe from resting against the wire of the rack. I adjust the length of the tube to suit the shoe; sandals get a paper-towel tube. — Sandra N., e-mail
I use the tubes from paper towels, the few I get, to roll linens in so they don’t crease and wrinkle. Works well for me. — Liz, e-mail
RE-CREATE:
It can be hard to see the potential in thrift-store or recycled items, so I like to approach the problem from the other direction. I browse the high-end stores to find ideas that I like, then search for ways to re-create them. A $200 feather trimmed chenille throw was re-created with a $20 Target chenille throw and $40 of feather trim from my local upholstery shop. Granted, it’s still a major splurge. But when company is over, it makes my beat-up, cracked leather love seat look lux. — W. Herdman, e-mail
REUSE A CEREAL BOX:
You can cut apart cereal boxes and make templates for measuring quilting pieces or make stars, bells, etc., and cover them with foil for Christmas decorations. The lightweight pasteboard is useful for many crafts. — Pat, e-mail
ANOTHER MAN’S TRASH:
I remember my neighbors looking at me oddly when I picked two sets of draperies out of their garbage can. (I had their permission, of course). I didn’t see old draperies. I saw new bags for groceries. It took me an enjoyable afternoon to make the totes and have been using them for two years now. They are sturdy and wash beautifully. My neighbors’ trash is my treasure, funny though they still think it’s trash. What will it take for people to understand that we can be better stewards of our money, our environment and our time? — Julie, e-mail
SHAKE TO MAKE:
With using mason jars as drinking glasses, you can also create iced tea (from a mix) right in them. Put the powder in and then add the water, put the lid on and shake. I love how convenient this is. I use jars from spaghetti sauce this way, too. — Cricket, e-mail
See more ideas at http://frugalvillage.net/
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Multi-purpose Product from the Laundry Room
I got this emailed to me the other day...thought I'd share the knowledge. More uses for the Bounce dryer Sheet:
1. It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them. It also repels mice.
2. Spread sheets around foundation areas, or in trailers, or cars that are sitting and it keeps mice from entering your vehicle.
3. It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too often.
4. It repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.
5. .Eliminate static electricity from your television (or computer) screen.
6. Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling..
7. Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce.
8. To freshen the air in your home - Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.
9. Put Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner.
10. Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew.
11. Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.
12. To freshen the air in your car - Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.
13. Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static agent apparently weakens the bond between the food and the pan..
14. Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.
15. Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.
16. Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds.. Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.
17. Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.
18. Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.
19. Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight.
20. Golfers put a Bounce sheet in their back pocket to keep the bees away.
21. Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding and storing them. It will keep them smelling fresh.
22. Wet a Bounce sheet, hose down your car, and wipe love bugs off easily with the wet Bounce.
By the way...I have used many of these ideas over the years...and they do work. My favorite way to do this is just about the time I am prepared to throw away that used fabric softener sheet. I never use the name brand product and I always use it in at least 2 dryer loads. I always look at ways to stretch the use of things which adds up to lots of $$ in my pocket to use for more important things.
1. It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them. It also repels mice.
2. Spread sheets around foundation areas, or in trailers, or cars that are sitting and it keeps mice from entering your vehicle.
3. It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too often.
4. It repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.
5. .Eliminate static electricity from your television (or computer) screen.
6. Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling..
7. Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce.
8. To freshen the air in your home - Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.
9. Put Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner.
10. Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew.
11. Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.
12. To freshen the air in your car - Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.
13. Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static agent apparently weakens the bond between the food and the pan..
14. Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.
15. Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.
16. Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds.. Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.
17. Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.
18. Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.
19. Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight.
20. Golfers put a Bounce sheet in their back pocket to keep the bees away.
21. Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding and storing them. It will keep them smelling fresh.
22. Wet a Bounce sheet, hose down your car, and wipe love bugs off easily with the wet Bounce.
By the way...I have used many of these ideas over the years...and they do work. My favorite way to do this is just about the time I am prepared to throw away that used fabric softener sheet. I never use the name brand product and I always use it in at least 2 dryer loads. I always look at ways to stretch the use of things which adds up to lots of $$ in my pocket to use for more important things.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
New Uses for Things You Already Have
I love learning about new uses for things I have lying around the house...here is a few ideas for something that most women have lying around.
Nail Polish
1. Keep an eyeglass screw in place. If your specs are a bit wobbly, tighten the screws and top them with a dollop of polish.
2. Secure buttons. Apply a thin layer of polish to the center of a button to keep the thread from coming loose.
3. Avoid rust stains in the bathroom. Coat the bottom of a shaving-cream can to fend off rings on the ledge of the tub.
4. Seal an envelope. When a flap won’t stay stuck, find closure with clear polish.
5. Extend the life of jewelry. Paint a thin coat onto a costume bauble to prevent it from losing its luster.
(From RealSimple.com)28 Uses for Everyday Items By Sharon Tanenbaum and Ashley Tate
The hidden talents (both new and tried-and-true) of kitchen and bathroom staples
.
6. When You bring a new prescription home from the drugstore, paint over the label with clear nail polish. That way, even if the bottle gets wet, the ink won't run and you'll still be able to read the instructions.
7. Do you have trouble lining up those all-but-invisible arrows on childproof medicine bottles? Pain the marks with brightly colored nail polish, and you'll get 'em together on the first try, every time.
8. If you drip-dry clothes on wire hangers, nicks or rust spots on the hangers can end up staining you clothes. Keep 'em sealed with clear nail polish.
9. Are your shoelaces fraying at the ends? Twist the strands together tightly, dampen them just a little, dip them in clear nail polish, and let them dry.
10. Stop pantyhose and stocking runs from spreading by dabbing them with clear nail polish (I have used this..it works!).
(From Supermarket Super Products by Jerry Baker)
Nail Polish
1. Keep an eyeglass screw in place. If your specs are a bit wobbly, tighten the screws and top them with a dollop of polish.
2. Secure buttons. Apply a thin layer of polish to the center of a button to keep the thread from coming loose.
3. Avoid rust stains in the bathroom. Coat the bottom of a shaving-cream can to fend off rings on the ledge of the tub.
4. Seal an envelope. When a flap won’t stay stuck, find closure with clear polish.
5. Extend the life of jewelry. Paint a thin coat onto a costume bauble to prevent it from losing its luster.
(From RealSimple.com)28 Uses for Everyday Items By Sharon Tanenbaum and Ashley Tate
The hidden talents (both new and tried-and-true) of kitchen and bathroom staples
.
6. When You bring a new prescription home from the drugstore, paint over the label with clear nail polish. That way, even if the bottle gets wet, the ink won't run and you'll still be able to read the instructions.
7. Do you have trouble lining up those all-but-invisible arrows on childproof medicine bottles? Pain the marks with brightly colored nail polish, and you'll get 'em together on the first try, every time.
8. If you drip-dry clothes on wire hangers, nicks or rust spots on the hangers can end up staining you clothes. Keep 'em sealed with clear nail polish.
9. Are your shoelaces fraying at the ends? Twist the strands together tightly, dampen them just a little, dip them in clear nail polish, and let them dry.
10. Stop pantyhose and stocking runs from spreading by dabbing them with clear nail polish (I have used this..it works!).
(From Supermarket Super Products by Jerry Baker)
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