Cutting Down on Waste and Improving Recycling
Turning Old Things into New Uses
We all have things collecting dust around the house that have been used and are bound for the garbage. Here are some ideas that may help save you money, help organize your rooms and make a small impact on your home design.
1) Spice Rack and Containers into Organizers
Many spice racks are now sold with 20-30 associated spices included. Once you run out of ginger pepper and salt - most people throw out the bottles and start over again.
Give some thought to using your spice rack for a mixture of often used spices and the many other items that are needed around the house but clutter up the kitchen drawers. Once the spices are depleted refill the bottles with:
- Elastic Bands
- Safety Pins
- Small Nails
- Small Post-Its
- Stickers
- Postage Stamps
This idea came to us when we saw a line of new products from Canvas Corp. A company that is spicing up the Hardware Industry and giving it an interior designer flare. They have created a line of finishing nails and screws that are packaged in a spice rack packaging. You can check out their tools and finishing by visiting www.canvascorp.com
2) Garbage Ties into Wire Consolidator
Garbage ties are never used - now instead of throwing them out use them to tie loose electrical cords that are too long or tie a few of them together that are coming out from the same electrical socket.
3) Napkin Holders into Bill Organizers
Not the small round ones that are used mostly for special occasions but the ones that hold napkins on the kitchen table that are rectangular in shape. Instead of using them for napkins, get one that can hold all your bills in an organized fashion instead of piling up your bills and correspondence in a messy pile at the corner of the kitchen counter.
4) File Folder Labels into Wire Identifiers
Ever looked behind you stereo, TV and other electronic devices? Wow there are quite a few wires. Wonder where they all connect to? Use the file folder labels and attach them to each wire with an explanation of what they are for. Do this for your electrical cables as well?
5) File Rack into Pan Organizer
Take that old file rack from your office that you are not using and redeploy it in the kitchen for two purposes. One as a dish or pan dryer after washing the dishes and or as a pan, breadboard, organizer in a cupboard.
6) Laundry Scent Sheets into Other Scent Devices
Consider using your used laundry scent sheets as drawer scent sheets. The new ones may carry too much of a scent but the one use sheets are ideal to keep your drawers and clothes smelling fresh and clean. These little babies have multiple uses - Try cleaning your faucets and stainless steel appliances with used fabric sheets - just dab a little water on them. Stick new ones in your sports shoes, skates and boots to get rid of those nasty odors.
7) Old Clay and Terracotta Plant Pots into Cleaning Agents
Instead of throwing these pots out - replace soil with sand and put your gardening tools and BBQ utensils in them - with a little oil mixed into the sand it will clean all the gunk off them and they will be ready for another tour of duty.
8) Old Toothbrushes into Scrubbing Super Stars
Instead of brushing your teeth use these products to scrub your bathroom tiles and grout. Get into the places where regular scrubbers can't. The electric or battery operated ones work even better. Clean around the faucets with them as well.
9) Old Dressers and Kitchen Cupboards Renewed
Before throwing out a piece of furniture or deciding to replace all of your kitchen cupboards consider replacing the old pulls or handles with new distinctive ones. There are so many stores that sell funky pulls - it's a great way to improve or update the look of your dressers and kitchen and has to be one of the least expensive ways to do so.
10) Paper Clamps into Picture Holders
We are talking about the clamps that bind 50-100 pages together that are found at all office supply stores. These clamps can be used as post card, picture or photo holders. Just attach them to the bottom of the any card.
11) Wooden Crates into Book Shelve
Those old wooden storage containers that may have held fruits or vegetables make for great bookshelves. Stagger then on top of each other and screw them together. Horizontally and vertically - mixing and matching makes for an interesting set of shelves that can hold books, picture frames etc...
12) Ceramic Mugs as Candle Holders
Take that hole coffee set of mugs that you have and select most unique mugs to hold some thick candles in the kitchen, bathroom or even out on the back patio.
13) Old Cookie Sheets as Serving Trays
Those old cookie trays that need to be upgraded with new ones can be used as serving or condiment trays. Put a nice serving cloth over them and away you go.
14) Old Garbage Pale as Garage Organizer
What are you doing with your rakes, shovels, spades, brooms and hockey sticks? Stick a garbage pale one of the corners of your garage and drop them all in. Keeps everything organized and they are easy to store and put away.
15) Storage Bin to Recycle Organizer
Everyone needs to recycle - make it easy on yourself and the collections - take a storage bin and separate it into four categories:
- Newspaper
- Bottles
- Card Board and Magazines
- Cans
These are just a few of the many things that you can to do organize your home, save money and recycle - cut down on consumption and recycling saves money and helps everyone. Send your ideas to info@homedesignessentials.com.
