Reusing the waste: Home Edition

In the last issue in the Reusing the waste mini-series, Reusing the waste: Crafters Edition, we learned about some cool crafts that can be made using waste material from around the house. In this issue, we will continue using waste material around the house, but instead of crafts, we will learn some of the best ways to reuse the waste to use around the house.

Keep in mind, this is only a start. If you have some ideas, please comment below and let us know. I will give you the 5 things I reuse the most:

1. Rags

Repurpose the old clothes

Old clothes that are torn, can't be sent on to the thrift store. Torn clothes just don't sell very well. Pull off the buttons to use in crafts. You can also use the pieces for quilts and such. If you are like me, then you don't craft with them enough to use it all. I do on the other hand need rags for projects and cleaning. T-shirts make great dusting rags. I have an old piece cut from a pair of slacks that I use for wood oil. I use others to clean up messes in the work shop.

2. Litter buckets

Litter buckets to hanging planters

This is one of my favorites. Take a litter bucket and make a hanging planter our of it. I use this for my tomatoes. You can also plant other things this way. I did find that if you use plastic handled buckets, you need to be careful how much soil you put into them. Smaller buckets can be used for other plants too, like strawberries. Keeps them above the slugs.

Litter buckets for trash

If you can't tell, I like litter buckets. I also use them to pick up the trash that the neighbors toss into my yard. When I pull weeds, I use them to hold the pulled weeds until I get them to the compost.

3. Butter and yogurt tubs

Tubs for paints

When painting, carrying the paint bucket around while cuting in the edges or touch up gets tiring. Put a little paint into a butter tub and carry around the smaller tub. If you need to mix paints, put the lid on when you are done for storage. You can't store for long times this way, unless it has a tight seal, but it will store overnight.

Tubs for leftovers

Tubs can also be used to store leftovers from dinner. You can also store leftover parts from you crafts or workshop projects. I've stored beads, buttons, screws and more in them.

4. Newpaper

Newspaper for wrapping paper

My wife does not let me do this anymore. She thinks it is cheap and you should spend the money on real wrapping paper. I like it thought. Just take the sunday comics and it makes a nice wrapping paper.

Newspaper for compost/worm bin

Not enough brown material for the compost? Add some newspaper. Newspaper also makes a great bedding for the worm bin. The worms will eat it and it is free and plentyful.

Newspaper to clean glass

Don't use a rag to clean the windows, it will leave streaks. Use newspaper instead, it leaves a streak free shine and will give you the cleanest glass in the neighborhood.

5. Glass bottles

Vases from bottles

Many glass bottles are pretty. I had a blue bottle of water that I used for years as a vase, until it broke. It only held a rose or two, but the bottle itself added to the decor.

Yard glasses

When working in the yard, or having a party that might get a little rambunctious you may not want to use your good glasses. Keep around some glass jars to use as glasses. Larger ones are bigger than most glasses, so you will have to fill up less often anyway.