Living Frugally by Reusing and Re-purposing HOusehold items

Living Frugally by Reusing and Re-purposing Household Items

Ironing board covers
Use less worn areas of a non-stick ironing board cover to make pot holders, barbecue mitts, or hot pads; cut out the shape you need and cover the holder, mitt or pad with scraps of material; quilt together on a sewing machine, then use bias tape to bind edges and add a loop.

Napkins
Make new napkins from worn tablecloths
Use old cloth napkins in your picnic basket or for dust rags
Use cloth napkins for meals instead of paper napkins

Plastic berry baskets
Use these to hold small items, such as baby bottle caps, that often end up on the bottom of the dishwasher. Put the items in one basket, place another basket upside down on top, and then secure both baskets with a rubber band.

Quilts
Use fabric scraps from old clothes to make quilted potholders, placemats, vests, tote bags and baby blankets.

Sand boxes/ Baby pools
Use the sand box or pool your children have outgrown to make a vegetable or flower garden

Soap Chips
Make soapy scrubber. Place small bits of leftover soap into a square of nylon netting, fold the netting so there are several layers around the soap, then tuck in all the edges with heavy thread. Use for scrubbing collar stains or cleaning hands after gardening or painting

Gallon Milk Jugs
Make a pet poop scoop with gallon milk jug. Cut the top out, leaving the handle and a smooth edge for scooping. Place a used plastic newspaper bag or plastic produce bag inside for easy removal of waste.

Kleenex boxes
Empty boxes can be used to store those handy plastic shopping bags. Just stuff them in the hole in the top and when you need one, just pull one out.

Toothbrushes
Use these to clean window screens, jewelry or computer keyboards

Shredded paper
Makes great packing material for shipping gifts. Also makes good packing material if you are moving.

Pickles
If you save the liquid from pickles, whether home canned or bought, you can reuse it at least twice. Pickle cucumbers or other vegetables in it by heating it to just boiling, then pouring it over prepared vegetables in a jar or bowl with a lid. Put it in the refrigerator immediately and in about two weeks, you’ll have pickled vegetables ready to enjoy. ½