What keeps us from re-using items before finally sending them off for recycling? Nothing. We can make useful household items from recyclable goods and save money at the same time.
Here are some simple, useful ideas:
Disposable Dishes
If you’re leaving on a trip and don’t want to leave dirty dishes behind or take the time to wash up, cut the bottoms from soda bottles or other containers ahead of time and use them for disposable cereal bowls. When finished eating, rinse and toss in the recycling bin on your way out.
Funnels
Cut the tops off 20 oz. soda bottles to make extra funnels. The smaller size is handy in the kitchen. Use the bottom half of the bottle to store pens, pencils, crayons, and markers.
Scrub Bucket
Plastic ice cream buckets can be washed out and used as scrub buckets. They are great for use when scrubbing floors or even washing walls or cabinets.
Soaking and Mixing
Cut off the bottom of a two-liter soda bottle and use it for soaking and cleaning paintbrushes, or for mixing and thinning paint.
Toilet Plunger Storage
Wash out a plastic milk jug and cut off the lower half to use as a container for storing your toilet plunger. You can also rinse out plastic coffee cans and use them for the same purpose. These ideas work for storing toilet brushes and other cleaning tools as well.
Make a Kitty Litter Scoop
Follow the directions for the poop scoop in Recycling: More Useful Yard and Garden Items to make a kitty litter scoop.
Pet Dishes
If your puppy tends to chew up his food dish, make disposable ones by cutting off the bottoms of appropriately sized plastic containers.
Rag or Bag Storage
Cut off the top of a plastic milk jug, leaving the handle intact, and use the container to store clean rags or plastic grocery bags. Another good option for bag storage is using the carton from a twelve pack of sodas or a pop up tissue box.