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Honored Contributor
Posts: 44,347
Registered: ‎01-08-2011

What Are Things Around House You Use In A Nontraditional Way?

Since we no longer microwave in the origonal freezer containers, I've been keeping them for use in the refrigerator to store food whill be rewarmed on top of the range.

 

I also have been placing the tops between my good glassware to keep them from hitting and breaking!  I'd break one every time after I ran the washer after company!

 

I also buy wooden clothes pins for chip clips.  

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,862
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: What Are Things Around House You Use In A Nontraditional Way?

Hi, ECBG,

 

   A few old time posters will remember the "garden grabber" rake and the leaf bag frame it sold with, circa 2000.

 

   The grabber stopped grabbing leaves after a year or so and I threw it out. 

 

    But that "leaf bag frame" is my main waste receptacle.  It holds a lot of household waste, I know how to put the bags on so they don't collapse, and it is sanitary (no permanent trash bin in the kitchen) and easy to transfer to the town garbage barrels (which mandate the use of trash bags).

 

    It works for me.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,389
Registered: ‎07-17-2010

Re: What Are Things Around House You Use In A Nontraditional Way?

I saw a tutorial on how to make a lazy-susan with two cake pans and some marbles (doesn't matter who the source is, those tutorials are all over YouTube).  I have a cake pan drying in my garage that I've spray-painted white.  I have already painted the other one.  When I'm finished, I'll have a lazy-susan that cost me $3, plus the cost of the spray paint.  I may add something to the side of the visible pan to make it look a bit more finished.

 

I also like to repurpose or upcycle items that are usually tossed.  It's actually become a hobby of mine to learn new ways to reuse things.  YouTube is a great source of inspiration.

 

I save the netted bags left from the lemons or oranges I buy, and I make a scrubber to scrub the tub with out of them.  I use old socks to dust blinds or small items...or I use them to buff wax from the car.  I have a party dish (with sections) that I use to organize hair accessories inside a drawer.  I reuse jars my food came in to store dry bulk pantry goods, and other things.  I have a food serving tray sitting on top of my dryer to corral loose items in the laundry area (it sits on top of an old dish-drying mat so it doesn't slide around or rattle). 

 

I also depotted my individual eyeshadows (took them out of their compacts) and glued them into old CD cases to make palettes, to cut down on clutter.  I use them more now, because I can see all of the shades more easily, and I don't have to search through a bunch of little compacts for the shade I want (and I no longer forget about shades I like that have been pushed to the back of the drawer).  I recommend depotting single eyeshadows and putting them into a palette, even if it is a z-palette or something like that (instead of old CD cases).  It just makes life so much easier if you have a lot of singles to store.



"Heartburn Can Cause Cancer" -- www.ecan.org
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,777
Registered: ‎12-02-2013

Re: What Are Things Around House You Use In A Nontraditional Way?

When I used to use more makeup ( think creams applied with fingers to use as concealer, as redness remover, etc.),

i would clean out a very small compact, 2" X 1", and put dabs of the different creams and blush in the two trays.  Could fit 5 - 6 dabs easily.  This way I had " portable " makeup for my purse.

 

The little that I use now doesn't need touching up...no longer wear eyeshadow as my concealer gives me the taupe look I want.

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,777
Registered: ‎12-02-2013

Re: What Are Things Around House You Use In A Nontraditional Way?

A while ago I started to find really interesting ceramic umbrella stands at various flea markets.  Now each of my bathrooms has a distinctive holder for lots of TP rolls !

 

I have also used smaller ones for storing the toilet brush and cleaner and / or disinfectant wipes.

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill
Valued Contributor
Posts: 925
Registered: ‎10-12-2016

Re: What Are Things Around House You Use In A Nontraditional Way?

You gals are very clever.   I use aluminum foil for mineral based foundation and setting powder.  I hate the mess it makes so I just get out the foil, fold up four sides and pour the foundation into one and setting powder in another.  Once I'm done, it gets folded up and reused until it needs to be filled again.  No flying powder all over the bathroom counter!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Formerly Posted as LuLuBelle

 

Remember to Spay and Neuter your Pets

Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,917
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: What Are Things Around House You Use In A Nontraditional Way?

[ Edited ]

I use trays in my cabinets to hold spices baking goods etc.I can take one down to the counter to see what I need versus digging in the cabinet.

i use unwaxed dental floss to tie up my turkey...dentist hands out too much.I have used it to sew with too.i need more ways to use up my stash.