Recycling Tips

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Recycling Tips

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to see the latest additions!

 

 

1. Kleenex boxes - Store plastic grocery store bags in them. You can

then grab the bag just like you grab a tissue out of the box.

 

 

2. Envelopes - Carefully open the envelope and turn it inside out,

so the address is on the inside. Re-glue or tape the flaps down. Or

make your own envelopes out of scraps of paper, wrapping paper,

newspaper, old phone book pages, or wallpaper scraps (see below).

 

 

3. Happy Meal boxes - Save the boxes, and when your child needs to

be cheered up, make them their own happy meal! Add your own

nutritious foods and a favorite toy. Or pick up inexpensive items

from the dollar store: stickers, special pencils, etc (usually 10

for a dollar) as the toy.

 

 

4. Ziplock bags - Wash and rinse bags, then store them in the

freezer to prevent mildew.

 

 

5. Tennis ball - Split it and hide your valuables inside.

 

 

6. Coffee cans (big ones) - Make toy " stilts " ! Poke holes (with a

can opener) on either side of the can and thread a jumprope through

and they can walk on the cans while holding the jumpropes. Cool!

 

 

7. Egg cartons - Use to make seed starter trays. If you use the

heavy cardboard trays, you can compost the cardboard when you pop

the seedling out, or you could bury it next to the seedling to

decompose. Use to make extra ice cubes or to freeze soup stock and

gravy.

 

 

8. Old clothes - Use to make quilts, pillows, and blankets. Always

save the buttons.

 

 

9. Broken candles - Melt them down to make new candles. Add broken

crayons for color.

 

 

10. Nylon mesh bags from veggies - Cut the mesh into several pieces

and use for plastic scouring pads to clean your dishes. Click here

for more ideas: " Orange Bags -- How to Reuse Mesh Fruit Bags and

Recycle "

 

 

11. Used dryer softener sheets - Use for dusting instead of the

Pledge grab-it or Swiffer cloths. Impossible to clean pots and pans -

fill with water and used sheet, let sit for awhile, and stains will

be easier to clean. Great for removing soap scum from shower doors!

Click here for many more uses - courtesy of Bounce Dryer Sheets.

 

 

12. Old pillow cases - Use for laundry bag.

 

 

13. Empty paper-towel roll - Store extension cords inside.

 

 

14. Frisbees - Use as paper plate holders at a picnic.

 

 

15. Mouse Pads - Use as a paint pallet. Use acrylic, oils, or most

any paints. Wash when done, and reuse!

 

 

16. Newspaper - Use to clean windows, line trash cans, wrap

presents. Use in place of peanuts when mailing packages, as fire

starter, or as garden mulch.

 

 

17. Shoulder Pads - Use them to make padded hangers. Just sew a pad

on each end of the hanger.

 

 

18. Wallpaper books/samples - Use to make book covers, decorative

envelopes, or wrapping paper. Or make your own beautiful envelopes:

take apart any envelope you have, and trace the pattern onto the

back side of the wallpaper, then fold and glue or tape.

 

 

19. Film canisters - Store small items such as buttons, sequins, and

small nails.

 

 

 

20. Soap scraps - Mix with water to make soap jelly. Put in sock,

mesh, or used pantyhose to use in bath or for scenting drawers.

 

 

21. Pantyhose - Use for ponytail holders, to secure plants, or

buffing your shoes.

 

 

22. Coffee filters - Use to clean and polish, or as a replacement

for cheesecloth, paper towels, and napkins.

 

 

23. Glass jars & bottles - Use as a vase, for canning, or melt and

pour wax in for candles.

 

 

24. Plastic grocery bags - Donate to local Salvation Army. They

deliver meals on Wheels to elderly and are a non profit organization

and need bags to put food in to deliver.

 

 

25. Plastic jugs - Cut out the side to make a big scoop or garden

shovel, cut off the top and use as a funnel, fill with water and

freeze to use in coolers, or cut off top and use bottom to store

toilet brush.

 

 

26. Baby food jars - Fill with salt or cornmeal and use for

paperweight, use for crafts, and for storing small items. Use for

Use for individual Jar Mix Gifts: 1 cup of coffee mix, 1 cup of hot

chocolate mix, or 1 cup of tea. Decorate jar, glue on ribbon, and

attach gift tag with instructions.

 

 

27. Broken crayons - Sort by color, melt in old can, pour into molds

that come with Jello gigglers, then kids have new crayons in all

diferent shapes. **Thanks Susie!

 

 

28. Socks - Use in crafts, to hold soaps, or to wash car.

 

 

29. Milk cartons - use for potting plants, or fill with water and

freeze to make blocks of ice.

 

 

30. Soap Wrapper - Place it inside your shoe cabinet or shoe box.

It's a cheap way of filling the air with a nice smell.

 

 

31. Pill Bottles - Use to carry pins, vitamins, or fill it with

vaseline to use as lip gloss.

 

 

32. Junk Mail - Put it through paper shredder and use as packing

material when shipping gifts.