Reusing is one of the most cost-effective ways of
going green. There are plenty of items that you can reuse around the house to
reduce waste that you need to recycle or dispose of. Old items can be put to
new use with some bit of creativity.
Plastic bags
The plastic grocery bag can be used as a pollutant as found in many lakes, oceans and streams or it can be a very versatile item.
There are hundreds of ways of reusing this much-vilified item. The first
priority is reusing them for shopping at the local grocery or farmers’ market. It
also comes in handy when walking around and you need somewhere to place
trinkets purchased by the roadside. A plastic bag makes a very good trash can
liner as it is waterproof meaning wet waste put in it will not leak. Use it for
a bathroom or kitchen trash can. It also makes good storage for waste that can be smell and disgusting like used diapers or dog waste collected around the house.
Old newspaper
The first thought that comes to mind when looking to
dispose of old newspaper is recycling. Before taking it for recycling, you can
reuse old newspaper to stuff items that are in danger of shrinking like shoes
or handbags. It can also be used to wrap
items that are fragile for example decorative china before putting in a box. A
newspaper is good insulation against harsh cold weather. Cover your potted
plants with newspaper to protect the leaves and flowers and you can find unique ways to wrap gifts using newspapers.
Dryer sheets
Instead of throwing away dryer sheets after your
laundry, dry them out for reuse. They are very good for wiping smooth surfaces
like windshield glass and table tops. The slight texture of dryer sheets makes
them more effective in wiping off dirt than paper towels. They will clean the glass without
scratching it.
Honey or Mason jars
An empty honey jar can be used around the kitchen for
holding other items like sugar or salt. It can also be used in the home office
to hold stationery items like pens and erasers. A honey jar is long lasting
meaning it can be reused for as long as you like. Mason jars are the staple item used to preserve food items. Besides honey, you can turn your jelly mason jars into many useful items.
Fallen leaves
Who would have ever thought that leaf litter can be used to give more life to plants in
the yard. You can use leaves to make compost for use in your kitchen garden instead of
fertilizer. They way you carry this out is by pouring the leaves directly into a potting jar where they will decompose to
make nutrients for your flowers and herbs. Leaves also make good mulch to
insulate other plant’s roots against cold winter weather. And don't forget your child's school project. You can use
leaves for their art and science projects by drying the leaves and sealing them in wax paper. They can then be
stuck on drawing books as creative art.
