by Eva Pronovost

Created on: May 06, 2008   Last Updated: February 24, 2009

Our Depression-era Grannies might not have come up with the green mantra, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle", but it definitely taps into their sense of thrift. Repurposing household items means using them for as long as possible before throwing them away, and is an environmentally friendly way to reduce the amount of junk that ends up in landfills. Repurposing also eases the burden on our wallets, which is a definite bonus in the current economic recession. So hark back to dustier, Depression-era times and get in touch with your Dirty Thirties self for repurposing inspiration!

The first question every reuser asks is, "Can I fix this?" Boot soles can be glued back on and zippers mended by a cobbler and jacket linings mended by a tailor, while minor repairs such as reattaching shirt buttons, mending loose hems, and patching elbows and knees can be done at home. Replace watch batteries and worn out shoelaces, and extend the life of tupperware whose lid has gone missing with a rubber band and a bit of plastic wrap over the mouth.

If it can't be fixed, then it can be reused.

First there are the easy items: milk jugs, coffee cans, and empty plastic margarine and yoghurt tubs. Milk jugs can be used to store popcorn or rice, as a watering can with holes poked in the lid, as a bird feeder when hung in the garden and the sides are cut out, and to keep vinegar-based home-made cleaning solutions. Use empty coffee cans to hold dry kitchen goods, pencils and pens, or as an easy vase. Leftovers from dinner keep just as well in empty margarine tubs as long as they aren't microwaved, and wide, squat margarine and cream cheese tubs make great dog dishes and cat bowls.

There's always an excess of plastic bags lying around, and while reusing them as garbage bags is a start, their reuse-ability doesn't stop there! Plastic bags can be brought back to the grocery store and reused to carry groceries, can be used to protect hands while picking up dog poo or garbage, in place of bubble wrap or packing peanuts when mailing packages, and to cover plants and protect them from frosts. If you're especially crafty, you can finger-knit bags into a rug.

Some old clothes aren't fit for Goodwill, but a needle and thread - and a little patience - can transform an old tee-shirt into an attractive reusable shopping bag: simply sew the bottom shut, cut off the sleeves, and remove and widen the collar. If clothes are really, truly worn out, cut them up to use as cleaning rags. Socks make especially good dusters because you can slip them over your hand and run your fingertips along hard-to-reach areas such as door frames and window ledges.

Does the house need a make-over? Cover shoe boxes with used wrapping paper to make attractive storage containers for photographs or toys. Update a frumpy lamp by spray-painting the base and recovering the lampshade with fabric from old pillowcases or skirts. Worn out sheets can be used to line curtains, beat-up pots and pans make homey wall decorations, and empty wine bottles turn into funky piggy banks.

Repurposing's only limit is the imagination, and if our Depression-era mothers and grandmothers made do with less, so can we! Repurposing involves a little more thought and effort than whipping out a credit card, but it's a greener alternative to consumption and it's a thrifty choice for those on a budget. Just remember to reduce, reuse... and reuse... and reuse!

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