by Gail Kavanagh

Created on: April 15, 2009

1. Plastic bottles: Use as containers for home made ginger beer or cordial and you will never have to buy any more.

2. Spray bottles: Fill with water, add a few drops of essential oil, and use as a room freshener. Or fill with water, add two tablespoons vinegar, i teaspoon borax and a few drops of orange oil or the juice of half a lemon, and use as a surface spray in the kitchen.

3. Plastic bags: Use to store out of season clothes like sweaters, as kitchen refuse bags (just drop the whole thing into the garbage bin) or cut into strip and plait and coil into hard wearing wet weather door mats.

4. CDs: Turn old scratched CDs into coaster for the deck or patio, bright mobile and wind chimes, or `alter' them with paint and embellishments into new works of art.

5. Old Clothes: cut up and shred to stuff cushions or quilts, cut into pieces for patchwork,take apart at the seams and use for patterns, or cut into strips and make rag rugs.

6. Paper: Tear up and use as mulch in the garden, learn to make your own paper, soak in a bucket of water to make papier mache and turn into useful bowls and other items.

7. Polystyrene: Use big sheets of packing polystyrene to make skeletons and gravestones for Halloween and snowmen for Christmas. Decorate your yard with them. Keep polystyrene packing beads to make bean bags.

8. Cardboard boxes: Make doll's houses, cover shoe boxes with wrapping paper and turn into photo or trinket boxes, Fill bigger boxes to the brim with old newspapers packed tightly, (or other flat items you want to store) and cover with fabric to make extra seating or footstools.

9. Tin cans: Keep them in the garage or workshop to store nuts, bolts and screws.Keep them in the kitchen to dispose of discarded fats and oils, or in the study to hold pencils.

10. Glass jars and bottles: Use the jars to store lentils, pulses, dried herbs, spices, breadcrumbs, and any other dried foods. Recycle for home made preserve and pickles, and use glass bottles for home made herb flavored oils and vinegar.

11. Old socks and stockings: Cut into rings and use as pony tail holders. Turn into sock puppets for the kids. Use to store posters and rolled documents.

12. Worn sheets: Cut worn old sheets into large squares for dusters. With only worn or stained sheets, Cut away the bad part and turn into pillowcases, cushion covers, patchwork or child's clothes.

13. Broken crockery: Smash into tiny pieces and use for mosaic. Put large pieces in the bottom of plant pots and window boxes for better drainage.

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