Posts tagged "reusing"

How can I reuse or recycle toilet roll tubes?

toilet roll tubes
Oh, I know. How very Blue Peter. Except we don’t have very much need for a model of Tracy Island.

We don’t use kitchen rolls that much so mostly have the shorter toilet roll-size tubes lying around the place.

Short of just recycling them in our green bin, what are the alternatives?

Best Suggestions

  • Reduce: Look for toilet rolls with more sheets per rolls and if you’re really keen, swap to washable clothes for post-wee wipes :)
  • Reuse: Use them as pots for seedlings – put a little scrunched up newspaper in the bottom and fill with soil. The seedlings roots can grow through the wet cardboard when needed so you can just plant on the pot as is.
  • Recycle: Cardboard can be recycled through many local recycling schemes but can also be put on the compost heap/in wormeries – great for soaking up excess water. Alternately, fill them with scraps of paper, wood and/or pinecones and use them as firestarters.
  • See the comments below for more suggestions and ideas

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Posted by louisa in bathroom, items, packaging 66 Comments →

How can I reuse or recycle old socks?

Old socks by John LeachJohn’s socks have a tendency to

a) stretch to about seven foot in length
b) go hard and strangely crunchy
c) go missing

Mine hole at the heel and toe, lose all elasticity around the ankle then drain of colour.

When they’ve gone past the not-even-on-washing-day-when-every-other-sock-is-dirty stage, we usually just throw them in the dirty rag bag for using when something gross needs cleaning up. But even with all the gross (feline-related) things that happen in our house, we still have a huge stack of odd and broken socks.

Ideas?

Best Suggestions

  • Reduce: If you can afford them, buy good quality socks to start with – they’ll last a lot longer – keeping their shape and colour – and save money/resources over all. Fix small holes when they appear too – it’s a lot easier and neater to fix smaller ones than big ones.
  • Reuse: Socks are perfect for cleaning rags – slip a old sock over your hand and use it as a duster.
  • Recycle: If they’re clean, they can be shredded and used as stuffing in toys and draft excluders.
  • See the comments below for more suggestions and ideas

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Posted by louisa in clothes and fabric, items 53 Comments →

How can I reuse or recycle pistachio shells?

Pistachio nuts in a bowlOh lovely pistachio nuts. How sweet and salty your squishy insides are. How tough and protective your hard outsides are.

We’ve got a whole bowlful of the pistachio nut shells with no idea what to do with them.

We’re reluctant to just throw them on the compost heap because it seems such a waste to just ask them to rot down again (and they’ll probably take ages anyway) but that’s a last resort I guess.

Any ideas?

Best Suggestions

  • Reuse – Practical: Use them at the bottom of plant pots to help drainage.
  • Reuse – Creative: They can be made into rattles (in an old tin can or cardboard tube depending on how loud you want it) or instead of seashells wind chimes.
  • Recycle: Smash them up a bit and spread them around the garden – to start with, the sharp edges will deter slugs and snails and eventually the shells will break down into compost and feed your soil.
  • See the comments below for more suggestions and ideas

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Posted by louisa in food, items, packaging 119 Comments →

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