5 Fun and Unusual Ways to Reuse Household Items

Sometimes reusing items in the house isn't about saving money or helping the environment: sometimes it's just pure fun. Coming up with new ways to use old things is a creative process that can be a real blast. Especially when it works! You'll have something real that you can touch and use that others would have thrown away.

Here are a few fun and unusual ways to reuse household items.

1. Make Your Own Sprinkler System

Old garden hose. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Don't throw away your old garden hoses, even if they leak! Instead, seal off one end of the garden hose with cement, melted plastic or glue. Then poke holes throughout the rest of the garden hose.

You now have a soaker hose! Thread this hose throughout your garden and turn on the water. Your new soaker hose will spray water throughout your garden while you barely lift a finger.

2. Make Your Own Fridge Magnets

Instead of throwing away your bottle caps, save them up. Go to your local stationary store or eBay and buy a pack of small magnets.

Then grab your bottle caps and glue the magnet to the back. Congratulations! You now have home-made fridge magnets that look really neat!

There are a lot of things you can use besides bottle caps. Your creativity is the only limitation.

3. Make Your Own Drink Coasters

Do you have old CDs lying around that you'll probably never use? Instead of just throwing them away, why not turn them into unique drink coasters?

There are many ways you can do this. You can paint over them then laminate them. You can melt the surface of the CD to create unique textures. You could sand the surface of the CD in uneven shapes to create an interesting effect.

Don't be afraid to experiment - chances are, you've got a lot of these lying around.

"Ball blue" aqua glass home canning Mason jar. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

4. Make Your Own Lamp

Take your used glass bottles and make your own lamp. From your neighborhood shop, just buy a small light that can be inserted into the bottle. Thread it in, then turn it on.

To get even more creative, you can use a light coating of paint on the outside to change the light's colors. You can use several different colors to create a multi-colored light that'll really impress your friends.

5. Turn Your Shoes into a Playground

Did you know that you can send Nike your old shoes and they'll turn them into a playground? They'll literally take your old shoes and melt them down in a safe way, then use the plastic to build playgrounds.

These are a few fun and creative ways you can reuse household items. Unlike buying a lamp or a soaker hose, you'll get to look at these items and know that YOU made them! You get to express your creativity while feeling the pride that comes with making something new, all while doing good things for the planet.

How to Safely Recycle Batteries

This week we've reached the third "R" - the one that is the most talked about these days - and of course that's recycling (if you've missed the first two - reduce and reuse, those are especially important, so be sure to check out our earlier posts in the series). Once you've done everything you can to reduce your production of waste, and reuse or re-purpose whatever you can, now it's time to recycle whatever's left. (Oh yes, and of course don't forget when it comes to kitchen and food waste, the ultimate and best form of recycling is composting! We talk a lot more about that on our sustainable gardening blog, so be sure to check that out as well - just click any of the tags below the article to pull up more articles on that topic.)

By now, most people are pretty familiar with how to recycle plastic, paper, and glass, but what about electronics and batteries? This week we'll focus on these newer and trickier categories of recyclables, and how you can keep these items and their potentially dangerous chemical ingredients out of our landfills.

Batteries. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Many people don’t think about it all that much and just throw batteries away.  This is not only bad for the environment, it’s also dangerous if kids or pets get into the garbage and get a hold of them. We all know not to even touch battery acid if it leaks, so why would we just throw these toxic chemicals out into the landfill where they can leach into the soil and groundwater?

In addition to battery acid, the metals of batteries can be dangerous when left to leak into the soil.  Heavy metals can get into your soil, water and even into your food. 

Instead of throwing out your batteries, you can simply recycle them.  This keeps those dangerous poisons out of the environment and reduces the amount of trash in landfills.  In fact, many places now consider batteries a form of hazardous waste and prohibit them being thrown away; however, even in these areas, very few batteries are being recycled.

If you get a large battery replaced, like in your car or boat, make sure you know what’s happening to your old battery.  While it may cost you a small fee, you should be able to ensure your battery is properly recycled after it’s taken out of your vehicle.  There are many companies that now offer services to help companies recycle batteries.  You can find a place that already recycles, or encourage your mechanic to do so.

Other batteries might take a little more effort to recycle.  You will likely need to take them to a hazardous waste recycling station.  While you may not have a clue of where to find them, a quick online search will help you find local drop offs where you can take your batteries.  If it’s far away or a bit of a hassle to get to, you can have a place in your house to store dead batteries until you have enough to take over.  Just remember not to let them sit too long because they can begin to deteriorate and become dangerous.

You may also find that local businesses will recycle batteries for you.  There are companies that will set up recycling for businesses for a low price, so they may offer to recycle for you if you can get your batteries into the store.  If you look around, you may find a convenient location so you don’t have to go all the way to a recycling center.

Rechargeable batteries. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

And when it comes to household batteries, why not just use rechargeables?  Sure, you’re going to eventually have to throw them away, but throwing away one set of batteries is a whole lot less of a mess than throwing out fifty.  It used to be the case that rechargeables were a pain to charge up and didn’t last long, but technology has improved significantly.  Now you can get speed chargers that get your batteries fully charged in just a few minutes and last as long as a regular battery.

Once you’ve safely recycled your batteries, keep going.  Everything in your home from electronics to fluorescent light bulbs can be recycled to provide us with a safer, cleaner world.  So start researching and get recycling!

For how to recycle electronics, be sure to check back Thursday.

Green Ideas on How to Revamp & Reuse Old Furniture

Whether you have furniture in your home you’d like to spruce up or you’ve purchased furniture at a flea market or salvage yard, there are plenty of low-cost and green ways to make old furniture exciting so you can get more use out of it and keep it out of the landfills.

Furniture conservation - applying paint remover (stripper) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

#1.  Paint it.  Dingy furniture can get a whole new life with a fresh coat of paint.  If the furniture is already painted, you’ll want to put on a mask and strip it.  Old paint can contain lead and other harmful chemicals.  Next, head to your local paint store and find your favorite color in low VOC or VOC-free paint. 

(VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds, are chemicals released from the paint.  They can cause illness and disease for many years to come as they are released into the air for decades.)  You can also strip and stain the furniture with natural and VOC-free stains. 

#2.  Reupholster it.  Have a piece of furniture that you like but doesn’t quite match your current décor?  Reupholster it with environmentally-friendly fabric like organic cotton or wool.  And if upholstering is too big of a do-it-yourself job, take it to an expert. It’ll cost less than buying new and is a more environmentally-friendly choice.

#3.  Add bits of finery.  Cabinets, drawers, and armoires can be spruced up with a little bit of new hardware.  You can often purchase the hardware from a flea market or a salvage store. They’re great places to find hardware with personality. 

A Chicagoland Flea Market.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Tabletops can shine with mosaic tiles made from hammered porcelain or glass tiles.  You can find tiles at your local flea market or salvage yard and the project of hammering them into bits and then reassembling them on your tabletop into a beautiful pattern can be both cathartic and fun. 

Finally, you can also use sheets of scrap metal or recycled metal to create flash on tabletops or cupboard fronts.  The metal can be used as tiles or as an entire front to add an urban or contemporary touch. 

People have used everything from chicken wire to astro turf to add flair and personality to old furniture.  There are a million green ways to make old furniture new again - it just takes a bit of creativity.  Take a look at what you have around you and how you can make good use of it in an eco-friendly way.

Helpful Resources on Refinishing and Reusing Furniture:
   

Reuse - Try Bartering to Save Money & Reduce Waste

One great (and cheap) way to encourage reuse is to barter for items you want in trade for items you want to get rid of. Bartering has been around for a very long time - even longer than money. It's well documented that ancient people traded their own items of value for goods from others who had traveled from distant lands.

The definition of bartering is to trade goods or services without the exchange of money. During these uncertain economic times and the need to put a lid on previous easygoing spending habits, bartering is making a big comeback.

Landfill - waste goes to waste. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Bartering is an excellent way to get rid of items you don't want. Do you have a rocking chair you don't use anymore now that your babies have grown up? You can dispose of it by trading it for something you want now. It's a win-win situation and has the added benefit of not adding stuff you no longer like or need to the landfills. Keep in mind the saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure". It's so true.

Bartering also works with services, not just goods. Perhaps you have a skill like mending, teaching math to kids, cooking, or website building. Maybe you own a big flatbed truck or you have a strong back and big biceps. You can get piano lessons from the little old lady down the road for your child in exchange for mowing her lawn. Maybe the gourmet cook next door will make you a few dinners every time you haul something away for her. Use your imagination; you have plenty of skills you can offer for the services you need.

There are many bartering groups popping up online. Be sure to read their terms of service and then jump in. Don't be intimidated; start off looking at what people are in need of and asking for, and see if you can help them. It's a good idea to figure out what services you might need or items you have to barter with before you get started.

The Barter Network Money (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Bartering is also fun. Perhaps you can trade your older TV for those belly dancing lessons you've always wanted to try but never had the money for. Or maybe you get tired of your living room furniture quite often. You can trade your furniture every time you feel like you want a change without having to visit the furniture store.

Bartering has been going on forever to a certain degree, and it sure makes a lot of sense now when money may be tighter. Join some bartering groups online, or even better - start locally and look around at what you and your neighbors or friends could offer each other. Enjoy your new stuff and feel good about keeping your old stuff out of the landfills.

Reduce: Five Ways to Cut Down On Packaging

This month we're doing a short series on the "3 R's" - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Growing up surrounded by nature, even as a little kid I was very environmentally conscious. I read environmentally aware magazines, from Ranger Rick to National Geographic, created artwork on environmental themes, and pasted stickers about recycling in my notebooks and on my bedroom walls. I knew about the three "R's" from about the age of 8!

The waste hierarchy refers to the "3 Rs" reduce, reuse and recycle, which classify waste management strategies according to their desirability. The 3 Rs are meant to be a hierarchy, in order of importance. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

These days recycling has become somewhat of a buzz word, but we shouldn't forget the first two - reducing your waste and reusing what you can are even more important. Recycling uses energy and can create its own waste products. So be sure you check off the first two "R's" before you move on to recycling as the last resort. (See the waste hierarchy example to the right.)  This week we're talking about the first and simplest step in terms of energy consumption and effort - reducing your consumption and production of waste.

It’s amazing how much packaging it takes to ship something.  Even something as simple as a book takes a box, shrink-wrap and something to fill the empty space between the box and the book - typically bubbles, foam peanuts or shredded paper.  Where does all this packaging go once you’ve received your item?  For most people it goes in the garbage - unless you're like me, and you save most of your packaging to use the next time you ship something (we'll talk more about reuse next week).  And we haven’t even mentioned the packaging of food and items purchased locally in your every day shopping.  Here are five ways to cut down on packaging and save resources.

#1.  Buy in bulk.  Whether you’re buying books online or cereal at your grocery, when you buy in bulk you cut down on packaging.  Think about it - if you buy one book at a time online then you’re going to receive a box for each book and all the packaging that goes along with shipping that item.  When you buy a regular box of cereal, you consume it and toss the box.  However if you buy a bulk box of cereal it may last as long as three regular boxes of cereal - you get more cereal and less packaging.

#2.  Buy from retailers who package using reusable or recyclable materials.  And when you’re shopping, use reusable or recyclable containers.  This trend is really catching on.  Stand in any grocery store line and you’ll see people shopping with reusable shopping bags - that’s an example of cutting down on packaging because you’re not taking dozens of plastic shopping bags home.  As a mail-order small business owner, I save packaging and reuse it for shipping items to our customers as much as possible. In fact, I haven't bought packing material (other than boxes) in almost 10 years!

Additionally, some retailers who manufacture and distribute processed foods are beginning to package them in reusable and/or easily recyclable containers to minimize landfill waste. And when it comes to books, why not go electronic and buy books with Kindle or another similar reader. You can even download e-books for free from some public libraries now! Not only will you reduce packaging, you'll also cut down on clutter from all those stacks of books that tend to accumulate around the house.

Food Packaging (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

#3.  Don’t buy prepackaged foods.  Juice boxes, for example, are incredibly useful; however, a large bottle of juice is a more sustainable practice and you can just as easily pour a serving into an aluminum water bottle for your children to enjoy.  You throw away less waste. Obviously we talk a lot here about the impacts of processed foods on your health, and the importance of preparing your own meals at home, so this is just another reason to learn to cook from scratch yourself! When it comes to groceries, shop as much as possible at local farmer's markets and CSA programs - not only will you be consuming much better quality food, but you'll drastically cut down on packaging materials.

#4.  Buy used.  Used products rarely come packaged.  You just pick them up as is from the store.  No packaging, no waste. And you can often save quite a bit of money as well.

#5.  Barter and/or trade items rather than shopping.  Bartering and trading for products is a great way to save money and conserve resources.  Many people are forming book swap groups to save money and materials by simply sharing books.  And some people are banding together to share clothing and other items. This can also be a fun way to connect with other like-minded individuals, which is important in helping you feel connected and supported in your community.

Packaging does more than fill landfills; it costs money and resources to produce - and even to recycle.  When you take a few simple steps to cut down on packaging you’re having a significant effect on your environment.  You’re making it a better place to live for you and for future generations. 

How to Make Kids’ Lunchboxes Waste-Free

We talked about safety issues with lunchboxes on Monday, but what about making your lunch containers safe AND environmentally friendly? When we think of school lunches, many of us picture a brown bag containing a paper napkin, a sandwich on store-bought bread in a plastic baggy, a box of juice or milk, and perhaps a piece of fruit and a plastic-wrapped cake or cookie.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What we probably don't picture are landfills heaped with non-biodegradable plastic packaging and brown paper bags that were not recycled. Let's take a new look at the portable kids' lunch and find ways to make it less wasteful, along with keeping your kids safe.

1. Lunch box not bag

Not only is a reusable lunchbox (see Monday's post for some safe options) or insulated bag more environmentally friendly, but it provides a convenient container and carrier for the reusable containers and flatware your child will be bringing back home.

2. Reusable containers

Remember the thermos you used as a child? Filling a thermos with a cold drink is less wasteful than juice boxes, bottles of water, cartons of milk, or other convenience-packaged beverages. Refillable glass, stainless steel or hard plastic water bottles are another great option.

Covered glass containers or the thermos are good for hot or cold foods - chopped fruit, potato salad, or green salad are good cold options for such containers. Warm food suggestions are pasta, soup, or some of those wonderful dinner-leftovers.

3. Cloth napkins

These are not expensive and come in a wide range of designs. Let your child personalize his or her lunch with a unique napkin. Choose cloth napkins that can be washed with your regular laundry.

4. Do away with plastic straws and flatware
Straws are really not necessary, especially if you are using a refillable water bottle. Go ahead and pack whatever forks and knives you normally use at the table, or get a special set for your child's lunchbox. Since you'll be packing your kids' lunch in a reusable lunch bag, it's a simple matter for the flatware to be put back in the bag, brought home and washed.

Lunch box for January (Photo credit: monicca)

5. Home-made food

Remember the store-bought bread mentioned in the beginning? It undoubtedly came in a plastic bag or packaging. Making your own bread is not only healthier - it's cheaper and saves on throw-away packaging. And it's much more delicious as well! The same goes for the meals you pack. If you have to open a can or open a package to prepare their lunch, that's one more thing you will be throwing away.

Store-bought cakes and cookies, canned pasta or soup, and bags of chips are some suggestions of waste-producing items you can make yourself or dispense with altogether - the homemade versions will be tastier AND much healthier too!

6. Sandwiches

How do you pack this old lunch stand-by without plastic baggies? There are all sorts of reusable containers available that are just right for a sandwich. Flat containers with tight covers in hard plastic or glass are a great solution. They are widely available, washable, and they keep the sandwich from getting squished.

Lunch time does not have to be waste time! These tips should help you pack a healthier and more environmentally friendly lunch for your kids.

Recycling To Keep Our Planet Healthy

We've all heard the warnings; acid rain, global warming, landfills without any room, and on and on.  We don't recycle because it's the "in" thing to do; we recycle because we don't have any other options if we plan to leave the planet in good shape for the generations to come. Neither is being responsible for the environment just throwing stuff in a bin, either....

Image via WikipediaWhen you think of recycling you should really think about the whole cycle; reduce, reuse and recycle.  Think about it; if you don't need it, don't get it.  If you have to get it, get something that can be used again and if you get something that needs to be recycled by the professionals, put it in the recycle bin.

These are easy concepts and yet there are still people out there who ignore the signs.  The signs aren't just the ones that bear the recycle logo, but the signs that the oceans are warming and the snow caps that were visible a few years ago are barely an outline as far up as you can see.  If you've seen the Al Gore movie, An Inconvenient Truth, you'll realize there's a pretty good chance that those of us a few miles inland from the coast will be looking at water-front property one day, without having to move.

We've been careless up to this point with the way we've treated the Earth and it's time to change; not just the way we do things but the way we think.  The days of brushing your teeth with the water running the whole time are over and if we want to stay with this forward motion, we can't go back.  We can't go back to Image via Wikipediathe days when we believed we had all the room in the world for our trashed "stuff."  The planet is getting full and we have to learn how to make less, use things more or find a way to reuse them again.

If you're traveling, use airlines that work with paperless ticketing (if you have to fly that is) and be sure to scope out hotels that are inline with the recycling idea.  Bring your own soaps and shampoos; leave the little bottles provided by the hotel for people who forget to bring their own.  Reuse your towels more than once and don't have the linens changed daily, let it go a day or two. 

Before you leave for a trip remember to turn down your thermostat and/or turn off the AC.  Unplug your electronics from the wall to stop possible leaking wattage while it's turned off.  Utilize power strips for plugging items in and turn off the whole strip when you're leaving the house. 

Use linen napkins that can be washed and reused instead of paper products, check your cleaning supplies for any that have the words dangerous, poisonous or hazardous and stop using them right now!  Whether it's through direct contact or drainage from a landfill, these chemicals are not healthy and have no business in our soil and our drinking water. (For some healthier and safer options, visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/toxicload.html, and you can also get a free checklist for making your home less toxic.)

Be mindful of what you do, pay attention to the items you buy and always check yourself to see if you really need it or if it comes in a package with less waste.  (Remember, it's not JUST about recycling - don't forget the "reduce" and "reuse" parts, which are just as important, if not more.) We can all do our part and we will make a huge difference.

Related articles on Recycling:

• How can I reuse or recycle plastic chopping boards? (recyclethis.co.uk)
• Tips for Recycling Old Computer Equipment (brighthub.com)
• How to Teach Your Kids to Recycle (brighthub.com)
• Resolving to Set Up an Efficient Recycling System (1800recycling.com)