How to Reuse at Home: 24 Simple and Creative Ways

Recycling is great, but if you know how to reuse at home, you can save money while protecting the environment. You may be surprised to learn that many things you throw in the trash are still useful. You can reuse them for their original purpose or other purposes. In this article, we share simple ways to reuse at home, from containers to old clothes.

Let's start reusing for the planet.

Reusing items you usually throw away after one or two uses may not be something you'd ordinarily consider. After all, you can afford to do the convenient thing—buy new stuff whenever you want. However, your consumption habit impacts the environment. How you buy, use, and dispose of stuff contributes to pollution, natural resource depletion, and climate change.

The more new stuff you buy, the more new stuff manufacturers produce. Manufacturing consumes 50% to 80% of natural resources and releases 60% of greenhouse gases¹. Transporting goods releases even more greenhouse gases. Post-consumer waste begins with packaging and then disposing of single-use goods.

You unavoidably generate waste in your daily life. However, trash doesn't disappear into thin air. It piles up in landfills, escapes into our waterways, endangers wildlife, and damages the environment. You can reduce waste by buying less and reusing what you already own. While we strongly encourage recycling, only 9% of waste gets recycled, and that data covers only plastics². Therefore, rather than hoping the recycling bin will take

24 Ways to Repurpose Everyday Items 

Giving items new life through repurposing can be fun. You can do most of the DIYs we suggest below with some glue and a pair of scissors. However, don't hesitate to ask for help from experts or friends on more complex projects.

Click the quick links below to start your reusing journey:

1. Glass bottles as vases

You can create stunning eco-friendly flower vases with empty glass bottles. It doesn't require too much effort, and your imagination is the limit to how decorative the repurposed vases can be. You can use paint, string, stickers, metal wire, or engraving to turn an ordinary bottle into an elegant decor item. Or you can just use the bottle as it is.

2. Glass jars as candle jars

The soothing feel of burning scented candles is marred by how quickly old candle jars can pile up. The Good thing is that you can reduce waste by purchasing refill wax kits and pouring them into old jars lying around the house.

After each use, clean the candle jars with hot water and soap to remove residue and soot that might contaminate the fresh wax pour.

3. Glass jars as storage

Repurposed jars are perfect for storing homemade sauces, spices, dried herbs, tea leaves, fruits, nuts, etc. You can also use them to keep small amounts of grains, pasta, flour, sugar, etc on hand. When storing wet food, wash the jars with hot water and soap, followed by a good rinse after each use. It's an important safety measure.

You can also use old jars to store non-food items, such as Q-tips, cotton pads and balls, craft tools, and sewing supplies. 

4. Glass jars as light jars

A light jar adds a warm and cozy ambiance to a dark room. It's a simple DIY decor for festive seasons and nighttime garden parties.

There are several ways to make a light jar, but you'll need a glass bottle or jar and some fairy lights or tea lights. Whether you need other materials, such as metallic paint, glitter, glue, stickers, etc., depends on how creative you want to be.

5. Old containers as planters

Containers of all kinds, including milk jugs, plastic bottles, and bowls, can be repurposed as plant pots. Small containers for herbs, succulents, and other small plants, while larger containers can house dwarf fruit trees, ornamental plants, and vegetables.

You might have to cut your repurposed plant pot to shape it, but with some containers, it's as simple as pouring in the potting mix and planting your seeds.

6. Plastic bags as garbage bags

You can reuse single-use plastic bags as trash bags. The lightweight, disposable bags you get at the supermarket or with packages can be used as liners for small bins in your house or office. They will fill up quickly, and you'll probably have to make more trips to the dumpster, but it's a worthy compromise. It saves money on buying dedicated trash bags and reduces the plastic waste you generate. 

7. Old magazines as wrapping paper

Most people's shiny metallic wrapping paper cannot be recycled. It is an inseparable mix of materials like foil, plastic, and paper. It is not biodegradable, either.

Using old magazines and newspapers as wrapping paper is a more eco-friendly option. Your friends and family will appreciate the vintage minimalist presentation. More importantly, you can safely compost or dispose of the paper afterward.

You can also save packaging materials, such as boxes, bubble wrap, and packing peanuts, to reuse when wrapping gifts for loved ones.

8. Gift wrap as a craft supply

There are still options if you have damaged metallic gift wrap that you can't reuse to wrap another gift. You can use the wrapper for paper crafts like origami, bows, festive ornaments, and flowers. You can also shred softer gift wrappers to make confetti.

9. Egg cartons as seed starters

Egg cartons have the perfect-sized holes for starting seedlings. After transferring the plants to the garden beds, you can use the cartons as compost.

You can also use old egg cartons as trays for storing small crafts supplies and other odd items like buttons, pins, and screws.

10. Mesh produce bags as kitchen scrubbers

Some mesh-produced bags are sturdy and can be used continuously for months or years. You can use them as a laundry bag, gift bag, storage for power cords, etc. 

However, grocery stores typically give customers flimsy mesh produce bags that barely survive their first use. Nevertheless, there's still a possibility of reuse. You can use them to scrub dishes and pans gently.

11. Plastic water bottles as reusable water bottles

Fair warning: most sources say refilling water bottles is not a good idea due to chemical leaching and bacterial growth. However, with some safety measures, you can reuse your water bottles for a limited time.

Check that the RIC number on the bottle is not 3 or 7; bottles with those numbers contain Bisphenol A (BPA). Also, don't put hot liquids in the bottle or expose them to the sun; high temperatures increase the risks of chemical leaching. Wash the water bottle daily with warm, soapy water to prevent bacteria growth.

12. Plastic containers as storage

It is standard to see people storing leftovers, stocks, and sauces in empty ice cream or yogurt containers. Most single-use plastic food containers are surprisingly sturdy and can last for years. 

Larger containers are useful for storing raw dry foods such as grains, rice, beans, oats, and cereals. They are also handy for buying non-packaged foods at refill grocery shops.

13. Paper grocery bags as compost

Some paper bags have reinforced layers and plastic coating to ensure that they can endure multiple uses. You can carry those until they fall apart, but you might not be able to recycle them. 

The paper bags you get at the grocery store are often not durable enough to be reused as carry bags. However, you can turn them into compost and enrich your garden soil. Simply cut the bags into small bits, wet them, and add them to the bin.

If you don't have a compost bin, get crafting instead. You can make small bags out of damaged larger ones to present gifts.

14. Metal cans as desk organizers

The easiest way to reuse metal tins is to use them as storage. Cans with lids are great for storing supplies, trinkets, and other valuable small objects.

Tin and paint cans without lids make nice desk organizers to store your pens and other tools. You can attach a few cans to create a tin can caddy. You can decorate your tin can organizers with paint, string, yarn, and stickers.

Soda cans are perfect for making tin can lanterns. However, because they crumple easily, they are better off recycled than reused.

15. Milk jugs as a garden tool

There are many ways to repurpose a milk jug. You can cut off the top part, fill the bottom with potting soil, and have a pot for shallow-rooted plants. If you fill a milk jug with water and poke some holes in the cap, you have a watering can. 

You can also cut off the top half and use it as a scoop; if you open the lid, it becomes a funnel. By cutting certain parts out, you can make birdfeeders, tool caddies, and a plant tray with milk jugs.

16. Old towels as cleaning rags

Don't throw the old ones when you replace your bath towels. You can cut up old towels to give them new life as kitchen towels, furniture dust rags, dishcloths, and mop heads.

You can sew two to three old towels to make a bath mat. If you want to get creative, cut the towels into strips and make a braided bath mat. You can also make baby bibs and wipes if you have a baby at home.

17. Old sheets as a household helper

A common way to give old bedding new life is to use them as pet bedding. Donate the bedding to the local animal shelter if you don't have a pet. Another standard option is to use old bedding as picnic blankets and pillows.

However, old bed sheets can help around the house in several ways. To prevent cold drafts, you can roll up an old sheet and place it along the bottom of a drafty door or window. 

You can also wrap up fragile valuables in old sheets for extra cushioning and protection in storage or when moving out. 

If your ironing board surface is a little worse for wear, use old bed covers as an ironing board cover.

18. Old clothes as sewing craft fabrics

Sometimes, your old clothes are not fit to be donated, but they are still too good for the waste bin. You can reuse them as materials for sewing projects. 

You can use old clothing in various ways. Do you have some old jeans? Make a sturdy tote bag. If you have lots of cotton and linen clothing, cut them to make a patchwork quilt. You can also turn old T-shirts into no-sew boho bags, turn old sweaters into mittens, and make headbands from old scarves.

19. Cardboard boxes as storage

It is common to reuse cardboard boxes as storage boxes. They are roomy and sturdy and allow for various decorative options. You can use the box as is, create rooms within it, or join multiple boxes to make a shelf.

To keep your cardboard box in use for a long time, reinforce the seams with paper tape and line the inside with waste paper or fabric. If the boxes wear out, just turn them to compost or send them to recycling.

20. Junk mail as packing paper

Junk mail is a nuisance, but you can turn it around if you reuse it. Most people immediately think of composting junk mail, but sometimes, the paper is lined with plastic and won't decompose completely. It cannot be recycled, either. 

Rather than trashing your junk mail, save it as packing paper when you need to ship fragile items or pack gift boxes. You can use the mail as it comes or put it in a shredder to make a colorful mix.

21. Wine corks as woodcraft material

Wine corks are small and often overlooked for potential reuse. However, they are a versatile material for making all sorts of woodcraft. With cork stoppers, you can make wreaths, coasters, foot mats, key chains, stamps, vases, and planters.

22. Bottle caps as a craft material

Bottle caps are the most versatile material for arts and crafts. You can create almost anything with glue, metal wire, a drill, and string. You can make curtains, toys, furniture, home decor, baskets, and art pieces.

If you aren't artistically inclined, a more straightforward way to reuse bottle caps is to use them as sealers for grocery baggies.

23. Soap slivers as new bars

Soap slivers can be yucky and annoying to use, but don't throw them out just yet. You can make a new bar by melting and remolding the soap slivers. You won't use the repurposed bar to bathe, but you can wash your hands with it.

24. Food waste as new dishes

The most common way to reuse food waste is as compost. We understand that some food waste belongs in the trash. However, with some patience, you can make whole new dishes from most food scraps and leftovers. 

Vegetable scraps, fruit peels, and meat and fish bones are great for making broths. You can also use overripe fruits to make jams, smoothies, candies, or fruit leather roll-ups. 

Conclusion

Throwing away stuff has become so ingrained in model culture, and for most people, it is a matter of convenience. However, how quickly we use and throw away things has consequences for the environment and climate change. 

It is essential to consider opportunities to reuse everything we buy. Additionally, avoid items that cannot be reused, such as disposable utensils and condiment packets. Choose reusable grocery bags and refillable products. Remember to recycle the waste you are unable to repurpose.