What do you reuse?

[MPsSweetie]

We have a bunch of glass jars and I am trying to think of what to do with them, so I thought maybe you guys could share what things you reuse and how.

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[frog]

We use our glass jars for stuff that turtle puts up, dried beans and gifting things to people.

[notwonamesalike]

Originally Posted by frog

We use our glass jars for stuff that turtle puts up, dried beans and gifting things to people.

For stuff that the turtle puts up?

[kriket]

Originally Posted by notwonamesalike

For stuff that the turtle puts up?

Turtle and frog are a couple

I use they for everything. Drinking. moving something from here to there, something for DH to put nuts and bolts in. (if you nail the lid to his garage cabinate he can fill them up and screw them in, looks nice and tidy)

[alysmommy2004]

We use glass jars for leftovers.

[Raw Vegan Mama]

Glass Containers, Clamshells, & Junkmail

We use them as "To-Go Cups". every morning my husband takes a smoothie to work in them. I also send other drinks in the glass jars, too.

I use them to store crafty items. One has rocks, another shells, etc. I like that they are clear and you can see what is inside of them.

The big plastic water containers that sit in your fridge (2.5 gallon size with a spout) I use for the kids to store blocks in. I cut off part of the top (leaving the spout hole and handle) and they can put the big pieces in the hole I cut, and little pieces through the spout hole. Then they can carry it all over.

I use the clamshells from lettuce/greens for toy storage as well. It keeps all their toys organized and neat. Plus they love seeing throught them and choosing what to play with. When the clamshell gets beat up, I recycle it and use another one.

I use junkmail and used envelopes for scratch paper and crafts.

I will cut out any cute picture from boxes, junkmail, cards, etc. to use for crafts too. (Depending on size they may be stored in a clamshell or glass container)

I know there are lots more... will think about & post more later!:

[Raw Vegan Mama]

Originally Posted by alysmommy2004

We use glass jars for leftovers.

We do too! My favorite way to use my salsa jars (squat wide mouth ones) is to make a big pot of soup or chili and then fill them up with the soup/chili! It is the perfect size!

[dawningmama]

Originally Posted by alysmommy2004

We use glass jars for leftovers.

Check!

Originally Posted by Raw Vegan Mama

I use them to store crafty items. One has rocks, another shells, etc. I like that they are clear and you can see what is inside of them.

I use junkmail and used envelopes for scratch paper and crafts.

I will cut out any cute picture from boxes, junkmail, cards, etc. to use for crafts too.

Check, check, check!

Other things we reuse:
~I'm making tote bags out of plastic grocery bags (even though I use my reusable bags at most stores, I still have about a gazillion plastic bags around. I think they sneak into my house at night and then multiply in the hall closet.)

~I will reuse fabric from clothing we've outgrown or that has become stained as the lining for my knitting projects (purses, mostly)

~Old shoes can be made into cool little planters. We haven't done any yet this year, but I have a couple put aside for this. It makes a cute little display on the front porch.

~Glass jars can also be cleaned, painted/decoupaged with repurposed magazines or paper, and then used as candle holders, containers for homemade beauty products (sugar scrub, for instance), firefly catchers, drinking glasses, pen holders, makeup/hair brush holders, accessory holders (barrets, necklaces, etc).

~Shoe boxes make awesome video game holders. They can be wrapped with the paper from brown paper bags and decorated with stickers/paint/magazine images/glitter/whatever. Awesome kiddo project.

[possum]

We reuse regular canning jars as well as "disposable glass jars from almost anything with a resealable lid.
Spice jars are great for refilling with bulk spices from the HFS or with ones we dry from our garden. We have even used dried spices from our garden as part of gifts at Christmas.
I have reused jars when I lacto-ferment veggies (mostly sauerkraut and kimchi) and make ketchup since you don't need the seal like you do when you are heat canning veggies.
I also reuse jars to store leftovers and as cannisters. I have dry beans, pop corn, rice, nuts, etc. all in glass jars on my counter ('cause I like the way they look all lined up there ) and in my cabinet.
The lady we get dairy from delivers milk, yoghurt, and goat cheese in reused jars. :

We reuse glass juice bottles for water bottles.

We reuse beer bottles and make great home brew!

I save youghurt and other smallish plastic containers for starting plants in the spring.

We also reuse egg cartons for eggs.

Old t-shirts make great family cloth .

I also re-purpose our own and thrift store clothing for fabric for diaper covers (sweaters for soakers and knits for the decorative fabric of wraps) and baby clothes, and I have started making a collection of t-shirt bags for Christmas gifts. I have some lacy curtains from my SIL's house that are just waiting to become play clothes for my nieces.

Kitty litter buckets are great! That's what we use for a diaper pail. We also store and carry tools in them and have one for rock salt that sat close to the door without looking too tacky during the winter when we had snow. I like the buckets that have a removable label so you can have a plain white bucket.

We compost. I also save the tops of carrots and bits from celery and onion peels for a few days in the fridge when I am going to make stock.

I save buttons from clothing that is gong on to other uses. They can be used to replace ones if one goes missing, but they also make great play items for sorting for kids old enough not to eat them and great craft items.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

Melinda

[MPsSweetie]

Ooooh, great ideas guys!! Thanks!

[bjorker]

Glass jars: What everyone else said. I use them like tupperware. It's silly to buy plastic tupperware when I have FREE (considering that I paid for the food inside of them) glass containers to put food in. It almost cuts out the need for tupperware and ziploc-style bags in my house.

Junk mail: I re-use the envelopes as scratch paper, esp for grocery lists and reminder notes. The rest gets shredded to use to make nice craft paper with the papermaker, or shredded to use in worm compost.

Old t-shirts & PJ pants: cut up into family cloth

Old magazines, bottle tops from dp's soda, other clean-ish recyclables: various craft projects.

Various boxes, canisters, etc, from past products: toy/tool containers

I'm forgetting stuff, but I think it's all pretty much been covered here, anyway!

[Ruthla]

I re-use glass jars for food storage- but when I get too many I'll recycle the extras.

Outgrown clothes get "recycled" by being passed along to other families who can use them. Generally I give them to a local DV shelter.

Totally worn out clothes go into the "scrap fabric bag" to be turned into doll clothes or other crafts projects.

We generally wear shoes until there's nothing left of them, then they get thrown out. But if shoes get outgrown before being worn out, we'll give them away with the outgrown clothing.

We reuse grocery bags, and use lots of cloth (napkins, towels, tablecloths, etc) in an effort to minimize the use of disposable paper products. And it goes without saying that we reuse our dishes, glasses, pots and pans, etc.

[mgilleran@earth-co]

We reuse a lot fo the things already mentioned also. I hoard glass jars like crazy. They can be used for so much. Right now I am getting low on them because I've given out so much black bean salsa in them lately.
I also reuse clothing we have outgrown to make new outfits for DDs. Right now I am on a kick of making younger DD sundresses out of hubby's old dress shirts. It is fun! There is one posted on my blog. The first one I made is cuter, I just don't have pictures of it yet.

[Contrariety]

Wow. I totally suck at reusing.

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[MrsMike]

You ladies totally rock. I just got so many good ideas from this thread. I was literally just going through old clothes a few minutes ago and came across a TON of old t-shirts. I don't wear regular t-shirts anymore because I prefer the formfitting type. Most of them are David Bowie shirts and I can't bear to get rid of them (big fan...named my son after him). I'm going to make them into tote bags! Awesome!
Ooooh....I saw that someone resuses shoes as planters. I've done this with old pointe showes. I fill them with dried flowers/herbs and cover the hole part with lace or tulle. Very pretty.

[Carlyn]

Originally Posted by mgilleran@earth-co

We reuse a lot fo the things already mentioned also. I hoard glass jars like crazy. They can be used for so much. Right now I am getting low on them because I've given out so much black bean salsa in them lately.

Off topic, but I'd love to learn your recipe for black bean salsa. Thanks!

[aprons_and_acorns]

Originally Posted by Raw Vegan Mama

We do too! My favorite way to use my salsa jars (squat wide mouth ones) is to make a big pot of soup or chili and then fill them up with the soup/chili! It is the perfect size!

What a great idea! A perfect excuse to splurge on buying storebought salsa :

[UptownZoo]

Wow! Cool ideas!

My family is sprout crazy, so we use glass jars for sprouting. I also freeze soup and chili in glass jars. Like PP have said, we use them for storing all kinds of little things. We try not to buy glass jars too much because we can't recycle them here, but we have some that have been around for many years!

[art_teachermommy]

Originally Posted by MPsSweetie

We have a bunch of glass jars and I am trying to think of what to do with them, so I thought maybe you guys could share what things you reuse and how.

As an art teacher, i put on the 'supply list' at the beginning for the year for families with children who use glass baby jars and need a place for them to go, to bring them to the art room. We use them as paint jars and water jars for rinsing brushes and a myrid of other crazy things.

If you can't find a use...you might check with your local school to donate to the art dept.