| Mar 21 @ 12:31 PM |
Unexpected uses (re-uses)
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madamegeek
Posts: 1,804
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A few months ago, after the unexpected expiration of my microwave, I retained the round glass tray after discarding the old unit.
It has turned out to be the most useful cutting board (since I use only glass cutting surfaces), serving platter and trivet I've ever owned.
Any other "found" re-uses?
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| Mar 21 @ 12:36 PM |
Unexpected uses (re-uses) |
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Loreli
Posts: 25,398
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If your automatic coffee maker gives out, save the carafe.
Many coffee makers are designed so you have to have the EXACT size coffee carafe, so you may not be able to put it in the maker....but you can use the old one to pour fresh coffee into while your new coffee machines brews!
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| Mar 21 @ 12:42 PM |
Unexpected uses (re-uses)
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Laidback742
Posts: 4,676
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The new plastic coffee cans I reuse at work .... in the winter I cut a notch in the lid, fill them with salt, and sprinkle the sidewalks.
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| Mar 21 @ 1:29 PM |
Unexpected uses (re-uses) |
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Fender
Posts: 8,494
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I did the same thing with mine Madame!
I retained the round glass tray after discarding the old unit.
It has turned out to be the most useful cutting board (since I use only glass cutting surfaces), serving platter and trivet I've ever owned.
I usually use it to serve food one depending on what I'm having of course.
Coffee cans...I use them for my cigarette butts outside lol...Coffee pots I saved my old one too just in case...When I have people over and I'm making coffee in the coffee maker since I don't have a tea pot I just boil water and pour it in the old pot I saved over the tea bags. That way I can make more tea that if I would use one of my porcelain pots 
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| Mar 21 @ 1:35 PM |
Unexpected uses (re-uses)
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Loreli
Posts: 25,398
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Many elementary schools take "box tops" to be reimbursed a set amount by companies for playground equipment, etc.
They also take egg cartons, etc for art projects!
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| Mar 21 @ 2:28 PM |
Unexpected uses (re-uses) |
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Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 18,605
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Speaking of egg cartons, I like the plastic ones (the cage free eggs). I use them for earrings and other little trinkets. Great for travel too, for keeping all the little bits sorted and visible.
Plastic jugs (Costco pretzels, etc.) are great for holding things that come in bags or boxes - dry cat food, pistachios,home-made popcorn, or the 100 calorie snack packs that I either buy or assemble myself.
Old panty hose - great for lining the little sachet packets I crochet in my spare time...or used to...maybe I'll have time again someday. If you're ever thinking about some 'home style' decorating, stuff pieces with cotton (or more old panty hose) - the snaggier the hose, the better, and you've got the filling for a little burlap sack of potatoes to go with your onions, garlic and peppers (if you're like me anyway, I like that kinda stuff). Use it over the end of your vacuum cleaner attachment to vacuum things where you want to pick up dirt and dust without sucking up little stuff you want to leave there (river rocks in a fountain, or in flower pots or such). Store rolls of wrapping paper, etc. in the legs so they don't get all ripped up and shredded.
The big fruit juice cans (like Hawaiian punch)...cover it and you've got a perfect holder for your assorted cooking spoons, whisks and other such paraphernelia. Easy to change covers when you get bored.
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| Mar 21 @ 2:37 PM |
Unexpected uses (re-uses)
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JenRNinOhio
Posts: 4,161
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oh cripes
So I'm reading Heaven's post about using egg cartons for earrings & I'm thinking, "Really? Really?????? She makes earrings out of egg cartons??????"
oh!!!! 
STORING the earrings....
sure, I knew that.
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| Mar 21 @ 2:40 PM |
Unexpected uses (re-uses) |
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Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 18,605
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Oops...I kinda think in shorthand and expect people to read my mind to fill in the blanks...sorry! 
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| Mar 21 @ 2:42 PM |
Unexpected uses (re-uses)
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JenRNinOhio
Posts: 4,161
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I'm still amused at the way I read it.
I'm easily entertained.
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| Mar 21 @ 2:42 PM |
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Loreli
Posts: 25,398
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Hey-I thought so too, Jen!
And this...
sachet packets I crochet I had to reread to see whose crotch she was sashaying with!
(j/k....love you to pieces)
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| Mar 21 @ 2:46 PM |
Unexpected uses (re-uses)
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keeno
Posts: 2,363
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i found an old hamper at the "dump" it was made out of black iron rod 5/16" in dia. it had wheels on it so for a long time i floated around the shop moving other materials. parts of it now are the towels racks and shower caddies in my bathroom.
i re-use coffee cans to put "used kitty litter" it sits in a popcorn box with the scoop next to wally's bathroom.
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| Mar 21 @ 2:52 PM |
Unexpected uses (re-uses) |
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Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 18,605
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I had to reread to see whose crotch she was sashaying with!
That's okay - I've been the butt of more jokes this week than the prior ten years I think...it's been that kind of week..but it's never a bad thing to laugh, and I can do straight man real well!
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| Mar 21 @ 3:41 PM |
Unexpected uses (re-uses)
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Loreli
Posts: 25,398
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Only cuz I love you 
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| Mar 22 @ 12:46 AM |
Unexpected uses (re-uses) |
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luvmycats
Posts: 10,208
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Oh my goodness, this is MY kind of thread!
I use empty kitty litter buckets for SO many things... like Heaven and her old pantyhose. (too bad I don't wear them anymore) I use one for a mop bucket, one for carrying mortar, one for live bait, and I have all kinds of stuff stored in them in the shop... camping suppys, knee pads, tools belts...
Old coffee cans (the plastic ones) for screws, bolts, nuts, hinges, all kinds of things in the shop. I even gray taped a "sample" of what is in them on the outside, so we don't have to take them down and look in them. I also use the metal ones for butt buckets. I paint them, so they don't rust as fast outside. I have also used old clay pots, when they get all ugly.
Duvvy and I just built a fishing wagon last week. We used the wheels off an old cart of some kind that he had laying around.
We used broken concrete to build our water thingy.
He has tons of stuff laying around, he can build ANYTHING out of the most unheard of things. You should see the cement mixer, tile saw, generator, and his saw mill! So creative! Right now, he is trying to figure out how to build a yard sweeper to pull behind my lawn tractor. We have the tiniest little leaves in the yard, and I am sick of raking!
Speaking of raking, the best thing to pick up leaves is a snow shovel!
 I'm sure I will have more later, and I will keep an eye on this thread for ideas from y'all. Any way to keep something out of the land fills, I am ON IT! 
Oh yeah Heaven, my mom used to work for a lady that braided throw rugs out of panty hose. They were awesome looking, and lasted forever.
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| Mar 22 @ 12:46 AM |
Unexpected uses (re-uses)
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beckyiv42000
Posts: 14,576
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Oh sheesh being the daughhter of the "Recycle Queen" if somethign can be used for something elese or reused etc I keep it.. Toilet papers rolls j are good for lots of things.. holding extension cords or the cords on appliances like Irons when you store them.. also for winding string ... Ill have to think on this a bit I have tons more
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| Mar 22 @ 12:53 AM |
Unexpected uses (re-uses) |
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luvmycats
Posts: 10,208
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Thanks Becky! I have fought that stupid iron cord for years! I think I will even cover it with fabric to match my ironing board cover! (with the remnants I always buy)
I have used those to cover photo albums, make baby doll blankets, line a casket for the neighbor girls rabbit.  Cover old yucky pot holders. (happens when you lay them on a hot burner)  Can't think of what else at the moment, but there is always a use for them.
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| Mar 22 @ 1:04 AM |
Unexpected uses (re-uses)
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daisy315
Posts: 4,946
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I use old knee high hose as filters on my little dryer. It's not vented outside so I use those to catch the lint.. And having my little dryer not vented outside helped me heat my apartment this past winter.. it was way cheaper than cranking up the baseboard heat.
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| Mar 22 @ 1:17 AM |
Unexpected uses (re-uses) |
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signme
Posts: 12,578
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I use old kitty litter tubs too Luvvy. I have dozens at school filled with sets of books. I have them at home filled with plastic bags, etc.I use the plastic bags for dirty kitty litter. I know I should use something that will disintegrate but not sure what I could use that would hold up with wet litter in the beginning. I recycle my cat food bags as trash bags. I use empty soda bottles every year at school to make "tornadoes in a jar". The kids love those! I used to feed my sick cats baby food and saved the jars. I used them at school to make snow globes. The rest I gave to friend who used them in his shop room to hold nails, etc. And I recycle all my old books to the half price book store. I read them, turn them in, get more for 1/2 price. Send the mushy ones to my sister as that's all she reads! LOL
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| Mar 23 @ 11:31 AM |
Unexpected uses (re-uses)
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luneib
Posts: 732
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I read that those white coffee filters are great for cleaning windows that they leave no lint. I haven't tried that that.
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| Mar 23 @ 11:54 AM |
Unexpected uses (re-uses) |
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Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 18,605
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 for windows or glass shower stalls or practically anything, I bought the yellow micro fiber cloths (in the auto care section) at Costco. You can't wash them with anything else, so I have a separate garbage bag set aside to hold them until I have enough for a machine load. I think they come in packs of 30 (I bought the pack so long ago I don't remember). You usually only need water, but they end up practically streak free and gleaming without a lot of work...(remember to always wipe insides in one direction, up and down or side to side, and the outsides on the other, so if you do have a streak you can tell which side it's on).
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