by Celeste Riddle
Just when I think I have found them all, new ideas keep appearing. If you are like me, you find it fun to repurpose everyday items with different uses so that you don’t have to go out to buy something else. It makes life easier, it saves money and it saves the planet! We’ll start with:
Cooking Spray – Remember this when we have our first snow! Liberally apply cooking spray to both sides of a plastic or metal shovel before clearing away snow, and ice will slide right off instead of building up. (Google Images via Lesson Pik)
Vegetable oil or cooking spray will also put a shine on leather shoes. Use a damp cloth to remove any dirt, and then run a soft cloth with a drop of oil over the surface to (literally) add polish.
Wine Corks – Do you have too many wine corks? Slice them into thin disks and silence cabinet doors that slam with cork disks glued onto the inside corners. (Google Images via A Bubbly Life)
Anchor a cutting board. Place a circle under each corner of the board so it stays put while you slice and dice.
Prevent tabletop scratches. Attach a circle to the bottom of a vase so it doesn’t scuff surfaces.
Protect the walls. Position a disk on each corner of a picture frame so the edges won’t mark the paintwork.
Plastic bread tags - Tell your wires apart with labeled bread tags inserted onto the wire. Write with a Sharpie.
Old suitcases in the attic? This is perfect for a guest room! Make your own beautiful side table by piling up vintage suitcases, and top it off with a rustic mirror. (Google Images/Amazon.com)
Rubber bands – Wrap several around a glass to give fingers a better grip on a chilly or slippery glass.
There are no more worries of camisoles, sundresses, and other slippery garments falling off hangers when you wrap the ends with wide rubber bands.
Toothpicks – Label meat. Are these burgers rare or well-done? They all look the same on the outside. Identify just off-the-grill meats with different-colored toothpicks and they won’t get mixed up! Find the end of the roll. When you’ve finished using tape, wrap the end around a toothpick so you can easily locate it the next time. Sew a better button. Place a toothpick between the button and fabric so it doesn’t go on too tightly and end up tough to fasten.
Press a gadget’s Reset button. What fits perfectly into that tiny hole? You guessed it. A toothpick!
Clear Nail Polish – Keep an eyeglass screw in place. If your specs are a bit wobbly, tighten the screws and top them with a dollop of polish.
Secure buttons. Apply a thin layer of polish to the center of a button to keep the thread from coming loose.
Avoid rust stains in the bathroom. Coat the bottom of a shaving-cream can to fend off rings on the ledge of the tub.
Seal an envelope. When a flap won’t stay stuck, find closure with clear polish.
Extend the life of jewelry. Paint a thin coat onto a costume bauble to prevent it from losing its luster.
Odds and Ends Ideas – Boost a meager bouquet to new heights by inserting short flower stems into plastic straws to give them greater stature. (Google Images/PNG Tree)
Change dirty water in a flower vase by using an old turkey baster to suction up the liquid without disturbing your arrangement. Add clean water to extend the life of the arrangement.
An unused eyeglasses case makes a convenient storage spot for nail files, clippers and other manicure essentials while on the go.
There will be no more Oops! moments when painting if you cover doorknobs and hardware with aluminum foil.
Tie up a few pieces of blackboard chalk in cheesecloth and store them with your good silver to slow any tarnishing.
At a party, stash ice in a colander set on top of a bucket or a bowl. Water will drain out, and guests will get only the solid stuff!