I have reduced my power consumption and water usage by turning off the taps when brushing my teeth. I also put water in the sink while washing my utensil instead of using a running tap. I reuse my clothe rinsing water for washing my veranda and cleaning my flower pots too.
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53
What to reduce and reuse?
Started by Green Thumb, Nov 01 2011 07:15 PM
116 replies to this topic
#22
Posted 02 January 2012 - 07:34 PM
I like to use cereal boxes to make magazine holders. I take the box apart, cover in scrapbooking paper, then put the box together. I use toilet paper roll tubes to make recycled crayons. I make quilts from the clothes my kids grow out of. I reuse grocery bags by lining my trash cans in the bathrooms, and I cut them up and make yarn to crochet my reusable grocery bags and outdoor rug.
#24
Posted 12 January 2012 - 11:24 PM
I do reduce the amount of water I use in my house by recycling my washing water and using it to wash the verandas. On the other had I reuse my plastic bags for storage as well as the plastic containers used for putting cooking oils or even juices. They become storage containers and others flower pots.
#25
Posted 13 January 2012 - 12:59 AM
I’m glad that posts in here just keep on coming, not only here but also on other helpful threads of the forum. I take it that each and every one of us here has something to contribute for green living and to read the members’ (one after another) ways on 3Rs is something that keeps the hope up that we’ll be perfectly alright in spite of the global changes because we do our part and tried our best in keeping our environment safe, nourished and clean. I say, keep it up everyone! 
#27
Posted 14 January 2012 - 08:29 PM
Pushhyarag2000, on 16 December 2011 - 11:37 PM, said:
One very interesting idea my wife borrowed from her tour north of the country is that they use all old clothes stuffed in another round or oval sack, which again is sewn with colorful pieces of old cloth into which are stuffed the very old & unusable cloth and it makes for a soft cushion seat. You could have many of them for different rroms in the house so quite a large pile of old clothes gets reused-for comfort!
That's quite brilliant and I can't believe I didn't see this earlier. My sewing skills are limited to straight lines and embroidery and hemming which is perfect for this. What I'm picturing is taking an old but clean T-shirt, sewing the neck and sleeves shut and stuffing it with other old clothes - maybe shredding them first to make them softer. Sew up the bottom of the shirt and you have a pillow. I really like the idea of using clean old clothes as stuffing for pillows.
Shortpoet-GTD, on 14 January 2012 - 03:34 PM, said:
Those are great. Glad to see I already do a lot of them too!
#29
Posted 16 January 2012 - 09:57 AM
I also save butter containers for storing leftovers in. If you're looking for a nice paint easel when doing crafts, the styrofoam containers you get with packages of meat work very well for this. I also save plastic cups from fast food restaurants and use them for crafts, storing buttons, etc. I don't regularly dive in dumpsters but have been known to pick stuff up when it's at the curb even if I don't need it because it's unbelieveable what people throw away sometimes.
#31
Posted 16 January 2012 - 01:15 PM
magickat, on 16 January 2012 - 10:20 AM, said:
When I was at school we used to use heaters to shrink potato chip packets and then turn them into keyrings. They became perfect miniatures, so you could have all your favourite brands and flavours :)
How do you do this? Did they just melt together? I think this would be a cool activity for older kids so I'd love to hear more details.
#34
Posted 16 January 2012 - 02:41 PM
I save the Kool Aid plastic containers and Cool Whip containers and put any food I will be taking over to people's homes. This way, I do not have to carry anything back home. I have lost many pieces of tupperware that way, so now, if I am taking cookies, or homemade candies, I will store them into the containers. The containers are sturdy too.
#36
Posted 22 January 2012 - 04:21 AM
What to reuse?
This Brazilian artist; reuses old, peeled plywood to form stunning works of art he gathered from
construction sites.
Amazing.
So good in fact, some of his pieces are in the Smithsonian-African art section.
http://www.treehugge...e-oliveira.html
http://www.henriqueo...mensionais.html
This Brazilian artist; reuses old, peeled plywood to form stunning works of art he gathered from
construction sites.
Amazing.
So good in fact, some of his pieces are in the Smithsonian-African art section.
http://www.treehugge...e-oliveira.html
http://www.henriqueo...mensionais.html
#38
Posted 25 February 2012 - 02:05 PM
My husband is a very keen gardener, and he loves growing things from seed, so we keep apple pips, tomato seeds, peach stones - virtually anything. My job is to keep yogurt pots, cream cheese tubs and the like for him to grow them in. I keep glass jars for when I make jams and pickles, and my neighbours pass theirs in as well.
I also re-use plastic bottles and plastic bags. We make wasp traps from 2 litre plastic soda bottles, and we also make funnels from the tops of those bottles.
I also re-use plastic bottles and plastic bags. We make wasp traps from 2 litre plastic soda bottles, and we also make funnels from the tops of those bottles.
#40
Posted 26 February 2012 - 12:21 AM
Hmm old towels go to my dog, old work shirts and what not go to rags, plastic bags from shopping go to my dog's dinosaur sized poop cleanup, and other then newspapers and occasional containers that is about all I can think of right now. I am sure there is more though. Ohh yeah water bottles, we go hiking a lot almost at least once a week, and we will use my brita filter to refill them and have 3-6 in the fridge instead of having to buy more and more every week.
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