10 things you never knew you could re-use: tips from a sustainable influencer

In this world of excess, it’s so easy to just throw things away without thinking about the many wonderful ways they could be re-used or upcycled.

So, to help give you some inspiration, we’ve connected with sustainable influencer, Kate of My Plastic Free Home, to reveal her 10 favourite household items you didn’t know you could use again.

Toilet roll tube to garden nursery

Let’s kick off with the humble toilet roll tube. It’s something that we typically throw away, but there are so many ways you can reuse them.

I love using them to start my seedlings, so I thought I’d share this little step-by-step for creating your own seedling planter:

1. Cut four inch-deep slits on one end of your toilet roll tube
2. Fold the flaps over to close off one end, giving your tube a base
3. Fill your tube with compost and plant your seeds
4. Feed your seedlings and watch them sprout

The best thing, once your seedling has grown you can plant it straight into the ground and the pot will naturally decompose.

Organising messy cables

Also on the subject of toilet rolls, if you’re into your tech, but struggling to store all your different wires and cables, then toilet rolls are super handy.

To avoid your wires getting in a messy tangle, don’t throw them loose into a drawer or box. Instead, wind them into a loop and slide them into the toilet roll.

The roll will keep the cables bound together and will also make them easily stackable in a box or drawer. It works for virtually any cable. From phone chargers, to retro video game controllers and all those HDMI cables you have knocking about. It makes organising and storing those pesky cables so much easier, without any annoying tangles.

Upcycling snagged tights

Have you got a pair of laddered tights or have they gone baggy at the knees?

Whatever the reason you can’t wear them anymore, tights have another, very handy use. Simply grab a pair of scissors and cut your tight legs into 2-inch strips. Now you have snag free hair ties. Cool, right?

This is also great because most hair ties contain plastic so not only are you saving waste, but you’re avoiding buying something new that isn’t good for the planet.

A new use for odd socks

If you’ve got a few too many holes in your socks, or the sock monster has been at them, and you just can’t find a pair, fear not.

A great way to reuse your old socks is to turn them into perfect little hand dusters.

Honestly, I don’t know why dusters aren’t made like this anyway. You can easily get into all the little nooks and crevices, and they’re ideal for polishing up your houseplants too.

Transforming towels and bedding

There are so many ways that you can use your towels and bedding instead of throwing them away.

You could just save them and use them as dust sheets for decorating or protecting your furniture when getting crafty (by yourself or with the little ones).

Or why not cut them up and make dusters or cloths for the kitchen and reusable kitchen towels? The possibilities really are endless.

It’s not just a jar

I love jars, I have a special drawer that I hoard them in, and I’ve even been known to buy specific brands of food just because I love the jar it’s stored in. (I know, I need to get out more.) But seriously, you can reuse jars around the house for storing almost anything: Think:

• Crayons, pens
• Homemade sauces and pickles
• Homemade skincare products
• Propagation vessels for your plants
• Tealight candle holders
• Little vases for flowers.

See? They’re so multi-functional and look great in your home too.

All-purpose plastic

I try to avoid disposable plastic where I can around the house, but who are we kidding? It’s going to make it through the door at some point. That’s why I found ways to reuse plastic as much as possible before sticking it in the recycling.

Takeaway containers are the best for this. They’re marketed as throwaway but there are so many ways you can reuse them – storing arts and crafts materials, a lightweight container for taking to the refill shop, lunchboxes, freezer containers, a tray to put your toilet roll seedlings in. I guarantee you can find a use for them around your home.

Nifty newspaper

I don’t even read the newspaper but whenever I see a family member or friend reading one, I always take it home with me.

I’ve made rolled up seedling pots, envelopes for saving seeds, sandwich wrappers, DIY waste bins, DIY compost caddy bins, it’s even useful just for protecting your work surfaces when getting arty with the kids.

On a side note, it’s a common myth that the ink in newspapers is toxic and they should be thrown away. Modern day printing methods are perfectly safe, and newspapers are safe to reuse too.

The magic of old toothbrushes

Anyone who visits my house will notice that I keep old toothbrushes in pretty much every room. Believe it or not, they’re also something you can reuse for so many different things.

When you’re styling your hair you can use them to tame flyway hairs, you can also use them with a little balm to tame your eyebrows.

In the kitchen you can keep one with your dish brush to get those awkward places in the washing up. Plus they’re great for cleaning grout in the bathroom.

What have I missed? Probably a lot, but you catch my drift. Old toothbrushes are far more useful than you think.

Toothpaste tubes to reuse

Transform your toothpaste tubes into reusable icing tubes. Just snip off the end when you’ve finished with the tube, give it a good old rinse and you’re ready to reuse it for frosting and decorating cupcakes.

It will also save you buying those single use icing bags. So it’s a double win for the planet and your wallet.

Broken crockery for drainage

My last tip of the day is for broken pottery. When you smash a bowl, plate, plant pot or ceramic vase, don’t throw it away.

Save the broken parts and add them to the bottom of your plant pots to help them drain better. You’ll be saving pottery and saving your plants in the process.

These are my top 10 tips but you can always find more upcycle ideas on my Instagram.

More life from your old phones

Great to hear from Kate and her amazing recycling tips. Don’t forget your phone can also be reused and given a new life.

Once you’re done with it, pop over to giffgaffrecycle.com and see how much you can get for your old phone. We’ll wipe all the data, give it a clean up and give it a new lease of life with a new owner. So you’ll get some extra cash in your pocket and you’ll be helping to recycle your old tech. Win-win.

Got your own reuse and recycle tips?

Share your sustainable secrets with the giffgaff community, so we can work together to help better the planet.