13.5 ounce conditioner bottle, pump refilled from one gallon conditioner jug
2 liter bottles and gallon jugs–I keep a few stored away filled with water in case of outages.
Plastic spoons and forks–I wash and reuse them until they actually break.
Plastic trash bags I use to pick up after my dog when I walk him. Easy to tie shut and throw in trash can.
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Old cars.
Jars. Jars and more jars. I love glass jars. I’m a bit of a hoarder. I have to be careful. I have a shelf dedicated to jars in my shed and pantry. Right now there these little yogurts that come in a tiny glass jar. Love 'em.
ETA, I reuse them in all sorts of ways, storage, canning, gifts and crafts.
Cardboard toilet paper rolls for extension cords and such.
Did you know that some paper has better rolls than others? Did you further know there is a whole craft style just for toilet paper tubes? I had to quit saving them and gave my whole stash to an Elementary school. Sad day:(
I used to do that beck, save and donate paper tubes to the preschool my son went to. Then one day they said “no more” apparently it had something to do with the chemicals in the glue something something.
Sometimes a local business will fail, or be acquired by another business or just be clearing out years of storage and getting rid of stuff. Outdated stationery pens envelopes etc. They say chuck it, I save it and donate it to whatever organization can and will make use of it.
I noticed at Hobby Lobby you can actually buy paper tubes. It’s just not the same as acquiring it free. I had 3 rolls that upholstery fabric was on. They were 6 feet long. About the diameter of a saucer. We cut them in 6inch lengths on a band saw. I took them to the art class in the lil’wrekkers school. We stretched balloons over them and made drums. The kids all painted Native American type symbols on them. They were very cute. They always wanted me to repeat the craft for other classes. I never could get my hands on any more of the cardboard cores, alas.
You see how my hoarder tendencies arise? I have the paper tube sweats now. I must resist…
Sheets. I only buy flannel sheets, and when they wear out I make them into rags. The rags gradually get sorted into stable and kitchen grade (better) and shop grade (stained & ugly). When the rags wear out they get composted. I don’t use disposable tissues or paper towels or wipes. Just flannel rags made from my old sheets.
Drug needles
Those poly bags that clothes and pills are sent in when you order online. They’re easy to store and I use them when I sell clothes on eBay.
I also save boxes I get when I order stuff online. Mostly I end up using them as boxes to ship stuff I sell online but of course I’ve found many other uses. Although, I was getting so much stuff shipped to me I ended up breaking down and recycling half or more of the boxes.
Oh I also save packing paper. I use it for packing paper. Or some of it I use to clean the windows if it’s the right weight. I also take some of it and twist it into paper “sticks” to use for starting bonfires.
I love packing paper. And bubblewrap. God I’m sick. Really I am.
Plastic straws. Every day I drink lemonade out of a plastic straw, and I keep using the same one until it completely wears out. I often use the same straw for months and months.
Ziploc bags. Similarly, I carry cereal to work every day in a Ziploc bag. Several times, I’ve used the same bag for well over a year. My current bag is about four months old and going strong.
If for some reason you ever have the opportunity to work in the moving industry, let it pass you by. Mr. Dawreck will be fed up within weeks, you will be committed for treatment within months. It’s a hoarders dream/nightmare, the stuff we can get.
Packing paper and bubble wrap she says, yeesh next it will be styrene peanuts and such
Oooh. Packing peanuts. My favorite. And that foamy paper stuff. I need analysis.
I’ve used the same liquid soap pump bottle for at least seven years. My shampoo/body wash pump bottle must be around four years. I really hate throwing out (well, recycling) any kind of plastic bottle but there’s only so many I have room for.
I admit to using paper towels but I make them do double duty. Once for cleaner jobs and then again for dirtier ones.
Our cat food kibble (Pure Vita) comes in bags with plastic Velcro strips for sealing. I cut the strips off and use them for bundling cords and such. They don’t grip as well as the real deal but still have plenty of uses. Hostess and 7-Eleven (the best!) mini donut bags have plastic coated wire strips for sealing the bag. They’re sturdier than regular twist ties and come in handy for a bunch of things.
We buy Costco sized laundry detergent. I cut off the tops and use what’s left as planters outside. I’ve been known to grow tomatoes in five gallon buckets with very good results. I also have a hundred-foot extension cord stored in one.
I go to a town that has a Sonic about once a week. I always stop and get a large unsweet tea. I use the Styrofoam cup til I go back. My record is a bit over a month. I usually just drink ice water out of it. It’s always close to me. The lil’wrekker used to get Starbucks bottle drinks at a convenience store. I have about 50 of those bottles and lids. Someday I come up with a need for them.
FYI: gallon jugs, such as the ones for milk or distilled water are not sturdy enough to use for emergency water storage. They WIIL split, and your supply of water will be gone!
Your best bet is to repurpose 2-liter soda bottles for that job. Those are designed to hold soft drinks under pressue, so the plastic is heavier.
Use those empty gallon jugs to make scoops and funnels!
~VOW