There comes a time when you look at an item and realise that it is not working the way it is supposed to. Somethings it will lie in a corner or a cupboard until we decide it is time to bin it. Or we hold on to it forever in the hope that we can fix it at some point. But what are you supposed to do in a time when we are supposed to be reducing our waste? Here are some ideas that will stop things from going into a landfill.
Crayons
If there is one thing that the kids seem to break, it is crayons. After a few uses, they seem to snap and are destined for the bin. This doesn’t have to be the case. Wax crayons can be melted and changed into a new crayon. All you need to do is melt the offending crayon and pour it into a mold to allow it to set. You can use anything you like, even silicone molds that are supposed to be used for cake decorating. Just make sure you give the mold a good wash afterwards in case there is any crayon stuck in the grooves. The last thing you need is to serve some cupcakes with crayon chocolate decorations on the top.
Clothes tumble dryer
When the dryer goes, it can be a nightmare. This is especially true if you have kids and need to get their clothes dried quickly. As annoying as this is, when it does break, there is a chance that it is a simple fix that is needed. Some brands of dryers are known for breaking down and need a certain part replaced. By using a simpson spare part, you can fix your dryer and get more use out of it. Eventually, it will need to be replaced but you can extend its life by another few months or years. It will alos save you a fortune trying to replace it.
Furniture
We all have those items of furniture that are not the best. They sit in the corner of a room and we cover them with items to help mask the flaws. If you have a table that has a scratch, covering it with a table cloth can help you hide the damage. However, if the table top is glass, this is a different matter. A lot of mirror furniture has a habit of cracking because it is not designed to be hardwearing. If you have a mirrored piece of furniture, swap out the top for a piece of wood. Not only will you have a hard wearing surface, but it will prevent any injuries. You can always swap it back once you know your kids are big enough not to break it.
Dishes
Breaking dishes is not the best thing in the world. Sometimes they cna smash if they are in hot water. Sometimes your hand moves in mysterious ways and you drop them when you are plating up dinner. Whatever the reason, dishes and cups have a habit of breaking. There is a way of repairing the dishes and chipped mugs if you would rather keep them. This can be a bit time consuming but it is better than throwing it in the bin and getting rid of it all. Some people like to do it with gold as a way to remind themselves that the item was once broken. Although this is pretty, this is not suitable for food plates. Chipped cups can be reused in the garden as plant pots or you can make them into candles. It is very easy to turn your old mugs into candles with a little patience.
Picture frames
We are all guilty of buying those cheap frames in order to pop some pictures around the place. But what if they all fall apart? If the glass has gone, you could use the frame and the back to create a jewelry holder. All you need to do is add some felt and some tacks to stretch the felt over the back of the frame. Once you have done this, you can hold your earrings or your pin badges. Of course, if the glass is broken on a good frame that you love, it is possible to get a new piece of glass. Your local glazing company might be able to help you out, or point you in the direction of where to get replacement glass.
Buckets and baskets
If there is one thing that seems to get broken really easily, it is a bucket. If you have a bucket that has cracked or a hole in the bottom, it might be tempting to toss it. Depending on the damage, you could reuse it as a rubbish holder or recycling station. We are all trying to recycle as much as we can, and that means having a range of bins around the home to catch things. The bathroom is a place that needs smaller bins to collect all of the different items. Cotton wool can be put in your compost bin and glass bottles can be recycled with your pasta jar. Having a few bins to collect this stuff can make your life a lot easier. So tape that bucket up, throw some stickers on it, and start collecting that waste (or clutter!).
Umbrellas
Every winter, without fail, there will be an umbrella that will fly inside out and be destroyed. If this is you, you will be getting frustrated with the waste that is involved. Even before the eco-friendly mindset appeared, having an umbrella go inside out was very annoying. If you have a collection of broken umbrellas by the end of the winter, you could use them for something that is actually useful. The fabric is probably ok so it can be reused as a shopping bag with some careful stitching. The size of the finished bag will depend on the size of the umbrella. You could end up with a few big ones if your bigger umbrellas keep snapping.
These are just a few ideas to help reduce waste, clutter, and repurpose old items that have broken down.
What do you think?