Do you have items scattered throughout your home that you can’t quite bring yourself to throw away, but they’re just sitting there, taking up space? You may be
surprised by what you can do with some of these things. Here's how to breathe new life into those items and make them useful again.
1. Lone Socks: We’ve all saved that one sock, hoping its mate will turn up. Instead of waiting, turn it into something useful. Fill the sock with dried lavender or rice and knot the end
for a quick DIY sachet to freshen drawers or shoes. For pet owners, fill it with catnip for an instant cat toy or simply knot it for a dog-friendly tug toy.
2. Old T-Shirts: Have a stack of old, worn-out tees taking up closet space? Cut them into rags for cleaning and dusting, or use the fabric for reusable makeup
remover pads. If you’re feeling crafty, turn them into a T-shirt quilt or pillow, or even braided rugs—perfect for a cozy and sentimental addition to your home.
3. Outdated Calendars: Love the pictures on old calendars? Don’t just stash them away. Cut those images out and use them for decoupage projects. You can also
frame the pictures for easy, affordable wall art. For kids, cut the larger images into pieces to create simple DIY puzzles for rainy day fun.
4. Greeting Cards: While it’s lovely to save sentimental cards, the rest don’t need to gather dust. Cut out the best parts of the design to create new cards for special
occasions, or use them for gift tags. You could even make festive garland out of holiday cards by cutting them into shapes and stringing them together.
5. Pantyhose: Pantyhose can serve surprising purposes once they’ve run their course. Use old pairs to tie plants to garden stakes, or slip one over your vacuum nozzle
to retrieve small objects like earrings. They also work well for stuffing purses or boots to help them keep their shape in storage.
6. Plastic Bags: We all end up with a stash of plastic bags, but they don’t have to go to waste. Besides using them for trash liners, try using them as packing material when shipping
fragile items or moving. Or keep a stash at your next garage sale so your shoppers have something to carry their purchases
in. 7. Old Jeans: Got a few pairs of jeans you can’t part with? Give them new life. Cut them into squares to make a rugged quilt, or craft a sturdy denim tote. You can even turn a jeans leg into a rice hot pack—just sew one end, fill with
uncooked rice, sew the other end, and microwave it for a comforting heat source on chilly nights or sore muscles.
8. Vintage Finds: Those vintage pieces tucked away in storage deserve to shine. Use old kitchen canisters, jars, or suitcases as stylish storage solutions for small items like jewelry, office supplies, or
even blankets. Vintage suitcases stacked up make chic side tables, while old trays can serve as decorative wall art or organizing catchalls on countertops.
9. Unused Purses: If you have extra handbags you don’t use, don’t let them sit idle. Use smaller clutches for organizing makeup or small essentials that can easily
be transferred between bags. Larger totes are perfect for storing documents, such as tax paperwork or school projects. A small crossbody purse can even double as a travel toiletry kit for road trips.
These are just a few ways you can repurpose items around your home, giving them a second life and saving space at the same time. With a
little creativity, you’ll find that many things you might have tossed can become functional, beautiful, or just plain fun to use again.
