How Do You Use it Up?

How do you totally use something up? To get the most out of an item, whatever it is, that you buy, how do you buy, use, re-use, and recycle the item until it is gone?

I would love to see what others do with things they use.

Here are three examples:

Soap: first I buy a bar of vegetable based soap with no artificial ingredients, no animal testing and minimum packaging and always look for those on sale. When I get the soap home, I unwrap it and place it in one of my drawers. This is not only to harden the soap(makes them last longer) but also makes the clothes in my bureau smell nice. I take the package and shred it into small pieces and place it in a small cloth sachet and put this in another drawer. Depending on the scent, I might add it to others I have. If the scent disappears, I will add a couple drops of essential oil. Once I'm ready for a new bar of soap, I take a bar from one of my drawers. I use the soap until it gets down to the small pieces. I then take those small pieces, add them to my soap dispenser at my sink with a bit of water and use that as my hand cleanser for the sink. All gone.

Bath Towels: I purchase 100% cotton bath towels all in the same color (white) and look for those that are highly absorbent. Not ones that are fluffy and costly as I find they just don't absorb (I line dry all my clothing/towels) nor the really inexpensive ones because they just don't last. Again, I look for sales. Once I get it home, I use it as my bath towel until it gets to that stage when it's time to do something about it. I believe my towels last alot longer since I don't use my dryer. I also don't use a softener but vinegar instead and also homemade detergent (Zote/washing soda dry mix) and believe this also helps to extend the life of the towel. When it gets to that stage of becoming something else, It becomes one of my large rag towels. Once it starts getting worn in places, I cut up the towel and make either cleaning hand mitts (1/4 the towel folded over and sewn up three sides and hem on the 4th side) as well as rag towels to use for heavy cleaning. When the rag towels start getting holes, I sew them together (back to back) to create a new rag towel to last a little longer and when the hand mitts get worn, I cut them to create little towels for my turtle to use for hiding in her house (No, she doesn't chew on them). Once they have gone too far for rags,which doesn't happen often (I have some rag towels that are 9 years old), they are beyond anything for use inside the house so I use them for filling up the bottom of plant pots outside. All gone.

Socks: I buy 100% cotton socks and always on sale. I do look for those with extra heavy coverage on the heal and toe parts. When the socks do get worn, I really do darn them. Once they get too worn to darn, I cut them into sections and roll them into small little balls and hand sew them closed and now I have small kitty toys that my cats can catch and throw. Once the cats get through with them, they are too far gone for anything else so I throw them into the bottom of my plant pots. All gone.

How do you use something up?

From Sharon; a dedicated Tiphero Reader

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Comments:

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Lotion: I can never get all of the lotion out of the bottle, but instead of throwing it away I cut the bottle in half, scoop out the 'stubborn' lotion (usually up to a half a cup or more!) and put it in a screw top jar I keep in the cupboard. Gets me 2 more weeks of lotion.

Posted by grace on January 28, 2010 9:32 AM

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Lotion: I also use up the last ounce of lotion. I place the lotion bottle in a saucepan of water and SLOWLY AT LOW TEMP heat it until it runs freely. That way I get the last little bit.
Butter/Margarine/Shortening wrappers. I save these and can usually grease at least one pan per wrapper when baking.
Veggies/rice/pasta: I save little smidges of non-meat food from meals such as veggies or rice or pasta and put them in a container in the freezer. I keep adding to it until I have enough for soup.
Waxed liners from cereal and crackers: I save liners. I'll put leftovers in a bowl and slip the bowl into a liner and fold the liner under to close it up. This saves using foil or plastic wrap. I also use liners for icky stuff that goes into the garbage such as fat skimmed from homemade chicken broth.

Posted by Pamela on January 28, 2010 10:01 AM

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Here are a couple of my thrifty reuses. I have people give me their extra plastic grocery bags. I cut them crosswise into loops, then link them together to create "plarn"-plastic yarn. I crochet them into reusable tote bags, indoor/outdoor rugs, and other useful items. I also do the same thing with heavier plastics such as bread bags, newspaper sleeves, and other plastics that food comes in...everything from frozen veggies to a bag of beans. While this may not be the greenest way to recycle, it does keep a lot of plastic out of landfills while filling another need.

My second reuse idea is that I use the large bags that dry pet food comes in to line my trashcans. They don't rip or tear no matter how much you compact the trash in them. Plus they have the advantage of not leaking. Believe it or not, I haven't purchased any plastic trash bags in probably two years!

Posted by ldenny58 on January 28, 2010 1:37 PM

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I always cut the end off the "empty" t6oothpaste tube.

Posted by anonymous on January 28, 2010 1:39 PM

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I use the tear off produce plastic bags and bread wrappers as "rubber gloves" to handle raw meat and hold a rag to clean the outside part of my toilets.

Posted by anonymous on January 28, 2010 2:46 PM

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I freeze left over end pieces and peelings of onions, potatoes, carrots,celery, and pea pods together until I have a large bag saved up. I keep the leftover chicken bones [can also use pork and beef for similar recipe]in a separate bag in the freezer. When I have a large bag of veggie scraps and a medium bag of bones I put them in my spaghetti kettle, cover with water, add some salt, peppercorns and garlic powder and cook on my wood stove all day in the winter. Makes the most incredible homemade stock. I then cool, drain and freeze into various sized containers from ice trays [use a cube at a time for gravies and sauces] to recycled pickle jars for use in stews and soups.

Posted by Norene on January 28, 2010 4:30 PM

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I start using the second container of an item that is just about out. Then when the second container has some room in it, I drain the almost used up container into it. Just place it in a funnel or balance it on top and leave it sit a few hours or even over night. works well for those stubborn lotion, shampoo and hand soap containers.

Posted by kittie on January 28, 2010 7:06 PM

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The cat liter we used to buy when we had cats came in big square plastic boxes, with lids, and handles. We keeep one in the minivan for trash, have used them as mop buckets, diaper pails, and to store toys with small parts in the closet (think legos, blocks, Barbies...). My husband took a bunch to the farm to store small parts, projects in the process so parts would not get lost, and used oil (which they reuse).
Soap left in the bottle we add a bit of water and give it a shake...you can get a few more uses.
We burn wood and all the shavings are great around our flowers...so we just need enough wood chips to cover them, and so we use a lot less colored chips.
Small amounts of fabric can be turned into applicaze to cover stains on little kids outfits, or to just "update" them.
Leftover paint is great as a base coat, new wood, or drywall won't absorb as much on the second coat.
My kids love to play in the bathtub even when they are clean...I use the water to scrub down the bathroom when they are down...they already have it soaking;0.
I save glass jars with tight lids for mixes I make, dried veggies, and herbs, raisins.... anything that needs to be stored in a closed container.

Posted by Michelle on January 28, 2010 7:58 PM

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I use up our "leftovers" in the fridge and put them all in the food processor. Then add enough flour and eggs to make a consistency of baking dog and cat treats. Sometimes people have given us deer meat (which we don't eat), but I say thank you and then use it in the "treats".

Posted by anonymous on January 28, 2010 8:47 PM

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We also use up soap, but our method is much simpler. When a bar gets down to a sliver, we take a new bar, wet it down, and stick the old sliver onto it. Socks that are too worn to be darned get turned directly into rags. They get used in the kitchen to start out, and then when they become hopelessly stained or ripped, they move down to the shop. Only when they've been used for something we don't want to put through the wash (like motor oil) do they go in the trash. As for towels, we seem to just go on using them forever!

Posted by haverwench on January 28, 2010 10:10 PM

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When our socks have holes in them, I throw them from the dryer into the rag bag. This last Christmas when I was packing away the breakables, I thought to grab a handful of the old, holy socks and just drop a glass snowman inside one to pack it with the others. I used up most of my socks this way and next year the stuff won't even be scratched.

Posted by anonymous on January 28, 2010 10:39 PM

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I try to get the most out of anything this way.

1.Toothpaste
I hold the tube upside down, and with the other hand, press down from the end, especially in the corners, so all the paste comes down till the opening.

When I shared a room with three others, I used to suck up the last dollops of toothpaste directly into my mouth :-)

Not a bit was wasted, AND none of my roomies thought of sharing my toothpaste.

2.
Shampoo, moisturisers and other liquids
When the bottle is nearing its end, I place it upside down, so the liquid takes it own time to gather at the opening.

If the stuff can be diluted, like for shampoo, then I pour a little water in and shake well, to get the last bit out.

3.
I use a loofah, so that there is more lather for less soap used. When a soap is almost used up, I wet it and stick it to the next one. As simple as that.

4.
I threw away our sauce bottles when they were too old. Now, whenever we eat out, I gather up the condiments that we did not use up (we do not intentionally take them for bringing home, we only bring what's left over after we've eaten), bring them home and store. For the few time we need ketchup or hot sauce, it is there in satchels that dont have to be refridgerated, and they stay fresher than ketchup bottles that you open and refridgerate for a long time.

5.
I wash all plastic boxes that any takeaway food comes in, and even the spinach boxes from the grocery. We use them to share food or cakes with our neighbors, and don't have to worry about them returning the box.

6.
I store cardboard boxes, received as mail packages. We could reuse them to send mails any time.
I also store good looking chocolate boxes, as they would be nice to give home made treats in.

Posted by Arthi on January 29, 2010 12:06 AM

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I re-use anything and everything I can, here are a few of my ideas:
1) Every Sunday we have leftovers for our evening meal, also eat leftovers during the week. Every Monday morning whatever is left in the icebox goes into the dehydrator. Once dehydrated all is put in storage jars, usually reused ones, and when we want soup it is 2 cups dried mix to 1.5 cups water and any additional meats and spices and all placed in the crockpot all day,supper is served.

2) When I buy socks they are always the same brand, size, and color (white). When one sock gets too old and thin it is pulled from the pile while the other can still find a mate. The old socks are used for dusting or straining paints etc until they are too worn and then they are burned since they have too many chemicals for my plants.

3) My local grocery store sales meats and produce for reduced price when they are slightly bruised or almost out of sale date. They are still good to eat. The meats are cooked that day or frozen and the fruits/veggies are dehydrated for future. Dehydrated fruits/veggies last up to 30 years if kept correctly so no worry about going bad.

4)Ends of veggies are froze and made into broth when enough is collected. Same goes for chicken, beef and pork bones.

5) I raise my own herbs in pots and dehydrate them when ready. If I can not use all of them I give them away to others.

6) I raise my own fruit, adding to my supply each year, not only is it quite abit cheaper it taste better. Can, eat, dehydrate and then give away to others.

7) I buy large bags of rags at my local thrift store. I go through it and anything that I still consider good goes to us wearing it or to making T-shirt bags or even underwear for myself or boxers for my son. Each bag cost $1.00

8)Any coffee grounds, veggie scrapings, or other compost type of stuff goes into my garden. I till it under (coffee ground will run all ants out) and plant my very large garden.

My list can go on and on!! I am a 'stay at home' mom that is a rancher and we farm 90 acres of various produce (veggies and fruit) and make a game out of seeing how much I can save. The way I look at it, I worked up until 2 years ago outside the home. I married a wonderful man that said it was his 'job' to provide for me and my last son at home. I do not agree with wives sitting around and being waited on but I will honor him by not working, and enjoy it. My job now is to work around here and save money, that is how I can contribute to the family.

Posted by anonymous on January 31, 2010 5:07 PM

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Long lasting "dryer sheets"

Take a plastic container (Rubbermaid or Tupperware type) Large enough to hold a sponge. Cut the sponge in half. Fill the container with half liquid fabric softner and half water. Put the two sponges in. Put one in dryer, when the dryer is done, put the dried out sponge back in the container, and put the other one in the next load. This also protects your dryer from any damage from the dryer sheets that sometimes gets into the mechanical parts of the dryer.

Posted by Leslie on February 02, 2010 8:20 PM

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No matter what it is I always try to get the last little bit of everything. Shampoo, ketchup, pencil lead, it doesn't matter what it is I try to get and use every bit of what ever out of the package. When my shoes and clothes are completely worn out I relegate them to the painting bin. I wear them only when I have a job, like painting, to do that I know will ruin what I am wearing. That way I get the last little bit out of my clothes too.

Posted by anonymous on February 03, 2010 2:04 PM

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I purchased a package of tube squeezers at Walmart ....2 for $1.99. They get all the toothpaste, lotion, triple antibiotic, etc. out of the tube.

Posted by anonymous on February 04, 2010 10:54 AM

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Bathtub tiles and shower doors always get nasty from soap scum. One day I didn't have the fancy shower cleaner so I just used an almost empty bottle of shampoo and it worked great even on the sink and toilet, Makes everything smell nice too! Now I just buy the cheapest shampoo at Walmart or at the dollar store.

Posted by gkelk on February 06, 2010 8:25 PM

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I use Tin Foil as a fabric softener in my dryer, roll up into a ball a piece of tin foil about the size of a ping pong ball then throw it into the dryer, it stops static cling and softens, no need for fabric softeners

Posted by angel4022 on February 07, 2010 8:40 AM

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VIP
My Home made Laundry soap recipe
1 5 gallon Bucket
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda

Mix a 4 and half gallons of water
1 bar Fels-naptha grated and melted in half a gallon of water add to bucket then let it all cool off for a day.

Now here's the new and interesting Part... I use my immersion Blender to imusify the solution into a Pourable state and it works like a charm and stays that way:D....
Oh Yeah and I use it to clean my tub... retards mold and its great on soap scum and I use it to shampoo my carpet:D My Hubby thought of that one:D

and it only cost me 3.00 a month:D

Posted by maggie on February 11, 2010 3:01 PM

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What exactly is washing soda and where do you find it?

Posted by anonymous on February 11, 2010 8:59 PM

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When my mascara starts to dry up, I extend it's life by heating it with a hair dryer on it a few seconds and then apply it.

Posted by anonymous on February 12, 2010 4:33 AM

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If I need a red or green pepper fr a recipe but don't use it all. Before it starts to go I cut up the rest and freeze to add to recipe's that I saute them in, they don't have to be fresh for that. I also froze onions the neibor gave me this summer when I could not use them all at once. I sliced them and froze in packs of just what I needed to saute for different recipes.

Posted by anonymous on February 12, 2010 4:37 AM

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I use old washcloths as a substitute for dryer sheets. Just throw one in with your wash load. When load is done, put 1 tablespoon fabric softener on it, roll it up, and throw it in the dryer with your freshly washed load. No static cling and load smells great. It works, is inexpensive, and is environmentally friendly. Try it!

Posted by Bonnie on February 12, 2010 8:45 AM

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Has anyone had good results with the tin foil in the dryer for static and softness? This sounds like a GREAT idea... I may just have to try it! Thanks!

Posted by Sharon on February 12, 2010 12:27 PM

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I really like sandwiches and eat them almost everyday for lunch at work. I use a sandwich bag for lettuce, chips, and one for the actual sandwich, i also use a zip lock for pickles. Instead of throwing away the bags after one use, i rinse them out and use the same baggie for the entire week. My husband thinks I am crazy, but hey I get 5x's the use of each bag, and I feel like I am doing my part to not only be wasteful, but saving money at the same time.

I also use craiglist for everything that I can. Example a couple of weeks ago my washer craped out on me and the spin cycle stopped working. The dryer had no timer was older than I am was not very efficient and I already knew I needed to replace it. So when the washer stopped working I knew it was time to replace the entire pair. I found a pair on CL that was less then $200.00 (I think $130.00)and less then 2 years old! My new/used appliances are so much more efficient and a quarter of the price bought new!

Posted by anonymous on February 12, 2010 11:57 PM

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when my mascra starts clumping, I just add a few drops of hot water and shake it up after tightening the lid back on. I do this with catsup, just add water and shake it up for a few secs. I also do this to mayo, mustard, dried lotion, it all works just great!

Posted by Brenda Hellstrand on February 16, 2010 2:26 PM

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Washing soda is Arm & Hammer washing soda. different than baking soda! Will find it at grocery near the Borax. The laundry soap recipe I use is:
1/2 bar of Fels Naptha
1/2 C washing soda
1/2 C Borax

Grate the Fels Naptha and put in a sauce pan with 6 cups water & heat until melted.

Add the washing soda & borax and stir until disolved. Pour 4 cups of hot wate into a bucket. Add the soap misture and & sitr. than add 1 gallon and 6 cups water. Stir and let set up for 24 hours. Willnot be a uniform consistancy. I think the imulsion would be an excellent idea. Works Great. Is a natural water softener and the clothes look better than they did b/4!

Posted by jprockin13 on February 16, 2010 10:27 PM

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I have made several batches of the home made laundry soap (Fels-naptha/washing soda/borax) but stopped using it because no matter how I adjusted the measurements of the ingredients, it just didn't do a very good job of removing stains. Currently I am using 2 Tbs of Extra and 2 T of Tide per load. The Tide is so expensive and the Extra is pretty cheap, so I'm hoping the Tide will last a bit longer this way. I still have to buy spray and wash to use on the stains.

Posted by robyn0922 on February 19, 2010 11:37 PM

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Just wanted to add my 2 cents worth on the homemade laundry soap...I tried this for about 6 months a few years ago (same recipe as noted above), and our clothes had a musty smell and became quite dingy over time. I tried adding Fabreze Laundry Odor Eliminator and lots of Oxi-Clean, which added to the cost, but didn't completely resolve the problems. We went back to purchased laundry detergent and just cut down on the amount used per load. Our clothes are once again clean, smell good and we get more loads out of a box of detergent. We live in town and don't have excessively dirty clothes, either. We do only use our dryer (with dryer sheet) for a quick 10 minute tumble on the air dry setting and then hang to dry, so maybe if you exclusively use the dryer the smell wouldn't be as bad, although fresh smelling clothes (or at the very least neutral smelling - not overly perfumed) is preferrable to musty or sour smelling. The musty smell was really quite offensive to the wearer and I'm not sure how others perceived us :) Using regular detergent we don't have the musty smell problem, even though we still air dry our clothes in exactly the same manner, and we don't use nearly as much Oxi-Clean. It was a fun experiment, and I felt oh-so-good about all the money I had saved, but in the end it did not work out at all for us.

Posted by anonymous on February 27, 2010 1:29 PM

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I have used homemade detergent for several years, no musty smells, no dingy clothes. I'm not sure that the detergent is the problem there.

If you are hanging clothes in a basement to dry, the musty smell may be from the basement. Dingy clothes is usually caused by over-filling your washer. Commercial laundry detergent is made from a soap, borax and washer soda exactly like the homemade.

I also prefer the homemade because it is basically scentless. There is a slight scent to the Fels Naptha, but the washing soda and borax have no scent, unlike even "scentless" commercial brands that add a scent.

Posted by Thriftyme on March 01, 2010 10:07 AM

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