15 Items You Should NEVER Throw Away

 

 

If you love using creative hacks for everyday things, or you enjoy making household projects faster and easier, there are a handful of things you should hold onto the next time you declutter your space. If you ever throw something out but wonder if you’re making the right choice, this list is for you. Here are some items that you shouldn’t throw away.

1. Broken Crayons

Especially if you still have kids at home, those broken crayons are fantastic to make melted wax art, melt into fun new shapes, or even into new crayons. If you’re into lipstick, you can even use broken crayons to make MAC lipstick colors.

 

2. Toilet Paper Tubes

This might be a no brainer, but they can be used for all kinds of up-cycling projects, including crafts and even desk organizers.

 

3. Pallets

There’s about a trillion and one things you can do with an old set of pallets!

 

4. Coffee Filters

Yep, even used coffee filters are a craft project just waiting to happen. Have you seen those coffee filter wreaths? They’re beautiful and easy to make.

 

5. Old Ladders

Old wooden ladders can be made into unique towel holders, storage devices, or laundry hangers.

6. Old Windows

There are tons of creative uses for old windows: wall art, coffee tables, and a whole lot more.

 

7. Dryer Lint

Yep, that lint you pull out of your dryer vent or filter should be saved up. If you like camping or heading outdoors to make s’mores, this lint is an excellent fire starter (which, incidentally, is also why you shouldn’t leave it in your dryer vent!).

 

8. Bag Closers

Those little plastic tabs you find on your bread bags are actually great for organizing and marking cables and cords. You’ll never unplug the wrong thing again.

9. Rubber Bands

Believe it or not, there are a lot of things you can make that aren’t rubber band balls.

 

10. Empty Prescription Bottles

Wash them out and use them for storing bobby pins, paper clips, thumb tacks, or your favorite go-to pairs of earrings.

 

11. Mint Tins

You know those strong breath mints that come in the little tins? They’re also great for storing small items and other fun DIYs. My son keeps one in his banjo and guitar cases to hold his picks.

 

12. Paper Bags

Of course you can re-use them, but you can also up-cycle them into a surprising number of household projects.

 

13. Old Jeans

Your worn-out denim can be turned into accessories, sandals, reusable lunch bags, and so much more.

 

14. Baby Food Jars

These can be made into adorable salt and pepper shakers.

 

15. Paint Cans

Aside from all the craft projects these are great for (think luminaries, utensil holders, desk organizers…), you can also make an emergency stove out of an old paint can.

Article Links

Broken Crayons: https://diyprojects.com/diy-make-mac-lipstick-colors-crayons/

Toilet Paper Tubes: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/443393525805335774/

Pallets: https://morningchores.com/pallet-projects/

Coffee Filters: https://www.diybeautify.com/2015/11/make-coffee-filter-wreath-easy-tutorial.html

Old Ladders: https://diyprojects.com/things-never-throw-away

Old Windows: https://www.diyncrafts.com/23989/repurpose/40-simple-yet-sensational-repurposing-projects-old-windows

Dryer Lint: https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Fire-Starters-with-Paper-Rolls-and-Dryer-Lint

Bag Closers: http://lifetricks.com/organization/which-cord-is-which/

Rubber Bands: http://www.wisebread.com/52-uses-for-rubber-bands

Prescription Bottles: https://diyprojects.com/things-never-throw-away/

Mint Tins: https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/22-manly-ways-to-reuse-an-altoids-tin/

Paper Bags: https://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/Paper-Bag-Baskets-30999537

Old Jeans: http://www.sheknows.com/home-and-gardening/articles/1062108/crafts-for-your-old-jeans

Baby Food Jars: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/782500503976672005/

Paint Cans: http://theparsimoniousprincess.blogspot.com/2011/02/canned-heat-how-to-make-emergency.html