Genius Ways to Repurpose Everyday Items

Repurposing everyday items is a fun and budget-friendly way to meet your needs without spending extra money.


By thinking creatively, you can turn ordinary household items into useful solutions that simplify life and cut waste.


Here are some genius repurposing ideas to inspire your next DIY project!

1. Cereal boxes

  • Drawer liners: Cut cereal boxes to fit inside kitchen or bathroom drawers. They make clean-up easy and keep things organized.


  • Shopping list Cards: Cut them into long strips, attach to a magnetic clip, and place on your fridge with a pen for convenient list-making.


  • Picture frames: Cut cereal boxes into frame shapes, decorate with fabric or wrapping paper, and you have an easy DIY picture frame.


  • Wax paper substitute: Open up cereal bag liners, clean them, and use them in place of wax paper for rolling dough.
Cereal box picture frame

2. Empty tissue boxes

  • Mini trash bin: Place an empty tissue box on your desk to collect small trash like wrappers or paper scraps.


3. Hair claws

  • Towel holders: Clip a plastic hair claw to your oven door handle to keep kitchen towels from falling, or use in the bathroom for hand towels.


4. Binder clips

  • Clothing helper: Attach binder clips to the edges of hangers to prevent tank tops and dresses from slipping off.
Binder clips on a clothes hanger

5. Egg cartons

  • Jewelry organizer: Use egg cartons in drawers to neatly store and organize small items like jewelry or office supplies.


6. Tuna cans

  • Watering gauge: Place flat tuna cans around your garden. A full can means you’ve watered one inch, enough for most plants.


7. Clothespins

  • Bag clips: Clothespins with springs are perfect for keeping chip bags or any other bags sealed tight.


8. Contact lens cases

  • Travel containers: Use them to store small amounts of moisturizer, Vaseline, or pills when traveling.
Repurposing idea for contact lense case

9. Plastic water bottles

  • Herb planters: Cut plastic water bottles, paint or decorate them, and use them to hang herbs or microgreens in the kitchen.


  • Yarn holder: Cut a hole in a bottle cap, insert a ball of yarn, and thread the yarn through the hole. No more tangled yarn while you knit!


10. Old calendar pages

  • Wall art: Frame old calendar pages for simple, beautiful wall art.


11. Handkerchief

  • Tissue holder: Fold and stitch the ends of a handkerchief, cut a slit in the center, and close the bottom with Velcro to create a portable tissue holder.


12. Baby wipes package

  • DIY hand wipes: After the wipes are gone, refill the package with folded paper towels and add soapy water to create homemade wipes.
Making DIY hand wipes

13. Old loft beds

  • Scrunchie storage: Repurpose the railings of disassembled beds and hang shower curtain rings from them to store hair scrunchies.


14. Plastic cookie tray inserts

  • Drawer organizer: Use plastic cookie trays in drawers or on counters to store small items like spices or sponges.


15. Cardboard pieces

  • Cork board: Glue together pieces of cardboard and cover with contact paper for a simple DIY cork board.


16. Old picture frame

  • Dry-erase calendar: Print a calendar template, place it in a picture frame, and use it as a dry-erase calendar.
Dry-erase calendar DIY

17. T-shirts

  • Reusable bags: Cut off the sleeves and neck of an old t-shirt, stitch up the bottom, and use it as a grocery or laundry bag.


18. Detergent bottles

  • Storage containers: Cut the tops off empty detergent or water bottles to create handy storage for small craft supplies or toys.
DIY pen pots

19. Umbrella carrier

  • Water bottle hack: Cut the bottom of a water bottle, flip it upside down, and attach a strap for a hands-free wet umbrella carrier.


20. Water bottle lids

  • Countertop trash: Line the bottom half of a large bottle with a plastic bag to make a small, convenient countertop garbage bin.


21. Plastic bags

  • Outdoor mats: Weave plastic grocery bags together to create an outdoor mat for sitting or kneeling while gardening.


22. Prescription containers

  • Earbud holder: Keep earbuds tangle-free by storing them in empty prescription containers.


23. Shower caddy

  • Charging station: Repurpose a Dollar Tree shower caddy into a charging station by attaching a power strip to the bottom shelf using zip ties.
Charging station DIY

24. Floral foam and marbles

  • Plant arrangement: Place floral foam and marbles in a jar to create a cute, DIY artificial plant arrangement.


25. Hooks and picture frames

  • Tool organizer: Attach hooks to an old picture frame for stylish tool storage, keeping frequently used items within easy reach.


26. Book rings

  • Utensil holder: Use book rings to hang cooking utensils with small holes on larger hooks for easy kitchen access.


27. Plastic lids

  • Coasters: Use plastic lids as makeshift coasters to protect surfaces, and store them in a small snack box.


  • Spoon rest: Keep plastic lids handy as spoon rests while cooking.
Spoon rest idea

Repurposing ideas

Repurposing everyday items is a great way to save money and reduce waste. These easy repurposing ideas show how easy it is to get creative with things you already have around the house.


Give some of them a try, and see how fun and satisfying it can be! Comment your favorite idea in the comments down below.


Next, check out these 14 Frugal Living Habits To Save Money Everyday.

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  • Gbe69776730 Gbe69776730 on Sep 21, 2024
    I use a medium/large binder clip to use as a clip on a rolled end of toothpaste tube. Metal shower ring or binder ring as key chain or to hold measure spoons together.I use an old plastic pet treat jar and lid to hold my homemade laundry soap powder.Reuse a old glass banana split boat dish as a spoon rest on stove (best ever- hold multiple spoons) or as eyeglass holder on night stand. I also use metal shower rings to double up on my hangers in closet. The shower rings also hold my purses on to the closet rod by purse handles/strap. I make laundry soap by using a box of borax 20 mule team, a box of arm hammer suddsing powder and a 14 oz bar zote (Grated). I like a fine powder laundry soap so I blenderize the laundry powder for 5-6 seconds per 2 cup. It comes out like commercial powder. I have hard water so I add 16 oz baking powder to mix.This makes aprox 2.5 gallon of powder and lasts my family 6 months.Just use 1-2 tablespoon powder per load depending on dirt level of clothing/bedding. I hear zote now comes out in flakes but it is not yet available where I live.
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