By Trilby Goouch
Blogs Editor

If you’re anything like me, your Kingston house is likely full of random odds and ends. I scoured for resources on new uses for old things and was impressed by the hundreds of ideas out there. Here are a collection of ideas that are useful, efficient and reduce waste!

1. When you find yourself reaching the bottom of your Nutella jar (you all know that heart sinking moment), take a scoop (or two) of your favourite ice cream and turn your jar into an ice cream container, adding a dose of rich chocolatey Nutella flavour.

2. Say goodbye to tangled cords and save those toilet paper/paper towel rolls and use them to store electrical cords.

3. Rinse out an empty ketchup bottle and use it as a pancake/cupcake batter dispenser.

4. If you’re planning on painting your room, secure an elastic band across the can of paint; use this as a tool to wipe excess paint off of your brush, avoiding the sticky mess along the edge of the can.

5. Need to fill a container that doesn’t fit in the sink? Take a clean dustpan and place it in the sink facing up with the handle pointing towards you. Turn on the tap and use the handle as a spout, ensuring it’s targeted to your container.

6. Use a plastic bread tab to hold your spot on a roll of masking tape. Another use for those little tabs? Label and attach them to appliance cords to keep things in order.

7. Use a muffin tin to serve condiments at your next BBQ or fajita night.

8. Accidentally burn your muffins or cupcakes? Use a cheese grater and gently grate the bases to get rid of the burnt bits.

9. Keep your brown sugar fresh and soft by placing a piece of orange peel within the container.

10. Wrap rubber bands around the ends of clothes hangers to prevent your shirts from sliding off.

11. Need to store your beautifully decorated cupcakes but don’t want to ruin your icing? Place toothpicks on top of each cupcake and drape saran wrap on top, sealing at the base of the cupcake tin

12. Use Ziploc bags to store and freeze leftover soup or stew; they lie flat and take up much less space than Tupperware!

13. Store lettuce/kale in a mason jar; it will stay fresh for twice as long!

14. The next time you make a batch of pesto sauce or buy some parsley, fill ice cube trays with contents, place in a plastic bag and freeze. Simply pop out a cube, defrost and add it to your next recipe.

15. Got a clogged kitchen sink? Pour ½ cup of baking soda and ½ cup of vinegar down the drain; cover it with a wet cloth, wait 5 minutes, uncover, and flush with steaming-hot water.

16. Use dryer sheets to keep odours at bay in your gym back or shoes.

17. Travelling light? Hair conditioner functions as a shaving gel.

18. Reduce wait time (and smudging) and give your freshly painted nails a quick spray of cooking spray.

19. If your ears are pierced and you’ve got sensitive ears, coat stems of earrings with clear nail polish to protect them from irritation.

20. Use dentil floss as a cake slicer! Creates a clean slice that won’t smudge your icing.

Sources:
twistedsifter.com
realsimple.com