Posts tagged: alternative_uses
Impromptu Air Freshener for Small Spaces
By DIY Maven

This exceptional hint originated on an airplane. In its bathroom. Here's how the story goes: Recently, a traveller on a particularly puny plane noticed that the scent emanating from its one bathroom smelled pleasant, but not air-freshener-y » READ MORE
12 Ways to Use a Tea Towel.
By ChrisjobStudiopatro is a San Francisco design studio that creates amazing typographic, nature, and geometric-inspired tea towel. Their work is so beautiful you'll want to do way more than simply dry dishes, and thankfully, they've offered twelve ideas to use tea towels in your life and decor.
- Easy apron
- Frame-able art
- Line your tea tray
- Protect your tender hands
- Dry fresh greens
- Create a cushion
- Give as gifts
- Wrap as gift wrap
- Line your bread basket
8 Alternative Uses for Plastic Wrap.
By Chrisjob

Plastic wrap, cellophane, Saran Wrap, cling wrap... whatever you call it, this just-a-bit-too-sticky surface does what it does - sealing food in containers to keep it fresh - and does it well. Turns out, there's at least eight other things it can do, as well, and they've been compiled thusly by Diane Rixon at DIYLife.
- Salvage corked wine
- Preserve paint and spackles
- Pack silverware
- Get a non-slip grip
- Banish frizzies
- Keep ice cream fresh
- Seal » READ MORE
Ten Alternative Uses for Tennis Balls.
By Chrisjob
They're green. They're fuzzy. And there's at least ten other ways to use 'em beyond bouncing on the court. Volley on over to This Old House. and check 'em out.
1. Erase scuff marks.
2. Protect a padlock.
3. Remove a broken lightbulb.
4. Cushion the blow.
5. Install a parking guide.
6. Open a jar.
7. Make a hitch cover.
8. Collect change for tolls.
9. Keep a door open.
10. Get a better grip.
Ten Alternative Uses for Used Tea Bags.
By Chrisjob
Once you've given your tea bag a dunk, you could head right to the compost bin. OR, you can give it a second chance with one these alternative options for steeped tea bags.
- Soothe Tired or Injured Eyes
- Flavor Your Meat
- Make “Less Sinful” Drinks
- Around-The-House Cleaner
- Remove Warts
Pantyhose Candle Jar Cozies and Tattoos
By DIY Maven
Have you ever seen or considered doing this...stretching pantyhose or tights over candle jars?CraftyChi's suggests ripping holes in the hose for added interest. I'm not sure if I like the idea. » READ MORE
Ten Unusual Uses for a Colander.
By ChrisjobThe colander. It drains liquid away from solid stuff you don't want soggy, and, well, not much else.

Except, apparently, it does! DIYLife has assembled ten clever uses for this seemingly at-first-glance multi-tasker.
1. Grease splatter reducer.
2. Warm a serving bowl.
3. Berry storage.
4. Bathtub toy scoop.
5. Play accessory.
6. Craft template.
7. Bug tent.
8. Wind chime.
9. Lamp shade.
10. Holiday display.
Six Extraordinary Uses for Shampoo.
By ChrisjobStuck zipper? Crunchy cuticles? Out of shaving cream? Just reach into the shower...

Shampoo, in all it's sodium lauryl sulfate goodness, can do a whole heap of tasks, soap-y and otherwise.
How To: Van Gogh on a Bottle.
By ChrisjobSeeking to repurpose a used wine bottle and reapply the skills she learned in college, Monica Ewing sought to recreate a classic impressionist painting on her unlikely surface. "It was the perfect assignment for a novice painter such as me. On a wine bottle, you can’t see the entire painting at once, so mistakes in proportion, etc. are obscured. Here, I copied one of my favorite Vincent van Gogh works: Wheat Field with Cypresses." Use the tool » READ MORE
Nine Alternative Uses for Ketchup.
By ChrisjobKetchup. Catsup. Catchup. Some folks in my family even choose to say 'tomato ketchup'...you know, to distinguish it from eggplant or fava bean ketchup. Or perhaps to convince themselves that it shouldn't rather be called "corn syrup ketchup."
Regardless, it's sticky sweet and acidic make-up provide from some interesting uses other than dressing your tater tots. Here's nine from the Daily Green.
1. Shine Your Copper
2. Get Those Auto Parts Glea » READ MORE
Repurpose a Ketchup Bottle for Perfect Pancakes.
By Chrisjob
You've seen the technique at your local diner: a handheld dispenser full of batter is floated over a nice cripsy griddle, creating perfectly round and drip-free flapjacks. And you can buy things for home use...
But why would you, with this tip from Real Simple. Just throughly wash a large, squeezable condiment bottle, and fill it with your batter of choice. "Portioning pancake batter with precision―and without the usual mess of transferring batte » READ MORE
Eight Alternative Uses for Old Socks.
By ChrisjobSock puppets?
Yep, and these eight other alternative uses by Wisebread. Be sure to check out the shoe freshener idea by filling an old sock with baking soda, and stuffing it in your sneaker.
-
Moth Repellant
- Shoe Freshener
-
Washcloth for soap scraps
- Hot Pack
- Draft Dodger
- Drink Cozy
- Dolly Dresses
- Broom Buddy
Rain Gutter Gardens.
By Chrisjob
Suzanne Forsling, raised in Iowa but now living in Juneau, had a need to grow her own produce, has only a bit of sunny space in her yard, and it was tiny. Her solution? Don't grow the goodies next to the house...grow 'em ON the house.
"Why not put rain gutters in rows along the wood siding on the sunny side of the house[?] It might look weird, but that was where all the heat, sun and protection from damage is best.We went to Home Depot and select » READ MORE
17 Cool Magnetic Tricks.
By ChrisjobHome use and DIY projects, geek crafts, handmade toys...there's nothing wrong with keeping a few neodymiums in your tool box. The clever team at Evil Mad Scientist have assembled seventeen helpful uses, with original photographs!
Some highlights:
- Extract batteries from stubborn holders
- Find studs in your walls
- Make a homopolar motor
- Make LED Throwies
- Demonstrate magnetohydrodynamic propulsion
- Make a simple compass
- Experiment with self assembly
- M » READ MORE
DIY Cardboard Chaise Lounge.
By ChrisjobSure, we've seen lots of cardboard art and furniture (and a house), and a small scale how-to, but this Instructable is totally approachable and makes fabulous use of a mess of Ikea boxes. Pretty impressive, says I.

So grab some corrugated cardboard, a bit of tape, and utility knife, and follow the instructions above.
Alternative Uses for Tea Bags
By DIY Maven
Woo Hoo! Today is Tea-Bagging Day! For all those tea-baggers out there, here’s some alternative uses for teabags, to help celebrate the occasion. » READ MORE
Vintage Quick Tricks Using 7-Up.
By ChrisjobTipNut has scanned a vintage cookbook from 1961 offering some clever and alternative uses for 7up. I imagine they'd still apply with a bottle of fresh soda.
* Tangy 7up Cubes
* Pork butt or ham glaze
* Mock champagne punch.
* 7up basted fish fillets
* Chocolate sauce for ice cream
* Zip up fresh fruit
* As liquid in fruit pies
15 Alternative Uses for Credit Cards
By DIY Maven
Has the economy prompted you to cancel a credit card or two even though you’re still getting those fake ones in the mail? Here’s 15 ways to make use of all of them that won’t cost you a thing. Actually, in some instances, they’ll even save you money.
- Open a spring latch lock. (Doesn’t work on a deadbolt, thankfully.)
- Ice scraper.
- Paint scraper.
- Aquarium glass scraper.
- Caulk edger, like one of these things.
- Shims for tight spac » READ MORE
At Least 30 More Ways to Reuse Gift Wrapping Paper.
By ChrisjobWait, wait, wait! Don't take that garbage bag of wrapping paper to the recycling bin just yet. After you've created a paper fan and weaved yourself a handbag, unwrap these lists for a whole heap of new ways to recycle your used wrapping paper. It just keeps on giving.




