How to Reuse Paper Rolls
Empty rolls from toilet paper, paper towels, wrapping paper and other products, are prevalent in most homes. Today's mantra, "reuse, reduce, recycle," is easy to apply to the cardboard rolls that take up space in your recycling bin and garbage can. Instead of recycling or tossing them out, find ways to reuse them. If you have children, chances are you have put these rolls to use in craft projects, but they can be repurposed in many useful ways too.
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Things You'll Need
- Rolls from toilet paper, paper towels, wrapping paper
- Lamp oil
- Candles
- Long match
- Fire starter
- Double-sided tape
- Spray bottle
- Vinegar
- Tin can
- Potting soil
- Cookie sheet
- Tray
- Seeds
Instructions
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Tame your snarl of cords for rechargers. String the cords through the roll and place it near an outlet. Decorate it to match the surroundings.
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Compost paper rolls. Cardboard is compostable because it is high in carbon, which goes well with the nigh nitrogen in food waste.
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3
Protect taper candles from breaking. Place your taper candles inside a cardboard roll. Use a toilet paper roll for short candles, paper towel rolls for tall ones.
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Extend your vacuum cleaner tube. Vacuum those high places you couldn't reach before by threading a paper roll of any type over the end of your vacuum cleaner hose.
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Start a fire. Stuff paper rolls with other lightweight cardboard like that from cereal boxes. Drizzle on candle wax or lamp oil, don't use a lot--a very small amount will make it flammable. Place among the kindling and light with a long match or fire starter.
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Hang for a pest strip. Roll on double-sided tape. Cover the whole roll. Spray with vinegar and hang it up.
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Store plastic grocery bags. Thread plastic bags through the tube so that they stick out equally at both ends.
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Dry your boots. Put paper rolls into a can. The number and height of the rolls and the size of the can will depend on the size and height of your boots. Be sure the cardboard tubes are tall enough for air to circulate through them. Place your boots over the top and locate them close to a heat outlet (not a fire or woodstove), so that the heated cardboard will absorb moisture from the boots.
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Organize hair ties and bracelets. Slip hair elastics, rubber bands and Scrunchies over the paper tube. Do the same with bracelets. Decorate the tube if you please and set it on your dresser as a pretty accent.
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Start seeds. Fill toilet paper tubes cut in half or paper towel tubes cut into thirds with potting soil. Set them on a cookie sheet or tray. Dampen them with water and plant the seeds.
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References
- Photo Credit Red Gift Wrapping Paper image by Stacey Alexander from Fotolia.com
