Uses for Cardboard Boxes

Uses for cardboard boxes stretch far beyond simply storing unused items throughout the year. A simple shopping trip to the grocery store can leave you with a wide variety of cardboard boxes in an assortment of sizes and styles. These boxes can then be used in the home, office, or garage to help simplify tasks such as cleaning and organizing or beyond for crafts and entertaining children.

Cleaning

Cardboard boxes act as buffers against cleaning, painting, or staining solutions. Cut the box to fit over a particular item, such as a doorknob or glass and lay the cardboard box over the surface you want to protect. Then, simply paint, stain, or clean the neighboring surface. This works well for projects like repainting a glass-paneled door. Lay the cardboard box flaps against the wall to protect the paint finish while you paint or stain molding and floors.

Use large cardboard boxes to protect work areas from drips and spills during paint projects. Cut the glued edges or seams and lay the box flat to protect a table or bench. Allow any paint spills to dry and then throw them in the trash. You can also use cardboard boxes to protect floors in mudrooms or garages. While in the garage or work shed, cardboard boxes hold small trim or wood nails to avoid accidentally hitting your fingers with the hammer. Insert the nail into the box, place the nail in the desired location on the surface and hold the cardboard piece while you hammer the nail into place.

An unexpected use for cardboard boxes is to create disposable cat litter boxes from a large cereal box. Fill the box with litter and when it comes time to change the litter, simply throw the entire box away and use another box to make a new one.

Organizing

Cut the tops off smaller boxes and create in/out boxes for keeping papers organized. Cut out the sides to create a flat box used for storing manuals or magazines that you frequently need. Create personal message boxes for individuals by cutting a large opening into a box to insert letters and notes. Enhance the appearance by adding embellishments such as glitter, decorative paper, and cutting designs or shapes into the cardboard box. Keep a variety of box sizes to help you sort and organize items throughout the house.

Crafts and Entertainment

Keep crafts and paint cleanup simple by using old cardboard boxes as place mats where the children work. Cover the cardboard in adhesive paper to make the boxes reusable. Keep a large box near the children’s’ work area to catch paper scraps and other waste. Cut smaller boxes for reusable patterns or patchwork ideas for quilting and sewing projects.

Use several cardboard boxes in a variety of sizes to create dollhouses and furniture. Cover the boxes with decorative paper to give the appearance of wallpaper in a room or line the bottoms with an old cloth for carpeting. Cardboard boxes from large appliances double as castles, forts, or pretend vehicles. Smaller boxes also make garages for toy cars or battle stations for action figures.

References

• Pecuniarities: "Thinking inside the box: Some Uses for Cardboard Cartons"
• Reader's Digest: "Extraordinary Uses for Cardboard Boxes"
• Arts and Crafts for Kids: "Kids' Crafts with Cardboard Boxes"

Resources

• AnyBox Today: " 101 Ways to Recycle & Reuse Cardboard Boxes at Home, Work & Play"
• Thrifty Fun: “Uses for Cardboard Boxes”