10 Ideas for Recycling Something Old into Something New (especially for Moms)

I have a heart for all moms who are trying to fight off the joy thieves of motherhood. Whether you are a SAHM (stay at home mom) or a WHAM (work at home mom) or a SUPER MOM who is doing it all, your cyber speed, multi-tasking life can sometimes steal the JOY that you want in your home.
One of the biggest joy thieves for mothers today is financial stress.
In my effort to help moms fight off the joy thief of FINANCIAL STRESS, and truly become Joy @ Home Moms, I teach the principal of No Cash in the Trash! I learned this principal from my 86 year old friend, Miss Emma.

Here are 10 ideas for recycling something old into something new.

1) Mini laundry bags

After you are done using those little mesh bags that are for keeping delicates separate in the washing machine, you can use them to put bottle nipples in and run them through the dish washer. Once you are past the bottle nipple stage, you can use this same little bag for washing small toys like leggos and other hard plastic toys. Just don't use the heat dry setting just to be safe.

2) Plastic milk jugs

After you finish your plastic jug of milk or juice, cut the bottom off, put the cap back on,and use it for a sand box scoop or a pet food scoop.

3) Flat plastic lids

Re-use plastic coffee can lids and the like for putting under sticky refridgerator items. Such as; syrup, jelly, ketchup. This will help keep your fridge cleaner. It's easier to put a plastic lid through the dishwasher than it is to haul everything out and clean your fridge. You can also use the thicker flat plastic lids for moving furniture across carpeted floors. Just use them like furniture sliders. Place one under each furniture leg and push.

4) Small shoe boxes

Children's shoe boxes make excellent drawer organizers. Use them to insert into dresser drawers to separate socks, underwear, belts, head bands, baby powder, lotions, etc.

5) Cereal boxes

Thicker large cereal boxes especially the ones from the wholesale store are great for storing magazines. Cut the narrow side and top off. You can cover these with scraps of wallpaper or just leave plain and store a half a year's worth of magazines.

6) Card board drink organizers

If you every buy a box of drinks or anything in bulk that provides you with a collapsible cardboard divider these are great for many things. I use them to insert into deep bathroom drawers to separate hair and skin product bottles. If they are too tall, collapse the divider and cut in half. Now you've got two drawer organizers.

7) Toy Twist Ties

You know those extra long silver or black twist ties that the toy industry insists on using to hermetically secure all toys to their boxes. The bright side is that unsecuring them gives your spouse time to find camera batteries that work so that by the time the toy is free, you are ready to take pictures. Also, if you untwist them by hand (instead of cutting them off), you can re-use them for 100 different things. I use them to tie up computer cords, tie vines and tomato plants to the fence. I've also re-secured multi part toys together for consignment or yard selling.

8) Oatmeal and chip cans

These round cans make great toy drums, but they also are great organizers. Use them to hold paint brushes, craft pens, craft beads, crayons, etc.

9) Metal mint boxes

Alltoid tins to be exact, are great for tons of things. Six AA batteries fit nicely if you need to take batteries with you or if you want a place to put old batteries for later recycling. They are also great purse or travel organizers for sewing kits, medicine, first aid kit (band aids and tube of Neosporin), or jewelry, q-tips, cotton balls, make-up applicators, etc.

10) Egg Cartons

Other than the classic egg carton caterpillar; the Styrofoam cartons are great for earrings, because you can stab your post earrings right into the cups themselves. Put all the earring backs into one of the cups. They are also great for paint holders and bead holders for crafting. If you've got a scout in the house, the cardboard ones make great camp-fire starters. Just melt a little candle wax into some dryer lint in the cups and light the edges to start your campfire.