New Ways to Reuse Five Common Household Items

The following are some new ways you can reuse five common household items.

Old socks
Instead of throwing out old socks, consider using them as "mittens" for cleaning and scrubbing household appliances. Old socks are particularly handy and useful for shining shoes, cleaning hard to reach areas in between furniture.

Old pots and pans
After a number of uses, pots and pans can be worn out or scratched beyond repair. Instead of throwing them out, use pots and pans as planters for a number of indoor plants. Use a handy screwdriver and remove the handles and voila! You have a set of nice planters.

Scouring pads and sponges
When you have used your scouring pads and sponges til they are worn out, consider saving them in a bag and use them as liners for the bottoms of your planters. The scouring pads and sponges are great for keeping water from seeping too quickly out of your planters.

Old shoelaces
Before you recycle your sneakers at a local Nike store, consider removing the shoelaces. Wash the shoelaces with a load of laundry and use it as a gift wrapping string. Old shoelaces can also be reused as friendship bracelets for children.

Leftover shampoo or conditioner
Sometimes there is leftover shampoo or conditioner that you cannot reach (the bottom of the barrel). You can add a little bit of water to dilute it and then use the suds to clean your toilet (my mom actually taught me this eco-friendly trick, I was a bit skeptical at first, but it works!).