Twelve Great Ways to Reuse Empty Tissue Boxes

Even though the greenest solution is to use hankies or equivalent re-usable clothes instead of tissues, however that's not always possible. Tissues undoubtedly are handy to clean up not only different parts of our body, but also still are almost irreplaceable to deal with the hundred-and-one unexpected accidents at home, especially if there are children around the house. And so we ended up with a lot of empty tissue boxes. Usually these boxes are made of hard or even cardboard boxes, and it is really a pity if we just throw them away like thrash. So why not get a few miles out of something that we've actually paid for and be environmentally friendly? It may even save you a bunch of money!

Below are just a few hints on how to re-use those empty tissue boxes.

1. I seem to need to use tissues everywhere around my home, just in case an accident happens nearby. That is why I have boxes of tissues in every room. However, some boxes were seldom touched, and the tissues inside became dusty and faded.

Some tissue boxes are cute and beautifully decorated. These boxes of tissues definitely cost more than those that come in plain boxes. I buy big boxes of tissues and divide them into those smaller, cuter boxes, then put them in different rooms around the house. Doing this not only saves costs, I can ensure the tissues are clean and fresh too.

2. Use the empty tissue boxes to make fun toys for kids. Here are just a few toy ideas. Simple toys allow space for kids to develop their imagination.

a. Join a few empty tissue boxes up with strings to make simple toy train.

b. Collect tissue boxes of all sizes and let toddlers use as building blocks to build houses, bridges and so on, they can bring as much fun as those expensive Lego blocks.

c. For older children, put rubber bands around the empty boxes and they become tissue box guitars.

3. Collect plastic bags in larger tissue boxes and make plastic-bag dispensers. The plastic bags can be reused as garbage bags.

4. Larger tissue boxes can also be used as trash-boxes for sweet wrappers, banana skins and cupcake bases and so on. They are especially useful in children's parties.

5. Label them and use as containers for pencils, crayons, erasers, rubber bands and the one hundred and one small items on children's study table.

6. Rip off the top of a tissue box; put some gardening soil into it. Let flower seeds germinate and grow as seedlings. Later on the whole box can be planted as the box is biodegradable.

7. Place a tissue box in a pet's cage, and the box will become a private haven for a sleepy guinea pig or a little kitten.

8. A colorful empty tissue box can be re-used as a store for unpaid bills, recipes, remainders or notes. Place an empty tissue box next to the family telephone, and use it as a storage place for small pieces of scrap and bits of unused paper. This box comes in handy when we need to take messages or some information.

9. Stuff an old towel inside a tissue box, then cover the opening of the box with some cotton wool wrapped in a piece of cotton cloth. This will make an ideal giant sized pin cushion for those who fancy sewing as a hobby.

10. Empty tissue boxes are also most valuable for bad flu days or loose threads that you trim from your sewing.

11. Wrap up an empty tissue box to make a beautiful gift box.

12. Finally, flatten the tissue boxes, keep together with cereal boxes, soap powder boxes and other assorted paper packaging and send them for recycling.

Think green, be creative. While it is easy just to throw the empty boxes away, have more fun and get your money's worth out of those empty boxes!