Using things for a purpose other than for the intended purpose for which they were sold

And I use old 2kg square margarine tubs in my chest freezer, to hold things I use a lot of-peas, soffrito mix, frozen mince etc. Saves having to keep tying opened bags shut.

Oldnproud

Socks out of the laundry basket for dusting bedrooms with, when I can't be bothered to go downstairs for a duster,

I do that too!

Kitchen spray with bleach kills flies and wasps. You have to wait for them to land somewhere, then creep up and take aim. Works every time.

I noticed this "thing" on the BBC sewing programme. It was used as an ironing pad to iron difficult to reach parts of the clothes such as sleeves or the neck seam of dresses etc. I realised that I could use my small heating pad to get the same effect. Especially now as very full puff sleeves are fashionable.
I keep all the sticks from diffusers to use as seedling supports or to stir paint.
The old credit cards are useful to scrape the green gunge that collects in the lawn mower after cutting the grass.

My mum used to recycle my dad's old Y-fronts as dishcloths. I mentioned it to my daughter who was horrified, but it seemed perfectly normal to me!

I use a fishing tackle box as a sewing box.

A treadmill as an… item to hang my clean washing waiting to be ironed on.. ?

Looped handle of my kitchen scissors for pulling the open kitchen window closed as it’s over sink and i can’t reach easily!
An old piece of tubular steel 3 feet long ( don’t know where it came from) for hooking onto the bolt that holds the loft hatch closed and dragging it to open position.Also can hook down the loft ladder with it.
Bungy ropes for dragging my heavy pots on wheels around my garden. Just hook onto wheel frame and pull!

Old drawers (transparent) from fridges and freezers for cloches in the garden; also cut-in-half water bottles.
Lampshades turned upside down and lined with an old plastic bowl to make planters in the garden. I usually decorate/paint/protect them so they last.

I use metal coat hanger to lift curtains up- hook over pole- when cleaning or painting.
Toothpaste to clean silver jewellery..
Washing up liquid on stained clothes before putting in machine.
Medicated hand gel to remove ball point from clothes or furnishings.

A length of thick electric cable used to clean the hose of the vacuum cleaner when it clogs up.

I too use tights for garden ties, old clothes for proggy rugs, scraps of wool for granny squares, credit card for candle spills, lolly sticks for spills or garden markers, hair elastic to tie freezer bags, a bit of metal fence to keep the kitten off the fire, old clothes for dusters and so many more the list is endless. I once visited a retired headmistress and ended up doing our tea dishes. I was amazed at her dishcloth it was made from a pair of airtex knickers, the gusset . I’ve never been for tea since

A long shoe horn as a back scratcher!

Oldnproud

Socks out of the laundry basket for dusting bedrooms with, when I can't be bothered to go downstairs for a duster,

I thought I was the only one who did this - my OH has long ‘gamekeeper’ socks which are really soft, and when balled together in a pair, make perfect dusters !!

Grandad's shoe lasts used as doorstops.
Toilet roll tubes used as long root trainers for seedlings.
Freezer Paper for applique work and painting on fabric.
A pill organiser box for storing my machine needles.
Super King size flat sheet for a tablecloth when we extend the table fully.
Large ceramic tiles left over from the bathroom refit used as table mats for hot dishes.

An old chopstick for stirring paint, a very ancient steak knife for trimming lawn edges and downside of path.
Toothbrush to clean awkward places and a cocktail stick for cleaning round cooker knobs and edges where grease collects.

I use the containers fruit and veg come in for seedlings...the are perfect and have drainage holes...

Either the potato masher or my large wooden spoon to reach packets on the top kitchen cabinets and pull them towards me, would not do this with tins as I would probably knock myself out went they hit my head.

Old toothbrushes for cleaning around things.

The cutlery holder from our old dishwasher, holds all the smaller garden implements in the garage.

WD40 for getting the sticky residue of labels off jars.

Auntieflo

I have turned a large brown wheelie bin, into a huge water butt. Connected it to the down-pipe, through it's lid, and then fed a short hose from there to a conventional water butt. One keeps the other topped up. (When it rains) and has been very successful.

Great minds.. my small brown wheelie is my compost bin! Drilled lots small holes all over to aereate and solid drllied base prevents Mr rat and his tribe returning! Makes amazing mix too!

ixion

My grandmother's steel for knife sharpening.
As did she, we keep it by the front door for burglars.
Just in case ...

Whoa! I wouldn't for 2excellent reasons.
1. Any intruder will have this from you in a flash and you're a gonner!
2shouod you use it and injure/ kill an intruder is definitely manslaughter// murder, gbh or any one of section 20: serious assaults aand one down from attempt murder! I Josh you not!!

I use Vanish to soak dirty baking trays.

Red oxide paint from ironmongers is the same as more expensive terra cotta paint - we use it for flowerpots in need of brightening up after repairs from frost damage.

Spatula to push bedsheets in - makes a nice neat edge!

Old netting made into sleeves with ties for our cherry trees. The birds can have anything at the top, and the sleeves let us have a little too!

An old bread knife to cut back lawn edges.
Old tights cut up for plant ties.
Toilet roll inners for sweet pea seedlings.