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

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 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.

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.

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!

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.

These are brilliant........truly brilliant! Some I've heard of before but there's loads on this thread to inspire anyone to reuse all manner of stuff.

Excellent thread StarDreamer.

I keep a vileda supermop especially for reaching cobwebs in high places.

skate

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.

Is that watered down bleach? I never used to kill bees or wasps when they come into the house but my dog is very allergic to their stings so I now don’t try to get them to fly out unless they’re near to a door. I do feel bad about it but can’t risk an emergency drive to the vets.

Yammy

FannyCornforth

I know that they are the devil’s work, but antibacterial wipes (Flash and the like) are brilliant at cleaning gloss painted woodwork

I forgot that one Fanny. We shouldn't buy them but life is too short and they do loads of jobs even coffee spilt down a stairwell and we weren't tight.

I’m just amazed at how clean they make things. I use one on the phone, tv remotes etc etc I get a lot of use out of each wipe. I wish I know what’s in them to clean things so well.

Clothes hanger for my spectacles. All lined up on the bit meant for trousers means I can see them all.
Saw it as a display in an opticians and liked the idea.

hollysteers - that sounds like a lot of spectacles !!!!

Potato peeler to slice cheese

Pearlsaminger

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

Love this ???

Old makeup brushes to dust the leaves of orchid plants, gets right down to the base of the leaves with no damage. Also old makeup brushes to clean the inside of my coffee machine, the eyebrow brush gets the grounds out of the corners a treat.

Maybee70 - the kitchen spray comes from Tesco and already contains bleach but I have found that most others work just as well. Less toxic than fly spray.

I use the empty container for the Flash floor cleaning cloths for my acrylic paints. With the lid on it keeps them soft so I can go on using them after I have squeezed some out. Can also use the lid for mixing water colours.

A chopstick to poke out corners when sewing. A soup label to hook the window handle to close it.

I use old duvet covers to make dresses and I once turned some upholstery material into a coat. When I can get into town I have a wander around the charity shops, it’s amazing the bargains you can find.

Have an old toilet and cistern as planters, DH drew the line at me using the bath. At the moment I have bak foil on my front door windows, ugly but very effective

Hi SolitarySpirit -that's an amazing piece of sewing .

What a fantastic coat !

Single duvet covers to completely cover the bench seats in my Motorhome.. Had some cheerful patterns instead of the awful HOT orange colours the manufacturers use.

Bit late to the party - as usual!

Many tips I'd already heard of but there were just as many I hadn't

My sole contribution would be using white vinegar for getting rid of limescale. Rarely use it in cooking etc but still have a 5 litre container in the kitchen - although these days I have to get someone to decant it into small containers for me!

MayBee70

I keep a vileda supermop especially for reaching cobwebs in high places.

I have one of those floor duster things for cobwebs on high walls and ceilings, with a fluffy cover. My vileda mop is used to clean walls down before I paint or if anything spills down walls.

Have you thought of using one of those items sold as a baster?

I was thinking of use for decanting into smaller bottles, but I suppose it could also be used for squirting and/or dripping the white vinegar onto the limescale.

I don't know how long one this one is.

LINK > www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/295751402

SD I have one which is very similar but not necessarily from Tesco. The total length is just over 28cm if that helps you.