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

Teaspoons are good for transplanting seedlings.

For plant containers made out of unusual objects we need look no further than the other night's Gardeners' World and the alleyway garden.

I use a metal potato masher to tamp down pots with soil in for seeds and seedlings and the kitchen one to tamp down cheesecake base in the tin.

Been decorating, and the back of a spoon used daily to open paint tins. And large weights for my old fashioned scales to hold down bits I had to repair and glue.

This should become a sticky thread. So many clever ideas.

On the reaching one, I use a slice. Most things on the top shelves are in boxes. It slides under nicely, and then I can pull the box (think tea, etc.) forward, ensuring it doesn't land on my head as it drops.

I use an Ikea expanding leg (the table now has three expanding and one not, so I will have to grab the leg back if I want a higher table). The leg expands to fit in the bottom of the non-sliding French door and stops the sliding door from opening. You are pushing against the leg. You can buy security bars to do this, but I like "free".

I've added a picture of this one; I can't describe it. These are tea towel holders. They make excellent zip jacks if you use 'zip on a roll' and need to add the zip pulls.

My egg and cheese slicers went from my mum, to my daughter, to me.

My MIL loved Betterware.

In fact, I have some of her gadgets which I still use. The jar opener is very good.

My mum bought stuff from the Betterware catalogue, because she felt for whoever was selling it.
We often got things that we had no idea how to use, or what for.

Oh, I may have bought it in Finland along with an excellent potato peeler when we visited Fiskars.
The potato peeler may have gone out with the peelings or could have run away with the apple corer. Both are missing

Also late to the thread.
Since my H died I no longer buy wine by the case so a wine rack I don’t need now makes a very useful shoe rack in the corner of the bedroom.
Holds lots of pairs.

Callistemon21

I've got a cheese slicer, very nifty, had it years but I can't remember where I bought it. Probably TK Maxx. I haven't used it for slicing anything else though so it has no place on this thread!

I have one, given by a Swedish friend - much more of a thing in Sweden from what I’ve seen there - very thin slices shaved off a block.
TBH I’ve very rarely used it.

puppy training pads from poundstretcher, B&M, are a lot cheaper than expensive items from boots, for inco pads on beds, seats, or for any discharge.

Not exactly different, but later used for something we’d never imagined at the time.
Bought well over 30 years ago, a very simple double sofa bed, no arms, folds down instantly, bought for a spare room that wasn’t big enough for a double bed and dh’s desk. Used only very rarely when we had a real houseful, since we had other room for guests.

That is, until we had Gdcs coming to stay - and I was 67 by the time the first arrived. By the time 1 and 2 were 2 and 3 (now 6 and 7) it was perfect for them to share - very low, so no danger even if they did fall out.
Used so much in recent years!

I had a cheese slicer, and an egg slicer.
Then a boy moved in, and that was the end of them. (The slicers, not the boy)

I've got a cheese slicer, very nifty, had it years but I can't remember where I bought it. Probably TK Maxx. I haven't used it for slicing anything else though so it has no place on this thread!

My daughter and I put together countless things, including bunk beds using a potato peeler (and lots of swearing)

VioletSky

Potato peeler to slice cheese

I do that too.

A friend told me to use deodorant sticks on itchy insect bites rather than aero guard or whatever you use from the chemist and that works. Cheaper too.

I use the same fishing tackle box as Georgiejg for my watercolour paints.

An old lace tablecloth which we repurposed for lace curtains.

Craig - I don't think many of us would use Damascus steel to do paint jobs or even jobs round the garden ... but maybe Allsorts' gutting knife (with presumably a curved blade) is particularly useful. It may not be an expensive hand-forged knife.
OR it may be a hand-me-down knife that reminds her of someone and is re-purposed for "old times sake"

We have an old curved Opinel garlic knife that's useful for all sorts of things it wasn't intended for - both in the house and the garden.

We do this too pearl

Wash rubber gloves frequently for your health's sake . You simply turn them inside out, wash, rinse, hang to dry, then turn them the inside in.

Using rivers as sewage dumps.

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