Looking to save money and reduce waste? You might be surprised by the number of everyday household items that can be reused instead of thrown away. While we're all familiar with reusable grocery bags and water bottles, there's a whole world of other items hiding in plain sight. Here's a list of 30 household items you had no idea were reusable.

1. Tea Bags Extend the life of your tea bags by using them multiple times. After your morning cuppa, store the used tea bag in the refrigerator. Later in the day, use it to relax tired eyes.

2. Parchment Paper Save on baking supplies by reusing parchment paper for multiple batches of cookies. Just ensure it's clean and nothing is stuck to it that could burn.

3. Swiffer Dusters Give your Swiffer duster pads a second life by washing and air drying them. They'll be ready for another round of cleaning.

4. Dryer Sheets Cut your dryer sheets in half to get twice the use out of them. One sheet can now handle up to four loads of laundry.

5. Coffee Filters Rinse and dry coffee filters to reuse them several times before they lose effectiveness.

6. Shower Curtains Instead of replacing plastic shower curtains, give them a good wash with detergent and baking soda to freshen them up.

7. Old Towels Transform faded bath towels into washable cleaning rags for floors, cars, and pets. Get creative and repurpose them into DIY bath mats or dog toys.

8. Seeds Save seeds from your plants to use for next year's crops, reducing the need to buy new seeds annually.

9. Egg Cartons Reuse clean egg cartons for organizing small items like Christmas ornaments or screws and bolts.

10. Paper Rolls Turn cardboard tubes into cable organizers, pant hangers, or plastic bag storage.

11. Pickle Jars Clean out pickle jars for storage containers or small planters.

12. Coffee Mugs Transform old mugs into decorative flower pots that match your home decor.

13. Water Jugs Use empty jugs as weights for exercise or DIY home gym equipment.

14. Underwear Repurpose old underwear and T-shirts as cleaning rags instead of disposable wipes.

15. Takeaway Containers Reuse containers from takeout orders for storing homemade food or future takeout meals.

16. Eggshells Drop cleaned eggshells into coffee to reduce acidity and improve taste.

17. Citrus Rinds Boil citrus rinds for a natural air freshener.

18. Candle Jars Repurpose candle jars for bulk food storage, spices, or bathroom organization.

19. Kitty Litter Use excess kitty litter as a grease absorbent or garden soil conditioner.

20. Mattress Disassemble worn-out mattresses for crafting projects or protective packaging.

21. Toothbrushes Use old toothbrushes for cleaning hard-to-reach spots or applying hair dye.

22. Shoeboxes Organize craft supplies or small items with shoebox storage.

23. Plastic Zippered Bags Store seasonal clothing or linens in large plastic zippered bags.

24. Newspapers Reuse newspapers as wrapping paper or for padding delicate items when moving.

25. Broken Dishes Turn broken dishes into mosaic art or garden decorations.

26. Tissue Boxes Store plastic bags neatly inside empty tissue boxes.

27. Condiment Bottles Repurpose cleaned condiment bottles for easy-to-use pancake batter dispensers.

28. Prescription Bottles Create travel-sized first aid kits using empty prescription bottles.

29. Bottle Caps Make mini candles by filling bottle caps with wax.

30. Ladders Repurpose old ladders as stylish shelving units for books, plants, and decor.

Source
Photo: Getty

Capital One Arena

Washington, DC

3/18/2018