Check These 30 Household Items That Can Be Reduced, Reused And Recycled To Reduce Waste And Save Money (2021)

Teabags

One teabag can actually make not only one but two cups of tea — possibly even more. To get the most tea out of your tea bags, simply put the teapot on a stove. You’ll realize that you can save plenty of tea bags from doing it! But don’t forget to choose a stovetop safe teapot. If you only wanted one cup of tea, simply keep the used teabag in the fridge for later usage. A small hack is that the used teabags can be stored in a fridge or a shoe cabinet to soak the unpleasant odours. After a long day, use them as soothing eye masks at night to reduce puffiness and prevents irritation.

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Parchment paper

Baking became so popular during quarantine times. Did you know you can reuse the same parchment paper to bake several batches of cookies? Save money in the 2021 quarantine! They are usually tolerant of 450 degrees Fahrenheit, make sure the crumbs are removed before baking the next batch then you’re good to go!

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Clean Swiffer dusters

The replaceable pads attached at the bottom of your Swiffer can actually be reused! Clean your dusters with sustainable practices, by using warm water and soap. Dry it thoroughly, then it is ready for use again.

Dryer sheets

Dryer sheets are just as useful and effective when cut into half and can be used at least twice. Save money by using one sheet for multiples laundries!

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Coffee filters

Most coffee filters can be used at least five or six times until they become ineffective.  Simply wash out the filter and let it dry before reusing.

Shower curtain

Even if it’s coated in soap scum or hairs, it doesn’t mean you’ll have to throw them away! Try cleaning them before you think of replacing them. They are machine washable, so remove the hooks and toss it in your washing machine. Add some baking soda or detergent for stronger cleaning effect. After washing, hang the shower curtain with the hooks so it dries.

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Old towels

As your towels fade and accumulate holes and stains, don’t toss them in the trash immediately. Use them to clean up for a wide range of things such as your house, vehicle, pets, etc. To put them into further use, other options include transforming them into household equipment or toys for pets.

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Seeds

Keep a part of your plants for seeding so your future crops can use them. If you don’t know how to save the seeds, check out Howtosaveseeds.com

Egg cartons

Egg cartons are designed to store fragile, small things steady and safe. After emptying your cartons, clean them and store fragile objects of similar shapes, such as lightbulbs or glassware. You can also use it to organize any small items. Except for normal egg cartons, you can even go for a plastic option!

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Paper rolls

Paper rolls are known for their versatility. You can use them to organize your cables, pens, or yarns. If you want to be creative, you can make them into surprise party poppers or gift poppers! You can use them in any way that you want!

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Pickle jars

After finishing your pickles, clean the jars and put them into other uses. They can seal perfectly and prevent your food from turning bad! They are small and handy, making them perfect to travel with.

Coffee mugs

Turn your old coffee mugs into flowerpots! They can make great house decor too. If you didn’t like the designs, paint them in the way you like it and you’ll have new flowerpots for you to grow plants indoors!

Water jugs

Tips on how to stay fit in quarantine 2021. You can use jugs of any liquid, namely water, milk, or detergent jugs as weights to replace the pricey gym equipments. Put a few jugs near one another and make a great stay home workout station!

Underwear

You can recycles old underwear and T-shirts as cleaning rags and save money from buying towels! You can use them for simple cleaning in the household, such as mopping the floor, or car washing.

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Takeout containers

Do you know how much plastic you waste from ordering takeouts? After finishing your food, you can clean and reuse them multiple times. You can also ask the restaurants to use your recycled containers instead of giving you new boxes.

Eggshells

Wash and dry your eggshells thoroughly and put them in your morning coffee! I bet you didn’t know that dried eggshells can help to lower the acidity in coffee and make it taste better! If you have your coffee with an empty stomach, this will reduce the chance of acid reflux.

Citrus rinds

Rinds from citrus fruits, including grapefruits, oranges or limes can be used as natural scents. After you enjoy the fruits, soak the peeks in hot water and bring it to boil, then you have a cheap scented candle replacement!

Candle jars

Candles usually come in reusable glass jars, they come in different sizes and shapes. The large containers can store foods of large portions, while the small ones can keep dry ingredients like coffee beans, tea leaves or spices. You can also use them to organise small toiletries or use them as a fancy glass.

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Kitty litter

Even if you’re not a cat owner, you can still use cat litter! They come in handy when you need to absorb liquids or oil. They are a great absorbent, so if you accidentally spilled oil, then you can use it to clean up for the mess you made! They could also be used in the garden to even out sinkholes, or substitute de-icing salt in the winter.

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Mattress

If you don’t want to waste your old mattress, you can also put them into many uses! You can use the fabric or buttons to sew. The stuffing can be used as a safety measure when you transport fragile objects.

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Toothbrushes

Use old toothbrushes to clean every nook and corner at home. Toothbrushes are small so they can come in handy when we try to clean places like the shower-head, shower tiles. For a beauty hack, use toothbrushes to apply hair dye to the roots or edges of your hair to make it more evenly distributed. If you’re an electronic toothbrush user, you can also use the disposable brush tips for this hack!

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Shoeboxes

Don’t discard the new shoeboxes, they are in perfect shapes for storing craft supplies or small gadgets.

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Plastic zippered bags

The plastic zippered bags that come with beddings or pillows are usually extra thick, they are best for storing stockings or winter coats during summer to keep them clean and tidy.

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Newspapers

Instead of buying wrapping paper, use outdated newspapers or old magazines to wrap your presents. You can also use them as shock absorbance and protect fragile items.

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Broken dishes

If you accidentally broke dishes, don’t panic! Use them to add aesthetics to your house. Use them as designs on flower pots, in your garden, or in your garage. If you want to be creative, turn them into jewelleries at home!

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Tissue boxes

Pull out plastic bags like how you do with tissue paper. It’s a simple way to organize your disposable bags.

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Condiment bottles

Condiment bottles are in the optimum size for pancake batter and cake icing. Empty and clean them out for quick and easy breakfast preparation.

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Prescription bottles

They are designed for you to carry them around, empty and clean them for storage of small items on the go, such as vitamins, Panadols, or other medications.  You can also use them to carry shampoo, body wash, or cream because these usually come in big sizes that are not convenient for traveling.

Bottle caps

Bottle caps come in many shapes and colors, making them great for decorations. Make mini candles by filling them with scented wax and brighten up your party.

Ladders

If your ladders are getting old and unstable, consider using them as a storage shelve. Doesn’t matter whether it’s a step ladder or a telescoping ladder, simply paint or put small decorations and make it unique.

This is how to save money in 2021, you can start with a lot of necessities that you didn’t know you wasted!