Household items that can be reused

“Reuse, reduce, recycle” is a mantra used by many eco-conscious men and women. Reducing, reusing and recycling is not just a great way to conserve energy and natural resources, but also an effective means to saving money.

Men and women may not know it, but they likely have many items around the house that they can reuse and repurpose. This can reduce the amount of trash sent to landfills and help conserve the resources used to manufacture new products. The following are some common household items that can be reused or repurposed.

• Containers: Glass jars and coffee cans are two examples of containers that don’t have to be discarded once the pasta sauce or coffee grains have been used up. Foodies who like to make their own sauces or spreads can repurpose old pasta sauce jars into storage for their homemade foods, such as marmalades, while coffee cans can be turned into storage for miscellaneous tools such as nails or screws. Parents of young children can even turn old pasta jars into banks for their children, who may grow excited as they watch the jars gradually fill up with coins.

• Plastic milk jugs/water bottles: Gardeners can turn gallon milk jugs that would otherwise go into the recycling bin into watering cans for the plants in their gardens. Water bottles can be reused to water indoor plants.

• Takeout containers: The organization Ocean Conservancy notes that single-use plastics, including plastic takeout containers, are among the biggest threats to the world’s oceans. But plastic takeout containers need not be used once and discarded. Many such containers are microwave- and dishwasher-safe, meaning they can be reused over and over. Use such containers to store leftovers or as serving dishes when hosting less formal affairs at home.

• Toothbrushes: In lieu of discarding plastic toothbrushes once they’re no longer effective at cleaning teeth, men and women can repurpose them as cleaning utensils to use for hard-to-reach spots. Toothbrushes can be used to clean rims around toilets and to scrub grime between bathroom and kitchen sink fixtures.

Many inexpensive items people are accustomed to discarding can be reused and repurposed, which can help remove tons of garbage from landfills and reduce the amount of plastics that find their way into the world’s oceans.

• Keep potentially harmful items out of pets’ reach. Household cleaners beneath the kitchen sink are not the only items around the house that can be harmful to pets. Medications should always be stored on high shelves where pets cannot reach them. In addition, make sure all laundry room items, including detergent and dryer sheets, are stored out of pets’ reach. Discuss human foods that might be harmful to pets with a veterinarian and make sure such foods are not left out where pets can reach them when you are hosting friends or family members. If necessary, make sure all foods are served on dinner tables or kitchen counters that are inaccessible to pets.

• Conceal all wires. Today’s homes are more connected than ever before, and that often translates to more wires around the house. Make sure all wires are bundled together and out of the reach and view of pets, who may be tempted to chew on them. Even wires that are out of reach may tempt pets if they can see them, so pet owners should make concerted efforts to conceal wires.

• Move or remove potentially poisonous plants. Plant lovers may not have worried if their plants were poisonous when they had no intention of welcoming pets into their homes. But prospective pet owners should research each plant in their homes to make sure they’re not poisonous. Move potentially poisonous plants to places where pets cannot access them. Remove any poisonous floor plants from the home before purchasing or adopting a pet.

Pets, particularly puppies and kittens, tend to be curious. Pet parents can protect pets from their own curiosity by pet-proofing their homes.