Upcycling
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Avoid putting weeds in a standard compost bin unless you are sure it reaches 140°F.
Lower temperatures will not kill weed seeds.
- The chances of reaching this temperature vary by climate.
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Rotate two kitty litter buckets for composting; after dumping, flip one upside down on a stand to let critters clean it out before bringing it back inside.
This prevents the smell from being brought back into the house.
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Source scrap wood from home improvement stores for DIY projects.
It is often free or very cheap, sturdier than cardboard, and reduces the chance of knocking items over.
- More work than using rolls.
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Build wooden strawberry pyramid planters from pallet wood to increase yield and save space.
One person reported quadrupling their yield in half the space within one year.
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If you are short and slide on leather car seats, place a small piece of anti-slip mat on the seat to prevent sliding and reduce back soreness.
It prevents the body from sliding off the seat, which can alleviate back pain.
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Keep a ratio of 2 parts brown material to 1 part green material to generate enough heat for decomposition.
This mix produces the heat needed.
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Add more brown material to your compost if it smells.
Compost shouldn't be smelly.
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Slice cleaning sponges like cold cuts rather than cubing them.
This creates more surface area.
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Cover your compost pile before rainstorms to prevent excess water from cooling it down and causing odors.
Excess water can put out the fire and cause smells.
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Convert lawn areas to low-growing clover to create a self-fertilizing ground cover.
Clover is self-fertilizing.
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Keep indoor compost bins on the porch to prevent unpleasant odors inside the home.
It prevents others from smelling waste upon entering the house.
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Add water to sand-filled containers to increase weight density without increasing volume.
There is significant space between sand grains that can be filled with water.
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Turn your compost pile frequently and dampen it occasionally to speed up decomposition.
Leaves will compost quicker.
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Avoid making DIY Mod Podge as it performs poorly compared to commercial glue.
It cannot be heated, ruins paper, and holds half as well as Elmer's glue.
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Invest in high-quality household items when you need them so they last longer, rather than buying cheap replacements.
One person reported that a quality sponge holder bought for about $10 lasted 15 years looking as good as new.
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Use old stockings as a dust filter for robot vacuums to save money on replacements.
Saves money on replacement filters.
- Filters are designed for a reason; this is better than nothing but not a legit replacement.
- Damaging the device to save money may cause it to break sooner, costing more overall.
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Repurpose ribbon handles from gift bags with metal aglets and eye screws to create a hanging paper towel holder.
It keeps the roll off limited counter space.
- It doesn't always hang level.
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Never cut paper with good kitchen knives; use a cheap utility knife instead.
Cutting paper dulls the edge.
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Build parallettes using Schedule 80 PVC for handstand pushups.
One person reported it holds up fine for their weight.
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Soak wine and liquor bottles in PBW (Powdered Brewery Wash) to remove labels.
Normal labels slide right off.
- Liquor bottle adhesives may require more work.
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Use old dryer drums as planter beds.
They drain well.
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Weave baskets using locally sourced weeds like cats claw creeper.
The result is very sturdy and durable.
- It is time consuming.
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Stuff empty toilet paper rolls with wood shavings to make DIY fire starters.
One person reported this has been working great for them.
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Every time you leave your car, grab one item from the mess and put it away to prevent clutter from piling up.
prevents messes from piling up
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Use a sandbag for resistance training.
The difficulty of controlling it helps build muscle.
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Place a piece of plywood on top of a milk crate shelf to distribute weight and prevent the plastic from sagging under heavy items.
so heavy weight doesn't make the plastic sag
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Use baskets as proofing baskets for bread dough, especially in hot weather to prevent moisture from getting trapped underneath.
It prevents moisture from being trapped under the dough when it's hot.
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Buy unbranded melamine sponges instead of name brands to save money.
They serve the same purpose but are cheaper.
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Turn glass bottles into vases for aesthetic home decor.
One person found they look great on a windowsill.
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Consider sewing raincoats from the waterproof fabric of broken umbrellas found on the street.
The fabric is waterproof and reflective details can help with visibility in darkness.
- One person felt the time and effort required to make such a jacket was not worth it and doubted the quality.
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Trash wet or painted cardboard instead of recycling it.
The recycling center won't use it and will trash it anyway.
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Do not use ladders as bookshelves.
They aren't cheap, people rarely have spare ladders, and it is difficult to access items behind the legs.
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Hide valuables like coins in a container that does not look valuable, such as an empty coffee cup with a lid.
It discourages people from breaking into your car because nobody knows you have valuables.
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Reuse milk cartons as cups or containers before recycling.
Paper-plastic combos are often not recyclable, so reuse extends their life before landfill disposal.
- You must rinse out milk remains and dry the box to avoid sticky residue.
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If you want to reduce paper waste, try using cloth items like old pants instead of disposable tissues.
One person found this approach superior to paper products.
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Apply spray-on clear coat to rusty metal items repurposed for display.
Rust could damage nearby glass.
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Use Goo Gone as a strong option for removing stubborn label adhesive.
It is described as the nuclear option.
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Create sinks, countertops, and other items out of cement, recycled, or composite materials.
They can look cooler and be sturdier than granite or other trendy materials.
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Use lightweight dishes like Corelle Vitrelle or thrifted vintage plates to reduce strain for people with arthritis or dexterity issues.
Heavy dishes can hurt arthritic hands.
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Avoid placing rusty or unpolished wire upcycles near sinks to prevent rust stains and scratches on fixtures.
Rust can stain the sink, and rough materials can scratch the surface, making it look damaged prematurely.
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Use a basket in your living room to organize remote controls and other technology items to keep the space tidier.
It makes the area a little tidier.
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Create a seasonal door hanger by attaching bush trimmings to an old embroidery hoop with twine.
It provides a free decor option that is easy to swap out for different seasons.
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Keep a dedicated pair of cheap scissors for cutting abrasive materials like sponges.
This preserves your good scissors from edge-abusive tasks.
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If you find a pasta maker missing its crank at a thrift store, fashion a replacement from scrap metal.
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Zip tie stacked milk crates together on the inside to prevent them from tipping over or separating when bumped.
to prevent items like microwaves from falling if the stack is bumped
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Whittle a small spoon from a stick found in your yard for scooping ground substances.
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Use empty food cans, such as pineapple cans, as pen holders at your desk.
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Adopt a mindset of fixing broken items rather than replacing them to reduce waste.
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Use a textured, washable anti-slip mat as a surface for cleaning makeup brushes.
The texture is enough for cleaning, eliminating the need to buy specialized silicone pads.
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Use plastic M&M tubes to sort and store coins, utilizing different colors to distinguish denominations.
Different colors make it easy to tell them apart.
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Use free promotional containers, such as movie popcorn buckets, as compost bins.
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Ask grocery stores for discarded milk crates instead of scavenging them from dumpsters.
to avoid theft concerns associated with dumpster diving
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Donate empty egg cartons to local preschools or kindergarten teachers for art projects and sensory activities.
Teachers use them frequently for various classroom activities.
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Repurpose plastic wrapping from toilet paper, paper towels, or diapers as liners for bathroom garbage cans.
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Combine structural materials like cardboard, styrofoam, or wood with decorative elements such as felt, paint, or yarn to create DIY ornaments.
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