Here is the second most popular post in the history of Suddenly Frugal–7 ways to reuse toilet paper rolls. Enjoy!
While I could always just recycle the toilet paper rolls with my cardboard, I really like the notion of reusing them instead. I mean, when it comes to the 3 Rs of reduce, reuse and recycle, reuse is the one that you should really be shooting for. Yes, recycling items is great, but if you can reuse what you’ve already got in new and creative ways, you keep items out of the waste stream and you might just save yourself some dough.
With that in mind I started to brainstorm additional ways you might reuse cardboard rolls from toilet paper and paper towels. It’s a topic I’d covered before but, like with Freecycle etiquette, I thought it would be a good idea to revisit it. So here are my 7 ways to reuse cardboard tubes like you’d find inside toilet paper and paper towel rolls.
1. Cord control. You can buy these fancy cord contraptions in the store that funnel all of your electrical cords in a single line so that you don’t have tangles under your desk. Well, a cardboard tube can do the same and for free. True, the cardboard version isn’t as pretty but at least it’s free and functional.
2. Art projects. I’m sure someone with a young and creative mind can figure out a way to turn cardboard tubes into a robot or guitar or another kind of musical instrument. I would recommend maybe stockpiling these rolls for awhile, then giving them away to a teacher your know or via an “offer” listing on Freecyle.
3. Seed starters. With spring right around the corner, you can use old cardboard tubes as seed starters. This article on eHow explains how to transform these tubes into little pots for your future garden.
4. Holiday decorations and storage. I’ve heard of people making Christmas wreaths from toilet paper rolls, creating Christmas crackers out of them and, as I wrote about previously, using them as a frugal storage idea for holiday lights.
5. Plastic bag storage. Yeah, I know, we’re all supposed to be bringing our reusable bags to the supermarket, but sometimes you forget (slap on the wrist) and you end up with a plastic bag or two. So why not take an old cardboard tube, stuff some plastic bags in it, then place it in the trunk of your car? Now you’ll never be without a go-to garbage bag when you need to clean out the car or take the dog for an impromptu walk.
6. Eyeglasses case. OK, so I don’t expect that a cardboard roll is really going to protect my eyeglasses from getting destroyed (though this craft project on Green Daily is quite pretty). But you know what? If I had a toilet paper tube on my nightstand–and I slipped my eyeglasses in it each night before turning out the lights–I would probably have an easier time finding my glasses in the morning. You see, my glasses are frameless and when I’m not wearing them and am looking for them, they blend into my nightstand. But a cardboard tube? That would probably stand out. Speaking of stand I would recommend standing the tube on its end to hold your glasses. Otherwise, they might roll off and onto the floor and then it will be CRUNCH in the morning.
7. Rodent playground. I don’t own any rodents, but I understand from people who have them that toilet paper and paper towel rolls make great makeshift Habitrails for gerbils, hamsters and mice. Then, I guess, when they tire of their playland, they can chew them to bits.
Have I missed any reuses?
READ LEAH ON HOME GOES STRONG
Great list
the only other one I can think of is if you are bringing your knives to someones house (we have better knives than my parents, or to a church function with food we’re bringing), a toilet roll can help with traveling. Stick the knives in there (probably with a towel too or paper towel) and you don’t have a weapon on your bag or purse.
I’ve also assembled a few together and it becomes a great tunnel for little matchbox cars for my son. Or a long tunnel ramp from the top of the sofa to the bottom, when there are a bunch taped together.
all great uses. you can also stuff the toilet paper tube with dryer lint and use it as a fire starter in the fireplace. But you can also recycle the cardboard with all your other cardboard products. or, tear it up into small pieces, wet it thoroughly and toss it on your compost pile. it will decompose quickly.
Seed starters! We used them building-wide at my school during Earth Week this year. I hope a few of the kids went home and tried it themselves. It was so easy!
Theres a whole site on this at http://www.squidoo.com/reusepaperroll
Andy Greene
Going Green for Rednecks
Great list. Loved the comment of Elizabeth.
Never thought of that this way …
On storing plastic bags: my grams is in her 90s and doesn’t concern herself with reusable bags much. However, my entire life, she’s used old tissue boxes to store plastic grocery bags. It creates less of a storage mess, makes it easier to find them as needed and also great for in the car or on the go.