Before you toss that glass jar in the recycling bin, wait just a second.
I get it. We live in a fast world of “buy, use, toss.” It’s easy and it’s what everyone does. For a long time, I was the king of that mindset. My life was all about instant gratification and consumption. When I was over 110 pounds heavier and stuck in unhealthy habits, my life felt like a cycle of excess and waste. I consumed too much food, too much media, and too much of my own time without any real purpose.
When God helped me find the strength to change, I had to look at everything differently. It wasn't just about what I was eating or how I spent my days. It was about my entire outlook. I began to shift from a mindset of waste to one of gratitude and stewardship. I started to see the value in things I once overlooked. This included the everyday items I used to throw away without a second thought.
Learning to reuse things isn’t just about saving a few dollars or being “green.” For me, it became a practical exercise in gratitude. It’s about appreciating the resources we have and finding joy and purpose in simple, creative acts. It’s a small way to fight back against a throwaway culture and build a more intentional life.
Here are 10 clever ways I’ve learned to give everyday items a second chance.
1. Glass Jars: The Ultimate Organizer
Pasta sauce jars, pickle jars, jam jars. They are amazing. Instead of tossing them, wash them out thoroughly. They become perfect see-through containers for your pantry. I store things like rice, lentils, nuts, and seeds in them. They also work great for organizing screws and nails in the garage or buttons and craft supplies in a drawer. They look neat and you can see exactly what you have.
2. Old T-Shirts: Your New Favorite Rags
Don't throw out that old, stained t-shirt. Cotton shirts make the best cleaning rags. They’re soft, absorbent, and you don’t have to worry about ruining them. Just cut them into squares and keep a stash under the sink. You’ll save money on paper towels and always have a rag ready for spills or dusting.
3. Cardboard Tubes: The Cord Tamer
Those cardboard tubes from toilet paper or paper towels are surprisingly useful. My favorite use for them is organizing electronic cords. I can't stand a messy drawer of tangled chargers and cables. Just fold a cord neatly and slide it inside a tube. You can even write on the tube to label the cord. No more tangled messes.
4. Plastic Milk Jugs: A Gardener’s Friend
A clean, empty milk jug can be a fantastic tool for your garden. Carefully poke a few small holes in the cap with a nail. Fill the jug with water and you have a gentle watering can for your seedlings or potted plants. You can also cut the bottom off, take the cap off, and place it over a young plant to protect it from frost or pests.
5. Tin Cans: The Desk Caddy
A simple tin can from soup or vegetables can be a stylish desk organizer. Just wash it out, remove the label, and make sure there are no sharp edges. You can leave it as is for an industrial look or paint it to match your decor. It’s the perfect size for holding pens, pencils, and scissors.
6. Egg Cartons: The Perfect Seed Starter
Cardboard egg cartons are fantastic for starting seeds indoors. Fill each cup with a little bit of soil and plant your seed. The cardboard will absorb water and you can write the name of the plant right on the carton. When the seedlings are ready to move to the garden, you can cut the individual cups out and plant them directly in the ground. The cardboard will naturally break down.
7. Used Coffee Grounds: A Boost for Your Garden
Don’t just throw your coffee grounds in the trash. They are full of nitrogen and other nutrients that plants love. Sprinkle them around the base of your acid-loving plants like roses, hydrangeas, and blueberries. They act as a natural, slow-release fertilizer. It’s a simple way to enrich your soil without buying expensive products.
8. Old Towels: Comfort for a Cause
When a bath towel gets too worn and scratchy for you, it can still have a great purpose. Many animal shelters are in desperate need of old towels for bedding and cleaning. A quick wash and a drop-off at your local shelter can provide comfort to an animal in need. You can also cut them up into super-absorbent rags for cleaning up big messes in the garage or basement.
9. Wine Corks: A Mini Bulletin Board
If you enjoy a bottle of wine now and then, save the corks. Once you have a small collection, you can glue them together inside a picture frame to create a mini bulletin board. It’s perfect for pinning up small notes, receipts, or photos. It’s a unique and functional piece of decor that tells a small story.
10. Newspaper: The Streak-Free Window Cleaner
This is an old trick that works wonders. Instead of paper towels, use a crumpled-up piece of newspaper to wipe your windows and mirrors after spraying them with a cleaner. It doesn’t leave behind lint or streaks like paper towels or some cloths can. It’s a simple switch that gives you a crystal-clear finish.
This journey isn’t about becoming a perfect, zero-waste person overnight. It’s about making small, intentional choices. It’s about seeing the potential in the little things and being a good steward of what we’ve been given. Each time you find a new use for something you were about to throw away, it’s a small win. And as I learned on my health journey, those small wins are what build momentum and create real, lasting change.
So, here’s a small challenge for you. The next time you’re about to throw something away, just pause for a moment.
What’s one thing in your trash or recycling bin right now that you could give a new purpose?
