Monthly Archives: August 2015

Reader, Hamilton.

Rather than buy packing, cut the tops off two plastic soft drink bottles, one slightly larger than the other. Insert the items to be posted inside one of the containers and then push the two containers together to form a cylinder. It’s then ready to wrap and post.

Reader, Awanui.

Instead of throwing out your old phone book, place it on the kitchen bench for hot pots. Tear out the pages as required to wrap small items for the rubbish and to use under paper towels when draining fried food.

O.R.

Paper towel cardboard rolls are a convenient and tidy way of storing plastic bags in your drawer. I just stuff the plastic bags in, and pull them out when needed.

Miriam, Auckland.

Freecycle is a great site where you can send out an email to all members offering an item you no longer want/need for free. They pick it up so no cost to you. And you can also ask for items, or if you get an email and are first to reply you can pick up […]

Egg cartons

Egg cartons make excellent pots for seedlings. Fill with compost and plant seedlings in each compartment. Remove the top and use the bottom as an office organiser. Place paperclips in one compartment, rubber bands, in another and so on. Use as an artists paint pallet. Open up the carton, place a blob of paint in […]

O.R.

Use cotton reels as broom holders. Attach two cotton reels just far enough apart for a broom to fit between.

G.B.

If planting large seeds like beans, use the iners of toilet rolls, part fill with seed mix, put in the seed and top up. You can get about 12 of these to stand up in an ice cream container. And in due course plant out the whole tube. No transplant shock. The cardboard will rot […]

D.H., Howick.

Hide keys, rings, jewellery etc in an empty baked bean tin and place it up high on a shelf when you go away. Should anyone break in when you’re away, valuables will appear to be part of the larder ! Harder to find than easy places like the dressing table in the bedroom!