Using things for a purpose other than for the intended purpose for which they were sold

NotSpaghetti tights are also very good as plant ties. Cut into strips they are strong yet flexible and soft. I’ve saved sunflower plants that are practically snapped in two.

I also use a slim 'sandwich tray' under the boiler to catch any drips, just in case and a hideous old vase under the kitchen sink which does the same job. Can you tell I've had a few plumbing problems over the decades?

After I inherited my mother's (superior) rolling pin, my original one sits in the corner of the hall, ready to silence an over-sensitive smoke alarm.....

Laundry baskets for supermarket deliveries.
Tweezers for retrieving bits of food which have dropped into the kitchen plug hole.
Pole for opening the loft hatch to tuck in duvets on beds which are against the wall.
Cotton buds for cleaning small crevices around sinks and window frames.
Plant pot on my dressing table for brushes & combs.

The net bags onions and other fruit and veg are sold in to put over my pots of bulbs and keep the squirrels from digging them up

An old bread knife to cut back lawn edges.
Old tights cut up for plant ties.
Toilet roll inners for sweet pea seedlings.

Old netting made into sleeves with ties for our cherry trees. The birds can have anything at the top, and the sleeves let us have a little too!

Spatula to push bedsheets in - makes a nice neat edge!

Red oxide paint from ironmongers is the same as more expensive terra cotta paint - we use it for flowerpots in need of brightening up after repairs from frost damage.

I use Vanish to soak dirty baking trays.

ixion

My grandmother's steel for knife sharpening.
As did she, we keep it by the front door for burglars.
Just in case ...

Whoa! I wouldn't for 2excellent reasons.
1. Any intruder will have this from you in a flash and you're a gonner!
2shouod you use it and injure/ kill an intruder is definitely manslaughter// murder, gbh or any one of section 20: serious assaults aand one down from attempt murder! I Josh you not!!

Auntieflo

I have turned a large brown wheelie bin, into a huge water butt. Connected it to the down-pipe, through it's lid, and then fed a short hose from there to a conventional water butt. One keeps the other topped up. (When it rains) and has been very successful.

Great minds.. my small brown wheelie is my compost bin! Drilled lots small holes all over to aereate and solid drllied base prevents Mr rat and his tribe returning! Makes amazing mix too!

Either the potato masher or my large wooden spoon to reach packets on the top kitchen cabinets and pull them towards me, would not do this with tins as I would probably knock myself out went they hit my head.

Old toothbrushes for cleaning around things.

The cutlery holder from our old dishwasher, holds all the smaller garden implements in the garage.

WD40 for getting the sticky residue of labels off jars.

I use the containers fruit and veg come in for seedlings...the are perfect and have drainage holes...

An old chopstick for stirring paint, a very ancient steak knife for trimming lawn edges and downside of path.
Toothbrush to clean awkward places and a cocktail stick for cleaning round cooker knobs and edges where grease collects.

Grandad's shoe lasts used as doorstops.
Toilet roll tubes used as long root trainers for seedlings.
Freezer Paper for applique work and painting on fabric.
A pill organiser box for storing my machine needles.
Super King size flat sheet for a tablecloth when we extend the table fully.
Large ceramic tiles left over from the bathroom refit used as table mats for hot dishes.

Oldnproud

Socks out of the laundry basket for dusting bedrooms with, when I can't be bothered to go downstairs for a duster,

I thought I was the only one who did this - my OH has long ‘gamekeeper’ socks which are really soft, and when balled together in a pair, make perfect dusters !!

A long shoe horn as a back scratcher!

I too use tights for garden ties, old clothes for proggy rugs, scraps of wool for granny squares, credit card for candle spills, lolly sticks for spills or garden markers, hair elastic to tie freezer bags, a bit of metal fence to keep the kitten off the fire, old clothes for dusters and so many more the list is endless. I once visited a retired headmistress and ended up doing our tea dishes. I was amazed at her dishcloth it was made from a pair of airtex knickers, the gusset . I’ve never been for tea since

A length of thick electric cable used to clean the hose of the vacuum cleaner when it clogs up.

I use metal coat hanger to lift curtains up- hook over pole- when cleaning or painting.
Toothpaste to clean silver jewellery..
Washing up liquid on stained clothes before putting in machine.
Medicated hand gel to remove ball point from clothes or furnishings.

Old drawers (transparent) from fridges and freezers for cloches in the garden; also cut-in-half water bottles.
Lampshades turned upside down and lined with an old plastic bowl to make planters in the garden. I usually decorate/paint/protect them so they last.

Looped handle of my kitchen scissors for pulling the open kitchen window closed as it’s over sink and i can’t reach easily!
An old piece of tubular steel 3 feet long ( don’t know where it came from) for hooking onto the bolt that holds the loft hatch closed and dragging it to open position.Also can hook down the loft ladder with it.
Bungy ropes for dragging my heavy pots on wheels around my garden. Just hook onto wheel frame and pull!

A treadmill as an… item to hang my clean washing waiting to be ironed on.. ?

I use a fishing tackle box as a sewing box.