Reusing Items

Reuse an old yogurt container by cutting off the bottom and cutting up one side then placing the container around a plant. The container will help keep insects away from the plant's stem.

TIPical Mary Ellen host Mary Ellen Pinkham has tips for using things that would normally be thrown away.

Reuse empty mayonnaise jars to hold things such as dried pasta, beans, rice, tea bags or coffee beans. Use a pint mayonnaise jar for salad dressings.
Use a peanut-butter jar to cut out sugar cookies. Remove the lid and press the open top into the dough.
An empty coffee can makes a great flowerpot. Drill or pound nail holes in the bottom of the can for drainage. Collect coffee grounds for fertilizer.
Place an old sponge in a new pantyhose leg and use it to handwash dishes. The abrasive nylon will help remove stuck on food. Onion bags work well too.
Use old wire hangers as hot dog and marshmallow roasters when sitting around a campfire. Be sure to wash them well first.
Reuse a liquid dishwashing soap bottle to water plants. Be sure to clean all the soap out.
Throw an old toothbrush into the shower. Use it to scrub the tile while showering.
Turn an old piano bench into a lift-top desk for children. They can store crayons, markers and other item inside the bench. Place small pieces of cork on the edges to prevent their fingers from getting pinched.

Also in this Episode

TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-426
•	Preparing Gumbo
•	Interior-Car Care
•	Reusing Items
•	Tip of the Day

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