These ten everyday items to reuse at home are Pepaw’s favorites to repurpose again and again, saving money while keeping clutter out of the landfill.
Pepaw grew up in a time when folks stretched every dollar and wasted nothing. To him, most “trash” still has plenty of life left in it. Reusing everyday items isn’t just thrifty; it’s practical, resourceful, and surprisingly helpful around the house.
1. Glass Jars and Containers
Whenever Pepaw finishes a jar of pasta sauce, pickles, or jam, he washes it and sets it aside to use later. These jars are perfect for storing leftovers, organizing screws and nails, or holding homemade dressings and marinades. Glass doesn’t absorb odors, lasts practically forever, and helps you reduce the need for plastic storage containers.
Pepaw also uses jars for dry goods like rice, beans, and oats. With a label or a marker, you’ve got a tidy pantry without spending a dime. As he likes to say, “A jar saved is a jar earned.”
For more old-school habits, see Pepaw’s Old-School Cleaning Hacks That Still Beat Store-Bought.
2. Plastic Bags and Bread Bags
Grocery bags may not be glamorous, but they’re one of Pepaw’s most-used household items. He lines small trash cans with them, uses them as packing material, and keeps a stash in the car for spills or muddy shoes. Bread bags are even more versatile. They make excellent food-storage sleeves, craft protectors, or glove substitutes for handling messy chores.
Pepaw doesn’t throw out a bag unless it’s torn beyond repair. Most last far longer than folks realize.
3. Old T-Shirts and Socks
Before you toss that worn-out tee or sock with a hole, Pepaw wants you to think again. Old cotton shirts make some of the best cleaning rags you’ll ever use. They’re absorbent, washable, and perfect for dusting or polishing. Socks become dusting mitts, stain applicators, or shoe-polishing helpers.
These reusable cloths replace rolls of paper towels, saving money week after week.
Check out Pepaw’s Guide to Stretching a Dollar at the Dollar Store for more low-cost wins.
4. Coffee Cans and Tins
Pepaw never throws away a metal tin. Coffee cans, cookie tins, and cocoa containers make sturdy storage for tools, art supplies, baking ingredients, or loose change. They’re durable, stackable, and surprisingly attractive with a little label or paint.
He even uses them as small planters for herbs or succulents, nothing fancy, just good, solid containers that last forever.
5. Plastic Food Containers
Margarine tubs, sour cream cups, and takeout containers are Pepaw’s secret weapon for leftovers and freezer storage. They’re lightweight, stack easily, and keep food organized. He’s especially fond of using them for meal prep, since he doesn’t worry about losing them the way he would expensive containers.
Just avoid microwaving old containers unless they’re labeled as safe. Otherwise, they’ll last through dozens of reuses.
For smarter food storage, explore Pepaw’s $20 Pantry Staples for Meals That Last All Week.
6. To-Go Cups and Water Bottles
Pepaw never minds getting a reusable to-go cup with his morning coffee. He washes them out and uses them for road trips, yard work, or keeping hydrating drinks close by. Plastic water bottles get a second life as mini watering cans or freezer-friendly drink containers. They’re great for picnics or lunchboxes.
As long as they’re in good shape, Pepaw keeps them working before tossing them.
7. Cardboard Boxes and Shipping Materials
Every online order that arrives at Pepaw’s door is another opportunity. Boxes become storage for holiday décor, seasonal clothes, or donation items. Bubble wrap and paper stuffing get reused for mailing packages. Even cereal boxes can be cut into drawer dividers or craft templates.
Nothing gets wasted, and everything is repurposed.
For more practical ways to stretch your budget, check Pepaw’s Simple Tricks to Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half.
8. Old Towels and Washcloths
Towels that are too worn for the bathroom still have value. Pepaw uses them as pet towels, car-wash rags, or cleaning cloths for heavy-duty jobs. Cut-up washcloths become reusable wipes that handle spills without relying on disposable products.
A single old towel can serve a household in new ways for years.
9. Jar Lids and Bottle Caps
Pepaw saves metal lids and bottle caps because they’re sneaky useful. They become craft supplies, candle coasters, or furniture levelers. Jar lids also make great drip catchers for potted plants or small paint trays for DIY projects.
A tiny item can do a surprising amount of good when reused creatively.
10. Newspapers and Paper Scraps
Before recycling, Pepaw always puts newspapers to work. They’re great for cleaning windows without streaks, drying wet shoes, wrapping packages, or absorbing spills. Paper scraps become grocery lists, note pads, or labels for jars and containers.
For more ways Pepaw cuts waste, read Why Pepaw Swears by Buying Generic (and When to Skip It).
Pepaws Takeaway
Pepaw’s habits prove that the best savings often start at home. Before you toss something, pause and ask what else it could do. These simple reusing basics cut clutter, support waste reduction, stretch your budget, and keep good materials in circulation. Most of these are household items you shouldn’t throw away; repurpose them instead.
