Top tips

Do you put old items to good use or simply throw them away?

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To show 'We're not wasters' in Derbyshire, we invited you to send us your top tips for reusing old items. Lots of you came up with some great ideas − thanks for sharing them with us.

Here are our favourites. Why not have a read through them? You might find new ways of putting old items to good use instead of throwing them away. And you could even find some hints to help you save money too.

These suggestions are the views of the individuals concerned. Derbyshire County Council does not accept any responsibility for their effectiveness or endorse any products or organisations connected to the suggestions.

Gardening top tips

• Cut the bottom off empty plastic drinks bottles as a cover for plants and vegetables in your garden. They hold the temperature helping your seedlings to grow faster.
  Suggested by Wojtek Skrzypek of Alfreton, Amanda Booth of Heanor and Mrs J Darwin of Inkersall

• Put orange or lemon peel in your garden to deter unwanted pet visitors.
  Suggested by Victoria Gordon of Buxton

• Cut up old banana skins and spread them around the base of your roses rather than buying chemical fertilisers.
  Suggested by Dennis Jephson of Sheffield

• Getting rid of an old carpet? Got a problem with weeds in the garden? Clear as many weeds away as possible and lay an old carpet face down over the ground. Cut holes where you want plants to grow and cover the rest of the 'carpeted' area with bark or stone chippings.
  Suggested by Rob Fryer of Matlock

• Plastic pots from yoghurt drinks make excellent cane-toppers. They don't blow off in the wind and rattle so scare off the birds.
  Jane Walker, Hollingwood

• Soak confidential paperwork in water and use as mulch in the bottom of garden tubs and hanging baskets. The paperwork will keep plants moist as it decomposes. (Remove adhesive tape and envelope windows first). 
  Suggested by Robert Dawson of Blackwell

• If tending to the garden leaves you with sore knees. Take a plastic carrier bag and place an old cushion inside to make a 'kneeler'.
  Suggested by Joyce Phillips of Hadfield

• I needed some planters to use at my allotment. Rather than pay a garden centre £20 each I rang the local garage which was more than happy to give me some tyres. Now I have some lovely planters and the garage doesn't have to pay to dispose of the tyres.
  Suggested by Nigel Brunsdon of Findern (Robert Dawson of Blackwell also had the same idea)

• I use pairs of old tights for storing marrows I've grown in the garden.  Put the marrows down the legs and tie a knot between each one. When hung up the air can circulate round them. 
  Suggested by Diana McKeown of Ilkeston

• Cut plastic bottles into strips and use them to make seed labels.
  Suggested by Mrs J M Ford of Glapwell

• Stand empty toilet roll tubes in a small box and wedge them in so they don't fall over. Fill with compost and use them to sow seeds with deep roots like peas, leeks and beans. When they're big enough, acclimatize them to the temperature outside. Then you can transfer them to the garden without plant in the garden.
  Suggested by Karen Smith of Glossop; S H Brewer of Matlock; Mrs I Howe of South Normanton and Janice Dyson of Chesterfield

• A divan base when stripped of the material makes the perfect cold frame or greenhouse. Stand it on its end with a few bits of old wood used for shelving and use the plastic cover from your new bed or mattress to cover it.
  Suggested by Jane Walker of Hollingwood

• Cut thick plastic and old oil cloth into squares of about 24cm to prevent weeds around your plants. Cut a hole of about 10cm diameter in the middle for the plant to fit through. Cut from one edge to the middle to allow you to fit your mat around the plant. Opaque plastic is the best.
  Suggested by Robert Dawson of Blackwell

• Put used tea bags around new plants in spring to nurture them and help them grow.
  Suggested by Kathryn Salt of Tibshelf

• Use old tights as plant ties.
  Suggested by Mrs J Benford of Pleasley

• If you don't want to refill empty herb and spice jars you can use them as seed shakers for the garden instead. Simply wash them out, fill with seeds and shake into the soil when and where you need them.
  Suggested by Theresa Cameron of Breaston

• Put used tea bags over the drainage holes in the bottom of plant pots. This prevents soil from spilling out but allows the water to drain away.
  Suggested by Joyce Phillips of Hadfield

Household top tips

• Use old coats and scarves to make rag rugs. I make them in winter to keep me warm and keep my thermostat down.
  Suggested by Phyllis Wayne of Darley Dale

• Take a clear glass coffee jar and paint it with bright colours − ideal as a candle holder. The lids make excellent coasters for drinks too.
  Suggested by Mrs B E Cooke of Allestree

• Plastic coffee jar lids can be used at Christmas and parties to serve up nuts and nibbles or to hold table decorations.
  Suggested by Mrs I Howe of South Normanton

• Save hand soap dispensers and refill with washing-up liquid to make a handy pump. It's easy to use and helps reduce the amount of liquid you use by measuring the amount you use each time.
  Suggested by Theresa Cameron of Breaston

• Don't throw away old toothbrushes. They can be reused for small cleaning jobs to get into awkward spaces.
  Suggested by Ms P Sheppard of Langley Mill

• Old suntan lotion bottles make excellent sprays for around the home and in the garden - especially as some now work upside down.
  However, make sure they're clearly labelled with the new contents.
  Suggested by Mrs J Jephson of Halfway

• Attention dog owners − no need to buy poop bags to clear up after your pooch! Save plastic bread bags and cereal bags and use them instead. You could even ask family and friends to save theirs for you to use.
  Bread bags can also be reused as sandwich bags. And cereal bags can be washed out and reused over and over again as freezer bags or sandwich bags.
  Suggested by Karen Bradley of Clay Cross, Elaine McGovern of Old Whittington, Sue Hobson of Stanton-in-the-Peak and Helen Jessop of Chesterfield

• Shred statements and bills and use it for bedding for hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits.
  Suggested by Pete of Hilton, Ms P Sheppard of Langley Mill and Mrs I Howe of South Normanton

• Cut up net carrot sacks and use them as pan scourers.
  Suggested by Christina Whalley of Fairfield

• If you have a wood burner or multi fuel stove, you can use old card, paper and even dried out tea bags, to create 'paper logs'.  Lay all the scrap paper, tea bags and card out in a narrow pile onto a couple of sheets of newspaper (one on top of the other) and simply roll the contents into a column, twist the ends to make it tight and, hey presto, a slow burning 'paper log' for your fire.
  Suggested by Tom Mantel of Tintwistle

• Cut the top of plastic milk bottles but leave the handles on and use them to hold paint or creosote for small maintenance jobs.
  Suggested by Mrs B E Cooke of Allestree

• Make your own air-freshener. Dilute some fabric conditioner in a re-usable spray bottle. It will last for ages and cuts down on aerosols.
  Suggested by Ms P Sheppard of Langley Mill

Other top tips

• Empty yoghurt drink bottles make a fun game of skittles for children. Remove the labels, write 1-10 on them and use a ball to knock them over.
  Suggested by Doreen Conner of Old Glossop

• Send unwanted tools to Africa to help Africans set up businesses. Tools with a mission is a charity which can organise this for you. Contact http://www.twam.co.uk/ (opens in a new window) for details and a list of tools needed.
  Suggested by Anne Wilderspin of Matlock Bath

• We made our bird bath using our old chimney pot. We stood it upright on our flower bed and placed a 10 inch plant saucer inside the top, then filled it with water. The birds love it and its easy to remove the saucer to clean and refill with fresh water.
  Suggested by Mr and Mrs Doolan of Barlborough

• Don't throw away return envelopes that come with junk mail or padded envelopes. Stick a blank sticker or piece of paper over the address and reuse.
  Suggested by Doreen Conner of Old Glossop, Robert Dawson of Blackwell and Sue Hobson of Stanton-in-the-Peak

• Swap newspapers and magazines with neighbours and workmates to save money and waste.
  Suggested by Sue Hobson of Stanton-in-the-Peak

• Use a clean flannel to apply make-up remover or facial cleansers instead of cotton wool or pads (which end up in the bin). Wash out the flannel and use again.
  Suggested by Ms P Sheppard of Langley Mill

• Cut up last year's Christmas cards and birthday cards to make gift tags.
  You can also save money on wrapping paper. Carefully unwrap gifts you receive and reuse at a later date. If the paper is creased you can iron it on the wrong side.
  Suggested by Frances Beech of Ockbrook

• Make a bug hotel. Fill a container such as the bottom two-thirds of a large plastic drinks bottle with plastic tubing, empty ballpoint pen casings and fat plastic straws.
  The ends should point south  and the wide end of the pens should be sticking outwards. Put the container in the garden around four feet above the ground. Hopefully it will attract bees and other bugs. They're fascinating to watch.
  Suggested by Robert Dawson of Blackwell

Also on our website

• Council tax
• Big Choices - your views wanted on planning for waste
• Recycling Centre locations
• Composting