10 New Uses For Old Things

1.Rocks as Bookends

Keep books straight on a shelf. Add an earthy vibe to your reading collection by subbing in large smooth rocks for bookends.

2.Plastic Bag as Wet umbrella Holders

To avoid dripping water all over your (or anyone else's) house on a rainy day, pop your wet umbrella into a bag as you cross the threshold. You can even tie the handles snugly and throw it back into your purse?unless, of course, your bumbershoot is of Mary Poppins proportions but your carpetbag isn't.

3.Plastic Bag as Knee pads

Need to kneel in your garden to pull weeds, or on the street to change a tire, but don't want to preserve the memory eternally on your pant legs? Grab a couple of plastic bags and tie one around each knee, covering the area that will be exposed to dirt and grime.

4.Dental Floss as Vine Winder

Because it's resilient, dental floss is ideal for training vines on a trellis. Be careful not to tie the floss too tightly or it will dig into the growing stem.

5.Using Cooking Spray as an Ice Repellent

Before clearing snow off a driveway, liberally spray both sides of a plastic or metal shovel with cooking spray. The ice will slide right off the oily surface. It's the easiest trick for smoother snow removal.

6.Car Wax as Garden Shear Lubricant

For cleaner cuts with less elbow grease, rub a little paste on the hinge of a pair of garden shears so they don’t get jammed.

7.Banana Peel as Rose Fertilizer

Just flatten a banana peel and bury it under one inch of soil at the base of a rosebush. The peel’s potassium feeds the plant and helps it resist disease. Consider it a nutritional boost for you and your buds.

8.Tennis Ball as Neck Massager

Give yourself a tension-relieving rubdown. Place two balls in a sock and lie on the floor so that the balls are under the base of your neck. Gently nod your head up and down.

9.Muffin Tin as Large Ice Cube Tray

The cold, hard truth: Small ice cubes melt fast, leaving a pitcher of lemonade watery. To make long-lasting jumbo cubes, use a muffin tin. Pop them out by running the back of the tin under hot water for 30 seconds.

10.Tic Tac Box as Spice Holder