Reusing Doilies

I must admit,  I'm a fan of doilies and have used them around my home under vases,  lamps and frames for almost 25 years.  With the latest trends being minimalist,  doilies seem to be disappearing from view.  

Here are a few ways you can make the most of doilies in a delightful way - 

*  Doilies make delightful ' hats '  for jars of jam.

*  A doily bunting is a pretty and eco friendly way to decorate a room or table for a party.

*  An old fragile doily can be given a new lease on life mounted in a picture frame.  Make sure the background cardboard / paper has enough color to help the doily stand out.

*  Do you like a display of soap in your bathroom ?  Stand the soap up on end and wrap a doily around the soaps.  Threading ribbon or twine through the doily holes will keep the soaps together.

*  Doilies can be used as the outer layer of a lavender sachet.

*  Made delicate bowls and dishes by mixing PVA glue with a little water.  Turn a glass bowl upside down and rub a little Vaseline or oil over the surface.  Cover the bowl with your chosen doily.  Brush on the glue mixture until completely cover.  Allow a couple of hours to dry then peel the doily off.

Doily bunting for my birthday.

Do you use doilies in your home ?

If so,  how do you use them ?

Look What I Made With A Vinegar Bottle.

 

Just the other day I emptied a small bottle of brown vinegar.  As always I try to reuse,  recycle or upcycle instead of tossing items in the bin.  Here's what I made with the plastic bottle - 

A Scoop.  It has many uses around the home and garden but I'm planning on using it to scoop out potting mix from the bag.

First I used a permanent marker to mark where I needed to cut.  Then using a pair of ordinary paper / craft scissors I cut on the line I'd made.

Here are some other ways to use this scoop -

*  For scooping out bulk foods from buckets like flour. and rice etc

*  A great scoop for playing in the sand pit.

*  Take to the beach to scoop sand or water

*  For measuring out food for pets 

*  For transplanting seedlings.  This keeps the soil around the plant roots when moving it.

Furniture Makeovers - My Very First Attempt

 Earlier this year I purchased a timber chest of drawers on Marketplace for $40.  When Darren arrived home with the drawers,  I was quite surprised to find the drawers have metal runners which is a bonus.  There was a lose handle,  a little water damage on top and some sticker residue that needed removing.  Other than that,  the drawers were in pretty good condition.  I just didn't like the color.

Over the last 3 or 4 weeks I've spent many hours working on the drawers.  I've learnt to use an electric sander,  filled in little nicks and scratches and painted 2 undercoats and 3 top coats ( 4 in some places ).

Darren helped me with attaching the new handles.  I'd bought these from Bunnings before our previous lockdown.

Just as I was nearing the finish line with the drawers,  a certain little grandson thought it would be a good idea to paint his Mum's bedside table with nail polish.  Megan can't paint furniture with two little toddlers on the go so she gave the bedside table to me to restore for our use.

Late last week I finished painting both pieces and I must say,  I love the new look.  We now have beautiful furniture for our spare room.

Drawers in original condition.

Just finished sanding

The finished product

The new handles

The bedside table Megan gave us to restore

The paint I used.

Have you restored / upcycled old furniture ?

Free Alternatives In The Garden

 Reusing,  recycling and upcycling is a wonderful way to save money and help reduce waste.  With more than half of Australians in lockdown right now and many more people around the world,  now is the time to use what you already have on hand at home.

Here are some great ideas for growing a garden without going out to buy things.

*  Dig up the ground you have to make a garden bed.  Raised garden beds are wonderful but not necessary for growing flowers and veggies.

*  Save your own seeds.  Have a look at the veggies you have in your fridge crisper.  Seeds can easily be saved from tomatoes,  cucumbers,  pumpkins and  zucchinis ( if large enough to have seeds ).  Even the wrinkly potatoes in the pantry can be planted if they have sprouted.  If you have flowers in the garden,  wait for them to form seed pods then save the seeds for next season.

*  Take cuttings from your plants,  shrubs and trees in the garden.

*  Cut up  icecream or yoghurt containers to make garden markers for your newly planted seeds and seedlings.

*  Use cut up  old socks to tie up wayward plants.

*  Use pruned,  straight branches as garden stakes for your plants.

*  Use your kitchen scraps to start a compost heap.  If you don't have room for a compost heap then dig the kitchen scraps straight into the garden.

*  Old buckets,  icecream containers, foam boxes,  heavy duty plastic bags / enviro shopping bags ,  milk crates ( lined ) and old plant pots make excellent little gardens.

*  Use toilet rolls to plant your seeds in.  When the seeds have grown tall enough,  plant the toilet roll with the plant to reduce transplant shock.

*  Grass clippings and weeds can be turned into fertiliser.  Place then in a bucket and cover with water.  Let it stand for a week or two and drain the liquid into another container.  Dilute it right down with water before using ( do a Google search for correct ratios ).

*  Need a mini greenhouse to start your seeds ?  Use the plastic cover from a  doona / sheet  set.

*  Poke holes in a water bottle lid to make a seedling watering can ( of sorts ).    

Recycled bricks for the path

Cutting up old socks

Bedding packaging greenhouse.

What items do you recycle for use in the garden ?

Reusing Old Plastic Cereal Containers.

 Over the last couple of years I've gradually changed my pantry storage containers from plastic to glass where possible.  This has left me with a dilemma of having lots of plastic containers to find other uses for.  The cereal containers in particular were too good to throw out,  which is not an eco friendly option.   Some were 20+ years old and not BPA free so finding non food related uses proved to be a challenge.

I love neat and tidy organisation in my cupboards and after much thought came up with these ideas for the containers -

*  Storage for clothes pegs.  This has been a fantastic way to use a container.  The pegs don't fall out ( or very few do ) if the pegs are knocked over by accident.  Having a lid on the container keeps the spare pegs dry and clean when waiting for the washing to dry on the line outside.  This will also extend the life of the pegs.

*  Dry cat food storage.  No longer do I have tiny crumbs from the cardboard box fall out on the tiles or in the laundry cupboard.  The little opening in the lid makes it easy to reach in with a scoop to get the exact amount Princess needs to eat.  Portion control at it's best.

*  Plastic bag storage.  I have two cereal containers under my kitchen sink for plastic bag storage.  One holds recycled bread bags that are really clean and suitable for food storage.  I use them many times over to store my home baked bread in the freezer.  When they start to look a little ratty,  I store them in the other container to be used as bin liners.  I can squash a lot of bread bags in those containers and the lid helps to keep them tidy.

*  Storage for kitty litter scoop bags.  I also reuse bread bags to scoop up kitty litter messes.  Having a container in the laundry cupboard makes it easy for quick clean ups..

Under my kitchen sink

Laundry cupboard storage

My new peg ' bucket '.

Have you found other uses for old plastic containers ?

Let's Help With The Recycling Crisis

Recycling in Australia is now at a crisis point.  China is no longer accepting our recycling ( which is fair enough ) and recycling giant SKM has gone into liquidation following  fires at their depos and a series of bans imposed by the EPA.

This has left many councils across Australia with limited or no recycling options.  My local council has found another recycling contractor but they can only accept reduced amounts.   Homeowners have been asked to reduce what they put in their recycling bins.

With this topic being much talked about in the media,   I thought we could all share ways to reduce our recycling and maybe save a few dollars along the way.

Here are some ideas to get you started -

*  Save glass jars to store bulk amounts of herbs and spices.

*  Strawberry punnets can be used to plant veggie seeds in.  Close the lid to create a hot house for quicker germination.

*   Wash out milk and juice containers to make up Miracle Spray and hand wash  in bulk.

*  Revise your shopping list and try to buy ingredients instead of ready made food where possible.  Watch your grocery bill shrink.

*  Make your pizza at home instead of getting takeaway.  Here's my recipe for pizzas.

*  Drink water from the tap instead of buying bottled unless absolutely necessary.  Ditch the soft drinks and save them for special occasions.  Even better,  make your own lemonade while citrus fruit is still in season.

*  Newspapers make great seedling pots.  Use the newspapers as a weed barrier in the garden.  Compost your newspapers.

*  Jam making season in Australia is just around the corner.  Time to save any glass jars with a metal lid.

*  Compost your junk mail and paper grocery packaging.  Generic brand flour and sugar comes in paper..  Save some dollars and feed your compost bin.

*  Glass juice bottles and small soft drink bottles can be used to make reed diffusers.

*  Wash and reuse your glass or plastic containers instead of using cling wrap.

*  Offer cardboard boxes for free on Facebook pages like Buy,  Swap,  Sell.  They make great moving and storage boxes.

*  Ditch paper plates ( don't throw them out.  Just don't use them ) and use the good stuff.  Having a picnic ?  Then dig out the picnic basket and use the plates included.

*  Save department store gift bags,  decorate and reuse for gift giving.

*  Tins with lids can be used for pantry storage.  

My new bulk herb jars

Jam making

Homemade pizza

Decorated department store bags

What ideas do you have to reduce recycling ?

Don't Throw Out Your Dishwashing Liquid Bottles.

At a time when many people are trying to reduce their plastic waste,  finding ways to reuse what they have is a money saver as well as reducing the  environmental  impact.

Before any plastic container is thrown into the recycling bin,  I always try to find ways to reuse it around the home.  The humble dishwashing liquid bottle is no exception. Large and small bottles can be used as follows -

*  Disinfectant comes in large bottles and is hard to pour out in measured / portioned quantities.  I decant it into dishwashing liquid bottles to use on smelly washing in the washing machine.  The squirty lid makes it easy to control the flow.

*  Decant white vinegar into a dishwashing liquid bottle to squirt into the mop bucket.  Use with boiling water to wash your floors.

*  Those large bottles of laundry liquid are heavy to use and the lids seem to leak over the outside of the bottle.  Trying to measure out one capful of liquid without it dripping everywhere is challenging to say the least.  Carefully fill up  a dishwashing liquid bottle,  screw the lid on and use the squirty lid to portion the liquid into your washing machine.  Go one step further and dilute the liquid 1 part liquid to 4 or 5 parts water for fantastic laundry savings.

*  Keep a bottle of heavily diluted dishwashing liquid in your bathroom for cleaning showers and sinks.  Super cheap and works really well.

*  Foaming hand wash is a great product to use.  Make your own by diluting shower gel 1 part gel to 4 parts water.  Store it in a large dishwashing liquid bottle for refilling your hand wash pumps around your home.

How do you reuse dishwashing liquid bottles ?

5 More Ways To Reuse Glass Jars

I find it hard to throw out a glass jar.  There are so many way to reuse them and reduce what goes into landfill.

*  Use the glass jars to serve drinks in.  The first time my parents visited the USA back in the early 1990's,  glass jars or jam jars were the latest fashion as drinking glasses.

*  Glass jars are perfect  for making your own salad dressing.  Add your ingredients,  screw the lid on tight and shake.

*  Large pasta sauce / tomato paste jars are great for storing your healthy salad lunch.  Layer your favourite ingredients and store in the fridge until ready to eat.  Mix the ingredients when you eat.

*  Make a pin cushion on the lid then use the glass jar to store your much used sewing bits and pieces.  They could make great presents.

*  Decorate a couple of jars with scraps of wrapping paper,  ribbon or twine and store your pens and pencils in style.

5 Ways To Reuse Glass Jars

Do you look at empty pasta sauce jars,  tomato paste jars and jam jars and wonder if you can use them instead of throwing them in the recycling bin ?  They just seem too good to throw out don't they ?  Here are a few ways to reuse them and save a bit of money -

*  Store your much used herbs and spices in them for freshness.  I use lots of dried onion flakes,  parsley,  basil,  oregano,  chives,  rosemary and garlic.  The larger jars would be awesome.

*  Glass jars of all shapes and sizes make wonderful vases.  Just cut the stems to suit the jar height and arrange them into a stylish posy.  Very posh and very elegant.

*  Select glass jars with the pop button lid to store your homemade jam,  relish and lemon butter in.  Add a cute material hat, ribbon  and label to give it a completed look and you have yourself an inexpensive gift to give for any occasion.

*  Glass jars perfect for storing screws,  nuts,  bolts and nails in the garage.  Many people like to nail the lid to the underneath of a shelf.  Then just screw the jar on.

*  Little tea lights look fantastic in glass jars.  Pop the tea light in by itself or add a little sand,  stones,  shells,  glitter or anything inflammable for a themed look.    

 

The ' Use It Up ' Challenge Update

For the month of March we've been trying to use up items from around our home.  This is a great way to save money,  declutter and to feel like we are not wasting goods.

During the challenge I used up -

*  One lipstick by digging down to the very bottom with a cotton stick.- Value $8

*  One bar of soap for hand washing instead of refilling the foaming hand soap pump - Value $2

*  Ate 8 single serves of leftovers from the freezer - Value $8

*  Used a few little shampoo and shower gel  bottles - Value $1

*  Decluttered the pantry and put aside items that need using up.  Darren is gradually making his way through the gnocchi,  nuts and rice cakes.  Value - $15

*  Used some guest soaps to add to  decorated hand towels.  This made  lovely packages to sell  at a  craft market a week or so ago.  From my understanding a couple of them sold to the value of about $14.

*  Reorganised the freezers to see what I have.  I wrote a menu plan to include a few bits and pieces - Value $10 in eaten items

Total value for the month $58

We've used a few

Egg custard to use up excess milk and eggs

Using up freezer meals

Did you use up anything from around your home ?

Reusing Old Socks

Just about every household has a collection of odd socks.  It seems such a shame to throw out perfectly good socks just because the pair is missing.  How about those old socks that are getting thin,  or the ones you don't like anymore ?

 Here are a few ideas to give the socks a new lease on life -

*  Old socks make great dusters for skirting boards and table tops.  Just pull the sock over your hand and dust away.

*  Use old socks,  odd buttons and a few pieces of wool to make a hand puppet for your littlies.

*  Store safety googles / glasses in a sock to prevent scratching in the garage.

*  Use old socks to cover golf clubs to prevent scratching.

*  Make a soap pouch for outdoor hand washing.  Just place a bar of soap inside an old sock,  close it up with a knot and hang it from the tap.

*  Slip a sock over an ice pack to prevent freezer burn.

The 'Use It Up' Challenge.

Blog reader Patti mentioned a couple of  weeks ago that she's on a " Use It Up " challenge to save some extra money.  I thought this was a fabulous idea we could all do together.

 Many of us have too much stuff taking up room around our homes and this could be a great way to declutter as well as save money.  Think about those half used tubes of lipstick in the back of the bathroom cabinet..  Or maybe you've still got the little bottles of shampoo and conditioner from a holiday 5 years ago.  Now is the time to use them up.

Do you have pieces of timber behind a shed that could be made into a tool box or outdoor furniture ?  Does your freezer have too many mystery packages ?  Writing a menu plan could be a wonderful way to make room in your freezer.

Is your craft or material stash getting out of hand ?  Could you make a start on this year's presents and reduce the stash ?

For the month of March,  lets make a big effort to use things up before we throw them out.

My goals for March are -

*  Make room in my freezer.

*  Pour the little bottles of shampoo and conditioner into our bigger bottles in the shower.

*  Making more items to sell by using crafts and supplies I already have on hand.

*  Using up the last of a couple of lipsticks.  

*  Decluttering my pantry and making an effort to use some items we forget to use.

What are your ' Use It Up ' goals ?  At the end of the month we'll post our results 

25 + Ways To Reuse Iceream Containers

Plastic icecream containers are so useful and handy to use around the home. I find it really hard to throw one out.  Instead,  I find a new way to get the most out of this FREE container.  I've listed 25 ways to use icecream containers.  I've personally used 24 of these ideas around the home.  Can you pick which one I haven't used ?

Feel free to add your own ideas and let's see if we can get to 50 or 75 ideas.  Share this post with your friends and help reduce the amount of containers going to landfill.


1.  As biscuit / baking containers.

2. To store Barbie Shoes.

3.  For storing homemade first aid kits

4.  For freezing food

5.  Travel sickness bucket.

6.  For storing bits and pieces for the home like screws,  curtain brackets,  curtain hooks,  washers from furniture etc.

7.  For storing battery packets and loose batteries.

8.  As drawer dividers for socks and underwears.

9  Lego block containers.

10.  To make large ice blocks for Eskys.

11.  Small round icecream containers make great pencil holders.  Have fun decorating the outside.

12.  Long oblong containers from ice cream shops make wonderful fruit storage in the fridge.

13.  Pet water bowl for outside.

14.  A large one with a handle makes a great peg bucket.  I used the same one for 10+ years.

15.  For storing plastic cutlery neatly.  I have one in the pantry

16  For storing coffee,  sugar,  salt and pepper sachets from accommodation

17.  For storing hair ties,  ribbons,  butterfly clips and headbands.  Years of first hand experience with my girls.

18.  As a planter.  Just add a couple of holes in the bottom.

19  For keeping seedlings hydrated.  When we buy a punnet of seedlings,  Darren puts them in an icecream container with 5cm of water in the bottom.

20.  As a mini rubbish bin in the bathroom.

21.  Tea,  coffee and sugar canisters  Decorate the outside to tie in with your kitchen colors.

22.  For storing bin liner packets.  Those bin liners can be hard to keep tidy when they come in a plastic packet.  An icecream container will keep them in place.

23.  For storing bits of ribbon.

24.  Make up storage to prevent the bathroom cupboards from getting dirty.

25.  To prevent food from being damaged when travelling by car.

Different sizes and colors

Household bits and pieces

Battery storage

How do you use icecream containers around your home,  garden  and garage ?

10 Items Frugal People Reuse

Being frugal or thrifty is NOT  about counting your money and being stingy.  More than anything it's about being mindful of what you use and reusing it until it cannot be reused any more.  The bonus is in the money saving and lowering our environmental impact.


*  Egg cartons can be reused for growing seedlings,  collecting eggs if you have chickens,  hold beads when the kids make necklaces and a myriad of craft ideas.

*  Empty bottles,  jars and tins.  Jars are great for jam and sauce making or to use as a vase. Bottles can be reused for homemade cordial,  sauce and to refrigerate water.  Tins can be used for baking cakes and as a rustic vase

*  Empty envelopes make great shopping lists,  to do lists or to jot down a note.

*  Birthday / Christmas cards can be made into lovely gift tags.  If the image is to your taste,  frame it in a cheap frame or cut it out to make a handmade greeting card.

*  Gift bags can generally be reused over and over again.  Generally when I receive a gift bag,  it's in perfect condition and too good to throw out. 

*  Icecream containers have so many uses I could write a blog post about them.  Here are a few uses - storage containers for baking,  to save water,  vomit buckets,  craft containers,    Barbie shoe storage and freezer storage.  

*  Shoe boxes.  I find it hard to throw out a good sturdy shoe box.  I use them for storing craft items,  for school projects   storing seed packets,  storing soup / meal packets,  Barbie clothes ( back in the day ) and wrapping paper / greeting cards.

*  Toothbrushes.  I never throw out a toothbrush once it's past it's best before date for teeth brushing.  I reuse them around the home for cleaning around taps,  down plug holes,  dishwasher seals,  to clean the stove top,  in the laundry for stain removal and to use at my cleaning jobs.

*  Old bathroom towels.  We use them as drop sheets,  rags,  to kneel on when weeding,  to mop up spills,  to wrap around items for protection when travelling / moving or storing and to protect bedding ( illness ), 

*  Newspapers.  Although most people now read their news online or watch it on tv,  the occasional local newspaper can make it's way to your letterbox.  Newspapers make great seedling pots.  These can then be directly planted into the ground.  Newspapers can be used in compost bins,  to line bird cages and chicken coops,  to clean windows and as a layer to prevent weeds growing.    

gift tags made from magazines and cards.

Recycled jars for jam making

Recycled bottles for homemade cordial

Pasta sauce jar makes a great vase

When looking at this list,  how frugal are you?

Decorating On A Budget - A Few Ideas

Decorating your home can be an expensive hobby /task.  Some people pay thousands of dollars for designers to do everything for them.  Those of us living on limited means can find it challenging to decorate without breaking the bank.  Here are a few budget friendly ideas to get you started on a new look.

*  Need a new vase ?  Pasta sauce jars,  tin cans and small glass juice bottles all work so well as vases.  You could jazz them up with a ribbon,  piece of hessian or a strip of old curtaining.  Just tie in a bow or attach with a hot glue gun.

*  Cushion covers can be made from pillow cases.  We all have odd pillow cases in the linen cupboard.  Grab them out, slip over your existing cushions and make adjustments as needed.  You might need to turn it inside out and tack a new seam .  An odd button sewn on could fasten the leftover material in place.

*  Tired on the pictures on the wall ?  Have a look through the photos you have stored on your phone or computer.  Enlarge and print one off. If it's larger than A4,  your local stationary shop might be able to help with large photocopies.

*  Local op shops can provide a wonderful supply of picture frames both big or small.  If you don't like the color of the frame,  give it a light sand then a couple of coats of paint.

*  Painting the walls can be an inexpensive way to freshen up a home and add real value.  Painting a whole house could run into big dollars.  There are a few options here. Check your local hardware  store for tins of mistinted paint at discount prices.  Another option is to paint one room at a time as your budget allows.

Pasta sauce and tomato paste jars as vases

Bottling jar recycled into a tall vase

My baking photographed and framed.

Old Shower Caddy

It seems a shame to throw out shower caddies when they get a little rusty or grotty.  After giving them a scrub with an old tooth brush,  repurpose them around the home or shed.  Here are a few ideas -

*  Attach it to the laundry wall above the trough and store your Miracle Spray,  vinegar,
disinfectant,  nail brushes and sponges.

*  Hang it from a hook in the garden shed and use the caddy to store snail bait,  liquid fertiliser and small garden hand tools.

*  Hang it inside a wardrobe on the door or wall to store hairspray,  perfumes,  belts and scarves.

An Extra 5 Ways To Use Bread Bags

Here are some great ways to recycle bread bags around the home -

*  Use bread bags as extra packing material when sending parcels in the mail.  Just make sure they are clean and reasonably new.

* Bread bags are great for greasing baking tins.  Turn a bag inside out and put your hand in it.  Then dip it into a butter dish or margarine container.  Grease your baking tin then turn the bag back the right way and throw in the bin. No greasy paper and no greasy hands

*  Use a bread bag to crush up biscuits for a recipe.  This keeps the crumbs within the bag.  No mess.

*  Bread bags make great ice packs for injuries.  Make sure you wrap a tea towel around the bag to prevent damaging the skin.

* Keep one on the kitchen bench for collecting food scraps for the compost bin.  Roll the top down a little then collect your scraps.  If you use the bag a few times during the day,  fold it over to prevent smells escaping.

 

How To Recycle Shower Warm Up Water

One of my blog readers asked me this question a couple of months ago.  She has a front loader washing machine and couldn't pour the saved shower water into it.  If you are in this situation too,  all is not lost.  There are plenty of ways to reuse the shower warm up water that would usually fall down the drain.

* Save the water and pour it into your soaking bucket in the laundry.  Sometimes stains need a good soak overnight.  I use one of those food grade white buckets from a restaurant kitchen.  Add a small scoop of homemade laundry powder to the saved shower water.  Pour into the washing machine with your next load of washing.

*  Use the shower warm up water to wash your car. Ok,  you might need to save the shower water for a couple of days to suds up the whole car.

*  Pour cooled shower water onto pot plants and the veggie garden.  Every little bit counts.

*  Add a little disinfectant to a bucket of shower water to mop your floors

*  Give your bath a good clean with a little Miracle Spray and shower water.

*  Rinse out a dirty kitchen sink.

*  Wash a window or two using diluted Windex, metho or dish washing liquid and shower water.

*  Give your outdoor furniture a good scrub with a stiff brush and the shower water.

 

Watering the lettuce

Saving the water into a wide basin.

Another 5 Ways To Reuse Bread Bags

With all these uses for bread bags,  you'll never throw one out again.  Here are another 5 ways to get the most out of your bread bags -

*  Place a bread bag over a garden pot to use as a mini hot house.  This will aid in seed germination during the cooler months.  Make sure you secure the bag with string,  a rubber band or if your really thrifty,  cut up your old socks into garden ties.

*  Pack a bread bag when your kids go to the beach or have swimming lessons.  They are the perfect size for storing wet bathers.

*  When walking your dog,  bring a bread bag to pick up the doggie waste.

*  When you are travelling,  use a bread bag to store your shampoo and conditioner bottles in.  There's nothing worse than arriving at your destination,  opening your toiletry bag and finding a leakage.  Has anyone tried to mop up shampoo ?  It takes forever.

*  Bread bags can be used to keep a bandage or wound dry when having a shower.

5 More Ways To Reuse Bread Bags

Who would have thought that the humble bread bag can be used so many ways ?  By reusing a bread bag,  you're saving money by not needing snap lock bags,  freezer bags,  nappy bags and cling wrap as often.  An added bonus is the environmental factor.  Less plastic going into landfill has to be good.

Here are 5 more tips for using your bread bags - 

*   Bread bags are great for putting dirty nappies in.  The bags are long enough that you can tie a knot in the top to prevent odour escaping.  Although nappy bags are reasonably cheap,  there's no need to buy them if you have bread bags in the house.

*  Use a bread bag to put your sandwich in.  After all,  the bag did originally contain a loaf of bread.

*  If you bake bread or rolls,  use a bread bag to store your homemade bread in the freezer.  I've been doing this for years and the bags can be used over and over again.  My use of new freezer bags has dwindled significantly.

*  Bread bags are great for coating meat in flour.  For example,  I like to make honey soy chicken drumsticks.  I add 2 - 3 tablespoons of plain flour to a bread bag.  Then I  drop a couple of drumsticks in,  fold the bag over a couple of times and give it a good shake.  The drumsticks come out evenly coated in flour and my hands remain clean.  This saves on washing a  sticky,  floury plate.

*  Pack a couple of bread bags in your suitcase.  They are perfect for storing dirty shoes..

Homemade bread in reused bread bags.  It just makes sense.

Bread rolls in reused pita bread bags