Cans, buttons, and bottle tops

Going green is a little like dieting; in order for it to be effective, it has to be a lifestyle change rather than just a quick-fix action. And anyone who wants to fully embrace the concept of "living green" has to develop their imagination and start looking at everyday household objects from a slightly different perspective. It's an approach that can reap dividends though, and you can save money on your weekly spending as well as reduce the amount of space you would otherwise be taking up at your local landfill site.

Before you place any household item in the garbage or recycling bin, consider its potential uses. Below are a few examples of how you can turn ordinary household items into useful objects that come with absolutely no price tag.

Cans: Repurpose cans and tins as individual plant pots. Pierce the bottom of the can to allow water to drain and then fill with soil and seeds. The plants can be transplanted into bigger containers or directly into the soil in your back yard at the appropriate time. Similarly, plastic fruit containers (punnets) can be used as plant pots.

Cans can also be used as storage pots for pens and pencils.

Bottles: Attractive bottles can be repurposed as vases for flowers. These can look great when filled with one or two striking looking flowers. Dot these around your home when you're having friends to dinner and you're guaranteed a topic of conversation at the dinner table!

Newspaper: Keep pages from newspapers to clean windows and glass. Wipe the surface with a mixture of water, liquid soap or detergent, and a little vinegar and then dry with scrunched-up newspaper.

Buttons: Before throwing away an item of clothing, remove any attractive embellishments such as pretty buttons. Re-use them to add a unique and interesting look to an otherwise drab looking bag or jacket. Store your buttons in large plastic can lids.

CDs: Hang your old CDs over the areas in your garden that you want to protect from birds. Or use your old CDs as coasters.

Bottle Tops: Recycle colored bottle tops into an attractive "bead" curtain. Thread the bottle tops onto pieces of string and then hang these pieces of string across a cane: attach the cane to the horizontal top section of a door frame.

Shower Curtain: Clean an old shower curtain by leaving it to soak in water and vinegar for a couple of hours, and then re-use as a table cloth when having a picnic. You can also use it as a ground sheet under sleeping bags when camping, or to protect surfaces around the home when painting.

Magazines: Cut out colorful and attractive pictures from magazines and use them to decoupage an old table or piece of furniture. Or decoupage a wall of a room with photos cut from magazines.

The possibilities are endless! All it takes is a little imagination and then you'll be hooked on finding uses for your everyday household items.