To save another tree from being felled, try to reuse and recycle all paper and cardboard items. Cardboard tubes are used in and around the house every day. Instead of throwing them out in trash, reuse them in your house. Their long, hollow, and tubular shape makes them really useful. One can come up with so many ideas to use them. It is easy to work with cardboard tubes as you can glue, pin or tape them effortlessly. Given below are a few ways to recycle and reuse old cardboard tubes.
1. Wrap and store stuff
Tubes of cardboard are brought as packaging around which paper tissues or gift wrappers are enfolded. So you can use them as wrapping material again. Wires, tapes, bandages, ropes, cords, woolen yarns, etc can be wrapped around these tubes. Fasten your belts around a tube and suspend the tube inside your cupboard. Roll your kitchen napkins around them and place the tube on the kitchen countertop. Next times you wonât have to rummage through your drawers and look for these among the clutter.
2. Art and craft
As they are sturdy and strong, you can build several arts and crafts from them. A tiny building like a doll house or castle can be constructed. Super hero or fairy costumes can be made. You can glue together and make furniture like tables, chairs, stools and loveseats from cardboard tubes.
3. Storage containers
Give a base to these hollow tubes and make a lid for them. You can cut them with scissors to any size desired. Make the base and lid out of old newspapers, cardboard or any other discarded item. You can then use them to store pens, pencils, erasers, stapler pins, rubber bands, etc. Secure your fragile eyeglasses inside them. Use them to store hardware like screwdrivers, pliers, nails, and bolts. You can also make a stand for your kitchenware like knives, spoons, and stirrers. Turn it into a box in which you store your stitching or painting equipment. Stash away the string of light bulbs you only use on holidays inside the hollow of the tubes.
4. Décor
Cut out cardboard tubes, paint them or cover them with colored paper to make décor. You can string many tubes together and suspend them. Make wreaths and garlands out of them. All these can be used as decoration for your party or during Christmas.
5. Rack for personal utility items
You can also clasp your hair clips or paper clips on their edges and store them. Brooches can be hooked onto the tubes. Wrap your scrunchies and elastic rubber bands that you tie around ponytails on them.
6. Seed starters
Just reduce the tube to the size desired. Then fix a base at the bottom. Bore a hole through the base for drainage. Now fill it up with seeds and soil, this is an excellent seed starter made at home.
7. Other storage ideas
We tend to lose plastic and carry bags all the time. You can stuff them inside these hollow tubes and thus locate them easily the next time you need them. Other things you can store in the tubes are kitchen rags or gloves. Just glue one onto your bathroom wall and pack your towels inside the hollow. Many important paper documents and old posters tend to get creased or soiled lying around the house. You can roll them and store them in the hollow of the cardboard tube. This way they wonât tear and will stay free of crinkles.
8. Make a stuffing
You have so many shoes and bags lying in your closet. You donât use them all the time and they deshape over the years. Just tear up the cardboard tube and stuff them inside these shoes and bags to retain their shape.
9. Jewelry stand
Just nail it on a wall and use it to stockpile your jewelry. You can fasten your anklets and bracelets around the tube. Suspend necklaces or headbands on it. Make tiny holes on the circular body of the cardboard. You can hang your earrings from these holes. Just insert the hooks of your earrings through the holes.
10. Serve in style
Cut out the tube to the size you want and embellish it with decorative paper, glitter, beads, etc. You can make a nice tub from the old cardboard tubes in which you dish out goodies. Store sweets and candies in them, especially the ones wrapped individually. You can also store handmade chocolates inside and place the tub on your coffee table.
