8 Disposable Items that are Highly Useful

Disposable items should generally be avoided, but here are ideas for extending their lifespan if you do end up with some. Read about 8 disposable items that are highly useful.

Disposable items than can be reused - pictures lazy Susan with multiple sized jars

8 Disposable Items that are Highly Useful and Can be Reused

When it comes to the environment and saving money disposable items aren’t always the best choice. Particularly if the disposable items are meant to be used a single time. I am not a fan of disposable things, but the ones that I do use I try to make them last longer.

While they can be very convenient, many of them can be used multiple times even if they are typically designed for “single” use. Let’s talk about some disposable items that you can easily use more than once without compromising safety or quality.

Keep in mind – Manufacturers will say anything to make you buy more. So it is always good to question the single-use description and squeeze as much life out of them as possible.

reusing glass jars - picture of mason jars on wooden background

Parchment Paper

If you like to bake or you are a fan of sheet pan meals in the oven, then parchment paper can come in handy. It keeps food from sticking to your pans and can make clean-up a breeze.

Parchment paper can be a bit pricey though so the more uses you can get out of it the better! You can reuse parchment paper until the edges turn brown and begin to crumble.

ChopSticks

These are some of my favorite useful items. Don’t think twice about taking home your wooden chopsticks. Wash them in warm soapy water.

They can be used again to skewer food on the grill, prop up houseplants, label seedlings, stir paint or glue, and clean hard-to-reach corners (covered with a rag or used dryer sheet) or muddy shoes.Or you can use them to eat at home too.

Ziploc Bags

Of course, manufacturers are going to tell you that items like Ziploc bags are only meant to be used once so that you will buy them more often. However, you can reuse your Ziploc bags multiple times, especially if you haven’t had anything like raw meat in them.

If you just use them to store fruits and veggies, or leftover cookies. Then simply rinse your bags with warm water and allow them to air dry.

Plastic Straws

Plastic straws are another item that people typically use once and toss. While tossing them after a single use is probably a good idea if you are sick, any other time you can toss them in a sink full of hot soapy water.

Give them a quick wash with soapy water, and let them air dry, and use them again.

Glass Jars

Those glass jars that pickles and sauces come in are food-safe, and reusable if you wash them! You can use them to store pasta and other dry goods in your pantry. You could also use them to separate craft supplies in your craft room.

These jars are clear. So you can easily see what is inside of them, and there is no need to toss them once you have eaten their contents. You can also use your empty glass jars to collect grease from your kitchen until it is time to dispose of it. They also make great candle holders and are perfect for making crafts as well.

I am not a fan of reusing plastic containers. Harvard Medical School cautions. Potentially dangerous substances in plastic — such as bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates — can leak into food when some plastic containers.

Disposable Razors

Don’t toss your disposable razor when it gets dull. You can still get some use out of it by using it to gently remove pills from your sweaters.

You could also use it to remove pills from your hats, t-shirts, and scarves. Alternatively, you can sharpen the blades again by rubbing them on the legs of your denim jeans turned inside out.

Tissue Boxes

The next time you have an empty tissue box, don’t throw it out…use it. An empty tissue box is a perfect place to store your plastic bags from the store so that you can still use them without having them all over.

Empty tissue boxes also make excellent small trash cans. If you or your kids have a cold you can set an empty box on the bed next to them for all of their used tissues. You can also use them as small disposable trash cans in your vehicles.

You could also use them for storing smaller items in your drawers to keep them organized. Just cut off the top so that you can see what’s inside of them.

Newspaper

Do you still get a daily or weekly newspaper at home? Don’t just toss them in the recycling when you are done reading them, keep a few around the house.

You can use newspaper to clean your windows for a streak-free shine. If you park outside in the winter you can also use them to keep ice from forming on your windshield.

Newspapers also absorb odors very well so you can ball up a piece and stuff it in a pair of smelly shoes, or keep some in your diaper bag. Newspaper is also perfect for wrapping breakable items that you need to store or move.

These are just a few of the disposable items that you can repurpose or use again and again.